NERVE STIMULATION AND BLOCKING FOR TREATMENT OF GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
First Claim
1. A system for treating a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by dysmotility of a gastrointestinal organ comprising:
- a first electrode adapted for placement on the vagus nerve at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ and below a diaphragm of said patient, anda second electrode adapted for placement on said vagus nerve at a site proximal to said stimulation site,a third electrode adapted for placement on said vagus nerve at a distal blocking site distal to said stimulation site,an implantable controller comprising an induction coil, at least one circuit for generating a neural conduction blocking signal connected to the second and third electrode, at least one circuit for generating a neural conduction stimulating signal connected to the first electrode, a battery, and a central processing unit comprising program storage and memory; and
an external programmer configured to;
communicate at least one parameter for the neural conduction blocking signal to the implantable controller, wherein the parameter is selected for the neuroconduction blocking signal to i) at least partially downregulate the vagus nerve, ii) allow at least partial recovery of the nerve activity following discontinuation of the neural conduction blocking signal, and iii) reduce pancreatic and biliary output via inhibition of pancreo-biliary output, andcommunicate at least one parameter for the neural conduction stimulating signal to the implantable controller, wherein the parameter is selected for the neuroconduction stimulating signal to enhance pancreatic and biliary output; and
an external coil adapted to be worn by the patient, wherein the external coil is connected to the external programmer, and is adapted to inductively couple to the induction coil of the implantable controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
At least one of a plurality of gastrointestinal disorders is treated by stimulating an enteric nervous system of a patient to enhance a functional tone of the enteric nervous system. A treatment includes electrically stimulating a vagus nerve of the patient at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ. The electrical stimulation includes applying a stimulation signal at the stimulation site. An optional proximal electrical blocking signal is applied to the vagus nerve at a proximal blocking site proximal to the stimulation site. The proximal blocking signal is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses at the proximal blocking site.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for treating a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by dysmotility of a gastrointestinal organ comprising:
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a first electrode adapted for placement on the vagus nerve at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ and below a diaphragm of said patient, and a second electrode adapted for placement on said vagus nerve at a site proximal to said stimulation site, a third electrode adapted for placement on said vagus nerve at a distal blocking site distal to said stimulation site, an implantable controller comprising an induction coil, at least one circuit for generating a neural conduction blocking signal connected to the second and third electrode, at least one circuit for generating a neural conduction stimulating signal connected to the first electrode, a battery, and a central processing unit comprising program storage and memory; and an external programmer configured to; communicate at least one parameter for the neural conduction blocking signal to the implantable controller, wherein the parameter is selected for the neuroconduction blocking signal to i) at least partially downregulate the vagus nerve, ii) allow at least partial recovery of the nerve activity following discontinuation of the neural conduction blocking signal, and iii) reduce pancreatic and biliary output via inhibition of pancreo-biliary output, and communicate at least one parameter for the neural conduction stimulating signal to the implantable controller, wherein the parameter is selected for the neuroconduction stimulating signal to enhance pancreatic and biliary output; and an external coil adapted to be worn by the patient, wherein the external coil is connected to the external programmer, and is adapted to inductively couple to the induction coil of the implantable controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification