USE OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF THE LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER TO MODULATE LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER PRESSURE
First Claim
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1. A method of modulating lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
- providing an electrical signal; and
delivering the electrical signal to a LES or a proximate region to the LES to stimulate the LES.
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Abstract
The present invention describes methods and devices using low frequency electrical stimulation or neural high frequency stimulation to modulate lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure. The electrical stimulation may be delivered to the LES via one or more electrodes that is placed in contact with the LES tissue. The methods and devices are useful to treat a number of conditions or disease conditions, including for example, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
112 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of modulating lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
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providing an electrical signal; and delivering the electrical signal to a LES or a proximate region to the LES to stimulate the LES. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of treating a condition or disease condition related to or caused by abnormal lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
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providing an electrical signal; and delivering the electrical signal to the LES or a proximate region to the LES to stimulate the LES. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of decreasing esophageal pressure or treating esophageal spasm or nutcracker esophagus, comprising:
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providing an electrical signal comprising high frequency electrical pulses; and delivering the electrical signal to a region of the esophagus above the LES to stimulate the esophageal muscle. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An exogenous electrical signal adapted for delivery to a lower esophageal sphincter (LES) of a patient in need of treatment for the modulation of LES pressure or for a condition or disease condition related to or cause by abnormal LES pressure, comprising:
low frequency electrical pulses, wherein the exogenous electrical signal is adapted to increase the LES pressure or to treat a condition or disease condition related to or caused by abnormally low LES pressure. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for applying an electrical signal to stimulate the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to modulate LES pressure in a subject in need thereof or to treat a condition or disease condition related to or caused by abnormal LES pressure in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
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instructions to generate and deliver an electrical signal comprising low frequency pulses to increase the LES pressure or to treat a condition or disease condition caused by or related to abnormally low LES pressure;
orinstructions to generate and deliver an electrical signal comprising high frequency pulses to decrease the LES pressure or to treat a condition or disease condition caused by or related to abnormally high LES pressure. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification