FEEDBACK CONTROLLED GASTRO-INTESTINAL STIMULATION
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a contraction sensor located on a portion of a gastrointestinal tract and responsive to a circumferential contraction of the portion of a gastrointestinal tract, the contraction sensor having as output a signal indicative of circumferential contraction of the portion of a gastrointestinal tract;
a contraction generator located in relation to the portion of a gastrointestinal tract, spaced distally from the contraction sensor, the contraction generator being located to induce a circumferential contraction upon receipt of an electrical signal at the contraction generator; and
a controller having as at least one input the output from the contraction sensor, and configured to output an electrical signal to the contraction generator upon receipt of output from the contraction sensor indicative of a contraction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Neural Gastric Electrical Stimulation (NGES) is a new method for invoking gastric contractions under microprocessor control. However, optimization of this technique using feedback mechanisms to minimize power consumption and maximize effectiveness has been lacking. An apparatus and method are provided for inducing controlled gastro paresis. The apparatus comprises a contraction sensor, a stomach contraction generator, and a controller. The contraction sensor is responsive to circumferential contractions of the stomach, and outputs a signal indicative of a circumferential contraction. The stomach contraction generator induces a circumferential contraction upon receipt of an electrical signal from the controller. The controller sends the electrical signal to the generator upon receipt of the output signal from the sensor. The method comprises the steps of sensing a circumferential contraction of the stomach, and invoking a circumferential contraction of the stomach in response to sensing the circumferential contraction.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a contraction sensor located on a portion of a gastrointestinal tract and responsive to a circumferential contraction of the portion of a gastrointestinal tract, the contraction sensor having as output a signal indicative of circumferential contraction of the portion of a gastrointestinal tract; a contraction generator located in relation to the portion of a gastrointestinal tract, spaced distally from the contraction sensor, the contraction generator being located to induce a circumferential contraction upon receipt of an electrical signal at the contraction generator; and a controller having as at least one input the output from the contraction sensor, and configured to output an electrical signal to the contraction generator upon receipt of output from the contraction sensor indicative of a contraction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of inducing controlled gastroparesis, comprising:
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sensing a circumferential contraction of a portion of a gastrointestinal tract at a first location on the gastrointestinal tract; and in response to sensing the circumferential contraction, invoking a circumferential contraction of the portion of a gastrointestinal tract at a second location on the portion of a gastrointestinal tract, the second location being located distally in relation to the first location. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for sensing a contraction in a gastrointestinal tract, the gastrointestinal tract comprising a gastric axis, the method comprising:
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a) measuring the impedance along a first circumference of the gastrointestinal tract defined by a radius of the gastric axis; b) repeating step (a) when the measured impedance is above a threshold value; and c) sending a signal indicating that a circumferential contraction has been sensed when the measured impedance is below the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification