Method and Apparatus for Treatment of the Gastrointestinal Tract

• US 20110004266A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Virender K. Sharma
• Original Assignee: Virender K. Sharma
• Inventors: Sharma, Virender K.
• Application Number:
  US12/775,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20110004266A1
• 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

A method and device for electrically stimulating one or more structures in the gastrointestinal tract as described. The one or more structures are preferably selected from the upper esophageal sphincter, the esophagus and gastric fundus. The method may involve the step of arranging a plurality of stimulating electrodes adjacent one or more structures which may further include the lower esophageal sphincter, the stomach, the pyloric sphincter, the small intestine, the colon and the vagus. The method and device may further include sensing electrodes to detect change in one or more physiological parameters in the gastrointestinal tract and modulate the stimulating electrodes in response to the change. The device comprises a pulse generator, a power source, a plurality of stimulating electrode set, one or more sensing electrodes and means for varying activity of the stimulating electrodes in response to change detected in the gastrointestinal tract. The method and device may be used to treat obesity and/or GERD.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method of increasing a tone of a patient'"'"'s lower esophageal sphincter comprising:

Arranging at least one stimulating electrode within a portion of said lower esophageal sphincter wherein said electrode is arranged to directly electrically stimulate the lower esophageal sphincter and to concurrently stimulate a vagus nerve; and

Programming a pulse generator to trigger the stimulating electrode to generate an electrical stimulation of said lower esophageal sphincter and vagus nerve wherein said electrical stimulation increases the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter.

19. The method of claim 18 where the electrical stimulation modifies the LES pressure.

20. The method of claim 18 where the electrical stimulation modifies the patient'"'"'s gastric motility.

21. The method of claim 18 where the electrical stimulation modifies the patient'"'"'s antroduodenal motility.

22. The method of claim 18 where the electrical stimulation modifies the patient'"'"'s gastric secretion.

23. The method of claim 18 where the electrical stimulation modifies the patient'"'"'s pancreatic secretions.

24. The method of claim 18 where the electrical stimulation modifies the patient'"'"'s biliary secretions.

25. The method of claim 18 further comprising triggering the stimulating electrode in response to a change detected in the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said detected change is a change in one or more physiological parameters selected from esophageal peristalsis, esophageal pH, esophageal impedence, esophageal pressure, esophageal electrical activity, gastric peristalsis, gastric electrical activity, gastric chemical activity, gastric hormonal activity, gastric temperature, gastric pressure, gastric impedence, gastric pH, blood chemical, hormonal activity, vagal activity, gastrointestinal neural activity, or salivary chemical activity.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the detected change is detected by one or more sensing electrodes, wherein said sensing electrodes are positioned in or adjacent one or more of the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, or nerves supplying the gastrointestinal tract and the vascular system.

28. The method of claim 18 wherein the electrical stimulation has a shape which is square, rectangular, sinusoidal or saw-tooth and wherein the electrical stimulation has a frequency in the range of 1 Hz-1 MHz.

29. A method of modifying a tLESR of a patient comprising:

Arranging at least one stimulating electrode within a portion of said lower esophageal sphincter wherein said electrode is arranged to directly electrically stimulate the lower esophageal sphincter and to concurrently stimulate a vagus nerve; and

Programming a pulse generator to trigger the stimulating electrode to generate an electrical stimulation of said lower esophageal sphincter and vagus nerve wherein said electrical stimulation modifies the tLESR of the patient.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the electrical stimulation modifies the LES pressure.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the electrical stimulation modifies the patient'"'"'s gastric motility.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the electrical stimulation modifies the patient'"'"'s antroduodenal motility.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the electrical stimulation modifies the patient'"'"'s gastric secretion.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the electrical stimulation modifies the patient'"'"'s pancreatic secretions.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the electrical stimulation modifies the patient'"'"'s biliary secretions.

36. The method of claim 29 further comprising modulating the stimulating electrode in response to a change detected in the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said detected change is a change in one or more physiological parameters selected from esophageal peristalsis, esophageal pH, esophageal impedence, esophageal pressure, esophageal electrical activity, gastric peristalsis, gastric electrical activity, gastric chemical activity, gastric hormonal activity, gastric temperature, gastric pressure, gastric impedence, gastric pH, blood chemical, hormonal activity, vagal activity, gastrointestinal neural activity, or salivary chemical activity.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the detected change is detected by one or more sensing electrodes, wherein said sensing electrodes are positioned in or adjacent one or more of the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, or nerves supplying the gastrointestinal tract and the vascular system.

39. The method of claim 29 wherein the electrical stimulation has a shape which is square, rectangular, sinusoidal or saw-tooth and wherein the electrical stimulation has a frequency in the range of 1 Hz-1 MHz.