Digestive Organ Retention Device

• US 20100234917A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0509 Stomach and intestinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0517 Esophageal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

An retaining device for attaching to a contractile organ such as a digestive tract organ or stomach is provided. One aspect may include a lead for stimulating a digestive organ. The device may be an electrical stimulation device configured to deliver electrical signals to the organ.

Claims

1. A retaining device for attaching to contractile organ having a cavity, the retaining device comprising:

an anchor configured to engage a wall of the organ; and

an elongate portion coupled to the anchor wherein the elongate portion is configured to extend through the wall of the organ into a cavity of the organ, the elongate portion comprising a tapered portion that tapers from a wider portion located more distally with respect to the anchor to a narrower portion located more proximally with respect to the anchor than the wider portion.

2. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the tapered portion is configured to extend at least in part, into the wall of the organ.

3. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the contractile organ is a stomach.

4. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises an expandable member configured to expand from a narrower configuration to a wider configuration.

5. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the elongate portion comprises an electrode located thereon.

6. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises an electrode located thereon.

7. The retaining device of claim 1 further comprising an electrode, wherein the elongate portion and anchor in combination are configured to maintain the electrode in electrical contact with the wall of the digestive organ while permitting contractile activity of the wall of the digestive organ.

8. The retaining device of claim 7 wherein the electrode is coupled to an electronic circuit, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to provided electrically stimulating signals to the organ through the electrode.

9. The retaining device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor.

10. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a contraction sensor configured to sense information corresponding to contraction of the organ.

11. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the elongate portion comprises a fluoropolymer.

13. The stimulator of claim 11, further wherein the electrode is disposed along the tapered portion of the elongate portion.

14. The stimulator of claim 11, further comprising a sensor disposed along the lead.

15. The stimulator of claim 13, wherein the sensor is disposed within an internal cavity of the stomach.

12. A stimulator for stimulating a wall of a stomach comprising:

a lead comprising

an electrode thereon,

a distal anchor configured to be positioned on an outside of the stomach wall, and

an elongate portion located proximally of the distal anchor, wherein the elongate portion when deployed extends through the stomach wall, the elongate portion comprising a tapered portion that tapers from a proximal location on the elongate portion to a distal location on the elongate portion; and

an attachment element configured to attach the lead to an inside of the stomach wall.