METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GASTROINTESTINAL STIMULATION VIA THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

• US 20100217346A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allan C. Shuros
• Original Assignee: Allan C. Shuros
• Inventors: Shuros, Allan C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,897,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

An implantable gastrointestinal (GI) stimulation system includes an implantable medical device and at least one stimulus delivery device configured to be placed in one or more lymphatic vessels of a patient, such as the patient'"'"'s thoracic duct and/or vessels branching from the thoracic duct. In one embodiment, the implantable medical device includes a GI stimulation circuit to deliver electrical stimulation pulses to one or more target regions adjacent to a lymphatic vessel through the stimulus delivery device. In one embodiment, to control obesity, the electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to the organs and/or nerves of the GI tract to create a sensation of satiety and/or to expedite food movement through the GI tract.

Claims

1. A system for delivering stimulation to a target region in a body having lymphatic vessels and a gastrointestinal (GI) tract including GI organs and nerves innervating the GI organs, the target region including portions of the GI tract, the system comprising:

a first electrode assembly including a first electrode base configured to be implanted into one of the lymphatic vessels and a first stimulation electrode on the first electrode base, the first electrode base configured to cause a portion of the one of the lymphatic vessels to substantially alter its natural path to contact the target region and maintain the contact between the portion of the one of the lymphatic vessels and the target region after an implantation of the first electrode assembly; and

an implantable medical device including;

a GI stimulation circuit adapted to deliver GI stimuli through the first stimulation electrode; and

an implant control circuit coupled to the GI stimulation circuit, the implant control circuit adapted to control the delivery of the GI stimuli using a plurality of stimulation parameters selected to stimulate one or more of the GI organs and the nerves innervating the GI organs.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electrode base comprises an elongate electrode base including one or more biases each configured to cause the portion of the one of the lymphatic vessels to substantially alter its natural path to contact the target region, the elongate electrode base having a stiffness allowing for maintaining the contact between the portion of the one of the lymphatic vessels and the target region after the implantation of the first electrode assembly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first electrode base comprises an expandable electrode base configured to cause the portion of the one of the lymphatic vessels to substantially alter its natural path to contact the target region, after being expanded.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the expandable electrode base comprises a stent, and the first electrode is incorporated into or integrated with the stent.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant control circuit is programmed to include stimulation parameters selected to create a sensation discouraging food consumption.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the implant control circuit is programmed to include stimulation parameters selected to create a sensation of satiety.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant control circuit is programmed to include stimulation parameters selected to increase motor activities in the GI tract.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first implantable lead having a first distal end, a first proximal end configured to be connected to the implantable medical device, and a first elongate lead body between the first distal end and the first proximal end, and wherein the first electrode assembly is incorporated into the first implantable lead.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first electrode assembly is incorporated into the first distal end.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first electrode assembly is incorporated into the first elongate lead body.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first electrode assembly further comprises a second stimulation electrode on the first electrode base, and the GI stimulation circuit is adapted to deliver the GI stimuli through the first stimulation electrode and the second stimulation electrode.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second stimulation electrode configured to be placed in a location external to the lymphatic vessels, and wherein the GI stimulation circuit is adapted to deliver the GI stimuli through the first stimulation electrode and the second stimulation electrode.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a second implantable lead configured to be subcutaneously implanted, the second implantable lead having a second distal end including the second stimulation electrode, a second proximal end configured to be connected to the implantable medical device, and a second elongate lead body between the distal end and the proximal end.

14. The system of claim 8, comprising a physiological sensor adapted to sense a physiological signal, and wherein the implantable medical device comprises a sensing circuit adapted to receive and process the physiological signal, and the implant control circuit is adapted to control the delivery of the GI stimuli using the physiological signal.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the implant control circuit comprises a closed-loop controller adapted to provide feedback control of the delivery of the GI stimuli using the physiological signal.

16. The system if claim 14, wherein the physiological sensor is adapted to sense a signal indicative of mechanical activities of the GI tract, the sensing circuit is adapted to receive and process the signal indicative of mechanical activities of the GI tract, and the implant control circuit is adapted to control the delivery of the GI stimuli using the signal indicative of mechanical activities of the GI tract.

17. The system if claim 14, wherein the physiological sensor is adapted to sense neural signals transmitting a sensation of satiety, the sensing circuit is adapted to receive and process the neural signals, and the implant control circuit is adapted to control the delivery of the GI stimuli using the neural signals.

18. The system of claim 1, comprising biopotential sensing electrodes adapted to sense a biopotential signal, and wherein the implantable medical device comprises a biopotential sensing circuit coupled to the biopotential sensing electrodes and adapted to process the biopotential signal, and the implant control circuit is adapted to control the delivery of the GI stimuli using the processed biopotential signal.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the biopotential signal is indicative of food intake, and the implant control circuit is adapted to initiate the delivery of the GI stimuli when the biopotential signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the implant control circuit is adapted to control the delivery of the GI stimuli to augment a sensation of satiety when the biopotential signal indicates ongoing food consumption and digestion.