Responsive Gastric Stimulator

• US 20110066207A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,239,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0016 comprising measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0026 Anti-eating devices using electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/028 having a mainly rigid support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators

Abstract

A responsive gastrointestinal stimulation device is provided where one or more sensors sense data corresponding to a subject or the gastrointestinal tract of a subject and responds to sensing the data by stimulating, adjusting stimulation, or stopping stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract. A stimulation device is also provided to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract to produce a sensation of satiety or to control hunger or food consumption.

Claims

1. A method for treating a subject comprising the steps of:

providing at least one stimulating electrode electrically coupled to a stomach of the subject;

providing a sensor coupled to the subject, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer;

sensing gross movement of the subject with the sensor such that the sensed gross movement is indicative of the subject'"'"'s activity;

determining, in response to the sensed gross movement of the subject, that the subject'"'"'s activity corresponds to a sleeping state of the subject;

inhibiting stimulation of the subject when the subject is determined to be in the sleeping state; and

stimulating the stomach of the subject with the at least one stimulating electrode, wherein the stimulating is based at least in part on the sensed gross movement of the subject corresponding to a state of wakefulness of the subject.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of stimulating the stomach of the subject comprises stimulating the subject'"'"'s stomach to interfere with innate electrical potentials of the subject'"'"'s stomach.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a pressure sensor;

and sensing a pressure within the stomach with the pressure sensor indicating existence of a predetermined threshold of stomach muscle contractions.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a temperature sensor;

and

sensing temperature within the stomach with the temperature sensor indicating ingestion of a substance.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a strain gauge;

and sensing strain within the stomach with the strain gauge indicating existence of a predetermined threshold of stomach muscle contractions.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a respiration sensor;

and

wherein sensing the parameter comprises sensing a respiration parameter of the subject indicating whether the subject is awake or sleeping and wherein the step of stimulating the stomach comprises stimulating the stomach in response to the respiration sensor indicating that the subject is awake.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer;

and

further comprising sensing motion with the accelerometer so as to determine whether the subject is awake or sleeping.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the sensing of motion comprises sensing at least one motion artifact indicating the subject is awake.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the sensing of motion comprises sensing a respiration parameter.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a pH sensor;

and sensing a pH within the stomach with the pH sensor indicating presence of ingested material in the stomach.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer, and wherein sensing the parameter comprises sensing gross movement of the patient.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the parameter comprises sensing respiration of the patient, and wherein the stimulating of the stomach is based at least in part on the respiration.

6. A method for treating a subject comprising the steps of:

providing at least one stimulating electrode electrically coupled to a stomach of the subject;

providing a light source and an optical sensor coupled to a stomach of the subject, the stomach of the subject containing material ingested by the subject;

emitting light from the light source and sensing light reflected or transmitted from the material within the stomach;

determining a characteristic of the material ingested by the subject in response to wavelengths of the sensed light; and

stimulating the stomach of the subject based at least in part on the characteristic of the material ingested by the subject as determined with the sensor.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising sensing the light within the stomach and determining a presence of ingested material of a predetermined composition within the stomach.

15. A method comprising:

optically sensing a parameter indicative of material ingested by a subject with an optical sensor of an implanted gastric sensor system;

processing the parameter sensed by the optical sensor with a processor so as to determine a property of the material ingested by the subject; and

diagnosing or treating a gastric disorder of the subject in response to the property of the material ingested by the subject.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the gastric disorder comprises obesity, and further comprising treating the obesity by applying stimulating signals with a stimulator of the implanted gastric sensor system.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising directing light from a light source into the stomach, wherein the parameter sensed by the optical sensor comprises light signals from within the stomach, and wherein the gastric sensor system determines the property of the material ingested by the subject using spectroscopic analysis.