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Techniques for treating eating disorders by brain stimulation and drug infusion

  • US 5,782,798 A
  • Filed: 06/26/1996
  • Issued: 07/21/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for therapeutically treating an eating disorder of a patient having a central nervous system including a brain and a spinal cord, by at least one of drug infusion into and electrical stimulation of the central nervous system, the method comprising the steps of:

  • surgically implanting at least one electrode having a proximal end coupled to a signal generator and having a stimulation portion that lies adjacent a predetermined stimulation site in the central nervous system of the patient, the predetermined stimulation site being a site on the central nervous system that controls at least one of hunger and satiety for the patient;

    surgically implanting a pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to the pump and a discharge portion that lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site in the central nervous system of the patient, the predetermined infusion site being a site on the central nervous system that controls at least one of hunger and satiety for the patient;

    coupling the proximal end of the at least one electrode to the signal generator;

    operating the signal generator to stimulate the stimulation site; and

    operating the pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of at least one drug through the discharge portion of the catheter into the infusion site while the signal generator is stimulating the stimulation site, whereby an eating disorder is treated by at least one of electrical stimulation of the stimulation site and drug infusion of the at least one drug into the infusion site.

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