Gastro-intestinal pacemaker having phased multi-point stimulation
First Claim
1. A method for electrically stimulating at least one organ in the gastro-intestinal tract for peristaltic movement, comprising the steps of:
- connecting a plurality of electrodes to at least one organ in the gastro-intestinal tract of a patient along a peristaltic flow path, each of said plurality of electrodes being connected at a different location along said peristaltic flow path; and
providing electrical pulses to said organ from each one of said plurality of electrodes, said electrical pulsed provided by said plurality of electrodes being in a phased relationship according to a desired peristaltic flow through said at least one organ in said gastrointestinal tract.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable or implantable gastric pacemaker includes multiple electrodes that are positionable on the inner or outer surface of an organ in the gastro-intestinal tract and which are individually programmed to deliver a phased electrical stimulation to pace peristaltic movement of material through the GI tract. The pacemaker will accommodate variations in pulse amplitudes, pulse durations, pulse periods, and relative pulse phasing among the electrodes. Computer control can be used to adjust and vary all stimulation parameters delivered by the electrodes to achieve effective treatment and re-training of an organ for natural pacing. The pacemaker can be programmed with parameters to enhance or accelerate peristaltic movement through the gastric tract or to attenuate the peristaltic movement to treat such conditions eating disorders or diarrhea.
833 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for electrically stimulating at least one organ in the gastro-intestinal tract for peristaltic movement, comprising the steps of:
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connecting a plurality of electrodes to at least one organ in the gastro-intestinal tract of a patient along a peristaltic flow path, each of said plurality of electrodes being connected at a different location along said peristaltic flow path; and providing electrical pulses to said organ from each one of said plurality of electrodes, said electrical pulsed provided by said plurality of electrodes being in a phased relationship according to a desired peristaltic flow through said at least one organ in said gastrointestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A gastric pacemaker for controlling the peristaltic pace of digestive organs, comprising:
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a plurality of stimulation electrodes sequentially positionable on at least one digestive organ along a peristaltic flow path; controller for controlling electrical pulse parameters for each of said plurality of stimulation electrodes in a phased relationship according to a desired peristaltic flow; and circuitry for providing electrical pulses to each of said plurality of stimulation electrodes in accordance with said phased relationship. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification