Method and apparatus for electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing electrical stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract comprising:
- means for electrically coupling to the gastrointestinal tract;
a pulse generator coupled to the means for electrically coupling to the gastrointestinal tract, the pulse generator emitiliting stimulation pulse trains at a first rate;
means for sensing slow wave gastrointestinal electrical activity, the slow wave sensing means being coupled to the means for electrically coupling to the gastrointestinal tract, the slow wave sensing means comprising meals for sensing tachygastric activity, the means for sensing tachygastric activity emitting a tachygastric activity signal upon the sensing of intrinsic tachygastric activity; and
means responsive to be emission of the tachygastric activity signal for delivering tachygastric stimulation.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract. The apparatus features an implantable pulse generator which may be coupled to the gastric system through one or more medical electrical leads. In the preferred embodiment the leads couple to the circular layer of the stomach. The pulse generator preferably features sensors for sensing gastric electrical activity, and in particular, whether peristaltic contractions as occurring. One embodiment particularly solves the problem of accurately detecting gastric arrhythmias by periodically reverting into a sensed intrinsic gastric rhythm mode. In this mode the output of electrical stimulation is adjusted to only occur at an exceedingly slow rate. This slow rate of stimulation thus permits the gastrointestinal tissues to undergo an intrinsic depolarization so that the underlying intrinsic slow wave rate may be detected.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing electrical stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract comprising:
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means for electrically coupling to the gastrointestinal tract; a pulse generator coupled to the means for electrically coupling to the gastrointestinal tract, the pulse generator emitiliting stimulation pulse trains at a first rate; means for sensing slow wave gastrointestinal electrical activity, the slow wave sensing means being coupled to the means for electrically coupling to the gastrointestinal tract, the slow wave sensing means comprising meals for sensing tachygastric activity, the means for sensing tachygastric activity emitting a tachygastric activity signal upon the sensing of intrinsic tachygastric activity; and means responsive to be emission of the tachygastric activity signal for delivering tachygastric stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification