GASTRIC BAND WITH ELECTRIC STIMULATION

• US 20110137112A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Birk, Janel A., Snow, Sean
• Application Number:
  US12/973,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20110137112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0026 Anti-eating devices using electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0056 using injection ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0063 wrapping the stomach

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for stimulating one or more nerves by incorporating a gastric band system and an electrical stimulation component. Stimulation electrodes on the gastric band may be used to stimulate the vagal nerve and/or splanchnic nerve, which may inhibit the patient'"'"'s appetite and/or control obesity. The gastric band may have an inflatable member for adjusting a stoma size. The stimulation electrodes may be mounted on the inflatable member. The system may include a controller including a pressure sensor for monitoring the hydraulic pressure within the inflatable inner member and for controlling the stimulation component.

Claims

1. An implantable gastric band for introducing an electrical signal to a splanchnic nerve of a patient, the implantable gastric band configured to be used to treat obesity, comprising:

a body having a head end including a buckle, and a tail end including a belt tab;

an inflatable member connected to the body between the head end and the tail end;

a conduit for carrying fluid, the conduit configured to be fluidly coupled to the inflatable member;

an electrode attached to the body or the inflatable member, the electrode configured to introduce the electric signal to the splanchnic nerve; and

a wire connected to the electrode, the wire being encapsulated by an insulator.

2. The gastric band of claim 1, wherein the electrode is further configured to introduce an electric signal to a vagal nerve.

3. The gastric band of claim 2, further comprising a sensor coupled to the wire, the sensor configured to obtain physiological information related to the patient.

4. The gastric band of claim 3, wherein the inflatable member is configured to inflate or deflate based on the physiological information obtained by the sensor.

5. The gastric band of claim 3, wherein the electrode is further configured to introduce the electric signal to the splanchnic nerve based on the physiological information obtained by the sensor.

6. The gastric band of claim 3, wherein the electrode is further configured to introduce the electric signal to the vagal nerve based on the physiological information obtained by the sensor.

7. A method of stimulating a splanchnic nerve to control an appetite of a patient, comprising:

determining a first electric signal to be transmitted to an electrode for stimulating the splanchnic nerve;

transmitting the first electric signal to the electrode to stimulate the splanchnic nerve; and

determining that the electrode successfully received the first electric signal.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining a second electric signal to be transmitted to an electrode for stimulating the vagal nerve;

transmitting the second electric signal to the electrode to stimulate the vagal nerve; and

determining that the electrode successfully received the second electric signal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the first electric signal to be transmitted is based on physiological information obtained by a sensor inside a body of the patient.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting a message to a computer outside the body of the patient that the electrode received the first electric signal.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining if nausea was reported after transmitting the first signal to the electrode;

selecting a different signal to be transmitted to the electrode in response to determining that nausea was reported; and

transmitting the different signal to the electrode.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining if satiety was reported after transmitting the first signal to the electrode;

selecting a different signal to be transmitted to the electrode in response to determining that satiety was not reported; and

transmitting the different signal to the electrode.

13. A gastric band system with electrical stimulation, comprising:

an implantable gastric band having an inflatable member and a stimulation electrode on an inner circumference of the implantable gastric band;

an implantable controller coupled to the stimulation electrode, the implantable controller having a power source and circuitry for sending electrical pulses;

a flexible cord extending from the gastric band to the implantable controller, the flexible cord enclosing electric wires connecting the stimulation electrode to the implantable controller; and

a fluid conduit in communication between the inflatable member and an implanted reservoir, the fluid conduit extending in parallel with the flexible cord,

wherein the stimulating electrode is configured to contact a patient'"'"'s stomach region and deliver electric stimulation to a splanchnic nerve in response to receiving an electric pulse from the power source, the electric pulse traversing the electric wires.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the stimulating electrode further delivers an electric stimulation to a vagal nerve in response to receiving the electric pulse from the power source.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the gastric band further includes an adjustable circumference.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the stimulation electrode is mounted on an inner surface of the inflatable member.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the implantable controller includes a return electrode for the stimulation electrode.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the inflatable member has an uneven inner circumference having inwardly-directed troughs and peaks on which are mounted a series of the stimulation electrodes in the troughs.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the inflatable member has an uneven inner circumference having inwardly-directed troughs and peaks on which are mounted a series of the stimulation electrodes in the peaks.

20. The system of claim 13, further comprising a sensor coupled to the implantable controller, the sensor being configured to obtain physiological information and to feed the physiological information to the circuitry for operating either a gastric band size adjustment and/or the stimulation electrode.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the stimulation electrode is mounted on the inner surface of the inflatable member, and the sensor includes a pressure sensor for monitoring the hydraulic pressure within the inflatable member.

22. A gastric band system with electrical stimulation, comprising:

an implantable gastric band having an inflatable inner member with an uneven inner circumference having inwardly-directed troughs and peaks on which are mounted a series of stimulation electrodes in the peaks; and

an implantable controller including a power source and circuitry for sending electrical pulses to the stimulation electrodes.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the stimulation electrodes are configured to stimulate a splanchnic nerve.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the stimulation electrodes are configured to stimulate a vagal nerve.