Crural diaphragm pacemaker and method for treating esophageal reflux disease
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A crural diaphragm pacemaker, comprising:
- means for sensing crural diaphragm inhibition; and
means for providing electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s crural diaphragm.
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Abstract
An electronic pacemaker is used to counter-act crural diaphragm relaxation thereby preventing and/or treating gastroesophageal reflux. The pacemaker can be implantable, or be connected to the skeletal muscles of the crural diaphragm through the skin. A sensor is used to identify spontaneous intermittent relaxations of the diaphragm. During these spontaneous intermittent relaxations, one or more electrodes are used to stimulate the skeletal muscles of the crural diaphragm to cause contraction of the lower esophageal sphincter.
265 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A crural diaphragm pacemaker, comprising:
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means for sensing crural diaphragm inhibition; and means for providing electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s crural diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A crural diaphragm pacemaker, comprising:
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a crural diaphragm electrode connectable to a patient'"'"'s crural diaphragm; and a controller connected to said crural diaphragm electrode, said controller selectively directing said crural diaphragm electrode to provide electrical stimulation to a patient'"'"'s crural diaphragm. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for treating gastroesophageal reflux, comprising the steps of:
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sensing spontaneous intermittent relaxations of a patient'"'"'s crural diaphragm; and providing sufficient electrical stimulation to said patient'"'"'s crural diaphragm to cause contraction of said patient'"'"'s lower esophageal sphincter. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of electrically pacing a patient'"'"'s crural diaphragm, comprising the steps of:
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detecting crural diaphragm inhibition for said patient; and electrically stimulating said patient'"'"'s crural diaphragm when crural diaphragm inhibition is detected during said detecting step. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification