RESPONSIVE GASTRIC STIMULATOR

• US 20100094374A1
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0016 comprising measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0026 Anti-eating devices using electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/028 having a mainly rigid support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators

Abstract

A responsive gastrointestinal stimulation device is provided where one or more sensors sense data corresponding to a subject or the gastrointestinal tract of a subject and responds to sensing the data by stimulating, adjusting stimulation, or stopping stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract. A stimulation device is also provided to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract to produce a sensation of satiety or to control hunger or food consumption.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data sensed by an implantable device implanted within a patient;

determining a characteristic of material ingested by the patient in response to the sensed data;

determining a gross activity level of the patient in response to the sensed data; and

adjusting an obesity therapy of the patient in response to the ingested material characteristic and in response to the gross activity level of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting signals from implanted.

electronic circuitry of the implantable device to external circuitry outside the patient, and outputting the ingested material characteristic and gross activity level from the external circuitry in response to the signals.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein outputting the ingested material characteristic and gross activity level comprises communicating to the patient via at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a display and/or

an auditory alert.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising communicating the characteristic of ingested material and the gross activity level from the external circuitry to a computer via a port, the port providing bi-directional communication between the computer and the external circuitry.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein outputting the ingested material characteristic and gross activity level comprises communicating to a physician of the patient.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the implantable device comprises a stimulator, and wherein the adjusting of the obesity therapy comprises altering a protocol for electrical stimulation of a tissue of the patient with the implantable device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the gross activity level comprises identifying a sleeping period.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein adjusting of the obesity therapy comprises altering a protocol for electrical stimulation of a tissue of the patient with the implantable device in response to the identified sleeping period.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the material comprises a composition of the material, and wherein the determination of the characteristic comprises generating an optical signal indicative of the composition.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the obesity therapy comprises adjusting the obesity therapy in response to the composition of the ingested material departing from an approved ingestion regimen.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying gastric contractions of the patient in response to the data.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising observing patterns of the patient over time in response to the data.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the obesity therapy so as to promote weight loss by the patient.

14. A device comprising:

an implantable sensor coupleable to a tissue of the patient so as to sense data therefrom; and

circuitry coupled to the sensor, the circuitry determining a characteristic of material ingested by the patient in response to the sensed data, and determining a gross activity level of the patient in response to the sensed data so as to allow an obesity therapy of the patient to be adjusted in response to the ingested material characteristic and in response to the gross activity level of the patient.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the circuitry comprises implantable circuitry and external circuitry disposed outside the patient during use with telemetry for transmitting signals therebetween, and further comprising an output coupled to the external circuitry for outputting the ingested material characteristic and gross activity level in response to the signals.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the output comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

a display and/or

an auditory alert.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the external circuitry comprises a port coupleable to a computer so as to communicate the characteristic of ingested material and the gross activity level from the external circuitry, the port providing bi-directional communication between the computer and the external circuitry.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the implantable device comprises a stimulator, and wherein the circuitry adjusts the obesity therapy by altering a protocol for electrical stimulation of a tissue of the patient with the implantable device.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the circuitry for determining the gross activity level is configured so as to identify a sleeping period, and wherein the obesity therapy of the patient is adjusted in response to the identified sleeping period.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the implantable device comprises a stimulator, and wherein the circuitry adjusts the obesity therapy by altering a protocol for electrical stimulation of a tissue of the patient with the implantable device in response to the identified sleeping period.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein the characteristic of the material comprises a composition of the material, and wherein the sensor comprises an optical signal sensor implantable in communication with an interior of the gastric system so as to sense an optical signal indicative of the composition.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the circuitry compares the composition of the ingested material to an approved ingestion regimen and adjusts the obesity therapy when the composition diverts from the approved regimen.

23. The device of claim 14, wherein the circuitry is configured for identifying gastric contractions of the patient in response to the data.

24. The device of claim 14, wherein the circuitry comprises a memory configured to facilitate observing patterns of the patient over time in response to the data.

25. A system comprising:

an implantable sensor coupleable to a tissue of the patient so as to sense data therefrom; and

a processor coupled to the sensor, the processor determining a gross activity level of the patient in response to the sensed data so as to allow an obesity therapy of the patient to be adjusted in response to the ingested material characteristic and in response to the gross activity level of the patient, the processor including implantable circuitry, external circuitry for use outside the patient body, and wireless telemetry coupling the implanted and external circuitry; and

an output coupled to the external circuitry so as to indicate the gross activity level.