ELECTRICAL STIMULATION THERAPY TO PROMOTE GASTRIC DISTENTION FOR OBESITY MANAGEMENT

• US 20100228313A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Firestone, Elizabeth D., Starkebaum, Warren L., Maude-Griffin, Roland C., Chen, Jiande
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0026 Anti-eating devices using electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to techniques for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to support obesity management. The electrical stimulation therapy is configured to cause at least partial gastric distention. Gastric distention tends to induce a sensation of fullness and thereby discourages excessive food intake by the patient. The electrical stimulation therapy may be delivered to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient by electrodes deployed by one or more implantable leads coupled to an electrical stimulator. The electrical stimulator delivers stimulation pulses having a pulse width in a range found to be effective in causing gastric distention.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a plurality of pulse bursts, each of the pulse bursts having a duration of greater than approximately 100 milliseconds, wherein each of the pulse bursts includes a plurality of pulses, each of the pulses having a pulse width of approximately 2 milliseconds to approximately 20 milliseconds; and

applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following applies:

the plurality of pulses are delivered at a frequency of approximately 2 hertz to approximately 90 hertz; and

each of the plurality of pulses has a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient comprises applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient comprises applying the plurality of pulse bursts to at least one of a lesser or greater curvature of the stomach of the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating electrical stimulation comprising a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises an electrical stimulation pulse having a duration greater than approximately 100 milliseconds followed by one of the plurality of pulse bursts,

wherein applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention comprises applying the electrical stimulation comprising the pattern to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to cause gastric distention.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the following applies:

each pulse burst is delivered at a frequency of approximately 5 hertz to approximately 50 hertz;

the electrical stimulation pulse and the one of the plurality of pulse bursts each have a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps; and

the pattern is repeating.

7. An implantable gastric stimulator comprising:

an electrical stimulation pulse generator configured to generate a plurality of pulse bursts, each of the pulse bursts having a duration of greater than approximately 100 milliseconds, wherein each of the pulse bursts includes a plurality of pulses, each of the pulses having a pulse width of approximately 2 milliseconds to approximately 20 milliseconds; and

one or more electrodes, coupled to the pulse generator, configured to apply the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention.

8. The stimulator of claim 7, wherein at least one of the following applies:

the plurality of pulses are delivered at a frequency of approximately 2 hertz to approximately 90 hertz; and

each of the plurality of pulses has a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps.

9. The stimulator of claim 7, wherein the one or more electrodes configured to apply the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient are configured to apply the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient.

10. The stimulator of claim 9, wherein the one or more electrodes configured to apply the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient are further configured to apply the stimulation pulses to at least one of a lesser or greater curvature of the stomach of the patient.

11. The stimulator of claim 7, wherein the electrical stimulation pulse generator is further configured to:

generate electrical stimulation comprising a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises an electrical stimulation pulse having a duration greater than approximately 100 milliseconds followed by one of the plurality of pulse bursts,

wherein the one or more electrodes, coupled to the pulse generator, configured to apply the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention are configured to apply the electrical stimulation comprising the pattern to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to cause gastric distention.

12. The stimulator of claim 11, wherein at least one of the following applies:

each pulse burst is delivered at a frequency of approximately 5 hertz to approximately 50 hertz;

the electrical stimulation pulse and the one of the plurality of pulse bursts each have a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps; and

the pattern is repeating.

13. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause a processor to control an electrical stimulation pulse generator to:

generate a plurality of pulse bursts, each of the pulse bursts having a duration of greater than approximately 100 milliseconds, wherein each of the pulse bursts includes a plurality of pulses, each of the pulses having a pulse width of approximately 2 milliseconds to approximately 20 milliseconds; and

apply, via one or more electrodes, the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause the processor to control the electrical stimulation pulse generator such that at least one of the following applies:

the plurality of pulses are delivered at a frequency of approximately 2 hertz to approximately 90 hertz; and

each of the plurality of pulses has a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamps to approximately 15 milliamps.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to control an electrical stimulation pulse generator to apply, via one or more electrodes, the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient comprise instructions that cause the processor to control the electrical stimulation pulse generator to apply, via the one or more electrodes, the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to control an electrical stimulation pulse generator to apply, via one or more electrodes, the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient comprises comprise instructions that cause the processor to control the electrical stimulation pulse generator to apply the plurality of pulse bursts to at least one of a lesser or greater curvature of the stomach of the patient.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause the processor to control the electrical stimulation pulse generator to:

generate electrical stimulation comprising a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises an electrical stimulation pulse having a duration greater than approximately 100 milliseconds followed by one of the plurality of pulse bursts,

wherein the instructions that cause a processor to control an electrical stimulation pulse generator to apply, via one or more electrodes, the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention comprise instructions that cause the processor to control the electrical stimulation pulse generator to apply, via the one or more electrodes, the electrical stimulation comprising the pattern to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to cause gastric distention.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause the processor to control the electrical stimulation pulse generator such that at least one of the following applies:

each pulse burst is delivered at a frequency of approximately 5 hertz to approximately 50 hertz;

the electrical stimulation pulse and the one of the plurality of pulse bursts each have a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps; and

the pattern is repeating.

19. A device comprising:

means for generating a plurality of pulse bursts, each of the pulse bursts having a duration of greater than approximately 100 milliseconds, wherein each of the pulse bursts includes a plurality of pulses, each of the pulses having a pulse width of approximately 2 milliseconds to approximately 20 milliseconds; and

means for applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein at least one of the following applies:

the plurality of pulses are delivered at a frequency of approximately 2 hertz to approximately 90 hertz; and

each of the plurality of pulses has a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the means for applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient comprises means for applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the means for applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient comprises means for applying the plurality of pulse bursts to at least one of a lesser or greater curvature of the stomach of the patient.

23. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

means for generating electrical stimulation comprising a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises an electrical stimulation pulse having a duration greater than approximately 100 milliseconds followed by one of the plurality of pulse bursts,

wherein the means for applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention comprises means for applying the electrical stimulation comprising the pattern to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to cause gastric distention.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein at least one of the following applies:

each pulse burst is delivered at a frequency of approximately 5 hertz to approximately 50 hertz;

the electrical stimulation pulse and the one of the plurality of pulse bursts each have a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps; and

the pattern is repeating.