GASTROINTESTINAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION

• US 20110034967A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Pasricha, Pankaj Jay, Chen, Jiande
• Granted Patent: US 8,467,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0502 Skin piercing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0509 Stomach and intestinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

The disclosure provides a method of treatment for obesity, in an individual in need thereof, by administering electrical stimulation at dual sites in the gastrointestinal tract. The electrical stimulations are administered by positioning bipolar stimulatory electrodes in contact with the gastric and dudenol cavities, along afferent vagal neural pathways, in the gastrointestinal tract. The electrical stimulations thus administered, activate the vagal afferents associated with the gastric and dudenol sites in the gastrointestinal tract. The activation of vagal afferents modulates the gastrointestinal peptide satiety hormones. Further, the disclosure provides a method of treatment for eating disorders, in an individual in need thereof, by administering electrical stimulation at dual sites, along afferent vagal neural pathways, in the gastrointestinal tract. Also, provided is a method of regulating the appetite of an individual in need thereof, by administering electrical stimulation at dual sites in the gastrointestinal tract.

Claims

1. A method of placing devices in or through a gastrointestinal wall of a subject comprising:

a) inserting a plurality of needles, each comprising a hollow bore, from the exterior of the subject and into or through the gastrointestinal wall;

b) inserting an electrode lead with an insertion axis comprising a plurality of radially spaced arms into the bore of each needle so that the electrode lead comprising a plurality of radially spaced arms is inside the needle;

c) pushing the electrode lead through the bore of each needle into or through the wall of the gastrointestinal tract; and

d) removing the needles;

wherein the radially spaced arms are at an angle more acute to the insertion axis of the electrode when inside each needle than when the needles are removed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the needles are inserted at the same time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the needles are inserted at different times.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode leads are inserted into hollow bore of the needles prior to inserting the needles from the exterior of the subject and into or through the wall of the gastrointestinal tract.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode leads are inserted into the hollow bore of the needles after inserting the needles from the exterior of the subject and into or through the wall of the gastrointestinal tract.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the needles are physically connected through a bridge.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one needle is physically connected to an insertion rod through a bridge.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the insertion rod is inserted into the hollow bore of a needle with without an insertion rod.

9. The method of claim 8 comprising the steps of:

a) inserting one electrode lead into the hollow bore of the needle physically connected to the insertion rod;

b) pushing the electrode lead through the hollow bore of the needle physically connected to the insertion rod into or through the wall of the gastrointestinal tract;

c) removing the needle physically connected to the insertion rod from the hollow bore of the needle without an insertion rod;

d) inserting one electrode lead into the hollow bore of the needle without an insertion rod;

e) pushing the electrode lead through the hollow bore of the needle without an insertion rod into or through the wall of the gastrointestinal tract; and

f) removing the needle without an insertion rod.

10. A method of regulating the appetite of an individual, in need thereof comprising:

positioning bipolar stimulatory electrodes in contact with dual sites in the gastrointestinal tract along the afferent vagus neural pathway; and

administering electrical stimulation, wherein said electrical stimulation is effective, at least in part, in activating the vagal afferents to modulate gastrointestinal peptide satiety hormones in said individual.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising administering a phased pulse regimentation of said electrical stimulation which progresses from said first pair of electrodes to said second pair of electrodes.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said dual sites in the gastrointestinal tract are a gastric cavity and a dudenol cavity.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said gastrointestinal peptide hormones are selected from the group consisting of ghrelin, obestatin, CCK-8 and PYY.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said individual suffers from obesity, compulsive eating, anorexia and bulimia.