Gastrointestinal electrical stimulator having a variable electrical stimulus
First Claim
1. A device for electrical stimulation of smooth muscle comprising a portion of the gastro-intestinal tract, wherein the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the device comprising:
- (a) a proximal electrode set for arrangement circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the smooth muscle may be stimulated thereby to produce a local circumferential contraction of the smooth muscle at the location of the proximal electrode set;
(b) at least one distal electrode set for arrangement circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and in axially spaced relationship relative to the proximal electrode set such that the smooth muscle may be stimulated thereby to produce a local circumferential contraction of the smooth muscle at the location of the distal electrode set;
(c) at least one power source for providing a variable electrical stimulus to the proximal and distal electrode sets sufficient to stimulate the smooth muscle to produce the local circumferential contractions, wherein the electrical stimulus is variable between each of the proximal and distal electrode sets;
(d) a timing mechanism, associated with the power source, for phase locking the electrical stimulus such that the electrical stimulus is applied to the proximal and distal electrode sets successively and repetitively, wherein the timing mechanism applies the electrical stimulus to each electrode set for an interval of time in overlapping succession such that the application of the electrical stimulus to each electrode set ceases following the commencement of the application of the electrical stimulus to the next successive electrode set;
wherein the axially spaced relationship between the electrode sets and the timing of the electrical stimulus applied to the electrode sets are selected such that the local circumferential contractions are artificially propagated distally through the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for electrical stimulation of a portion of the gastro-intestinal tract, defining a longitudinal axis. A proximal and at least one distal electrode set are arranged circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and in axially spaced relationship relative to each other. At least one power source provides a variable electrical stimulus to the electrode sets sufficient to stimulate the smooth muscle to produce a local circumferential contraction at each electrode set, wherein the electrical stimulus is variable between each of the proximal and distal electrode sets. A timing mechanism phase locks the electrical stimulus such that it is applied to the electrode sets successively, preferably in an overlapping manner, and repetitively. The axially spaced relationship between the electrode sets and the timing of the electrical stimulus are selected such that the local circumferential contractions are artificially propagated distally through the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract.
271 Citations
76 Claims
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1. A device for electrical stimulation of smooth muscle comprising a portion of the gastro-intestinal tract, wherein the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the device comprising:
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(a) a proximal electrode set for arrangement circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the smooth muscle may be stimulated thereby to produce a local circumferential contraction of the smooth muscle at the location of the proximal electrode set;
(b) at least one distal electrode set for arrangement circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and in axially spaced relationship relative to the proximal electrode set such that the smooth muscle may be stimulated thereby to produce a local circumferential contraction of the smooth muscle at the location of the distal electrode set;
(c) at least one power source for providing a variable electrical stimulus to the proximal and distal electrode sets sufficient to stimulate the smooth muscle to produce the local circumferential contractions, wherein the electrical stimulus is variable between each of the proximal and distal electrode sets;
(d) a timing mechanism, associated with the power source, for phase locking the electrical stimulus such that the electrical stimulus is applied to the proximal and distal electrode sets successively and repetitively, wherein the timing mechanism applies the electrical stimulus to each electrode set for an interval of time in overlapping succession such that the application of the electrical stimulus to each electrode set ceases following the commencement of the application of the electrical stimulus to the next successive electrode set;
wherein the axially spaced relationship between the electrode sets and the timing of the electrical stimulus applied to the electrode sets are selected such that the local circumferential contractions are artificially propagated distally through the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for electrical stimulation of smooth muscle comprising a portion of the gastro-intestinal tract, wherein the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and wherein the method is performed using a device comprised of a proximal electrode set and at least one distal electrode set, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) arranging the proximal electrode set circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the smooth muscle may be stimulated thereby to produce a local circumferential contraction of the smooth muscle at the location of the proximal electrode set;
(b) arranging each of the distal electrode sets circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and in axially spaced relationship relative to the proximal electrode set such that the smooth muscle may be stimulated thereby to produce a local circumferential contraction of the smooth muscle at the location of the distal electrode set;
(c) applying a variable electrical stimulus to the proximal and distal electrode sets sufficient to stimulate the smooth muscle to produce the local circumferential contractions, wherein the electrical stimulus is variable between each of the proximal and distal electrode sets, wherein the electrical stimulus is phase-locked such that the electrical stimulus is applied to the proximal and distal electrode sets successively and repetitively and wherein the applying step is comprised of applying the electrical stimulus to each electrode set for an interval of time in overlapping succession such that the application of the electrical stimulus to each electrode set ceases following the commencement of the application of the electrical stimulus to the next successive electrode set;
wherein the axially spaced relationship between the electrode sets and the timing of the phase-locking of the electrical stimulus applied to the electrode sets are selected such that the local circumferential contractions are artificially propagated distally through the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for electrical stimulation of smooth muscle comprising a portion of the gastro-intestinal tract, wherein the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying an electrical stimulus at a proximal location to the smooth muscle circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the electrical stimulus is sufficient to stimulate the smooth muscle to produce a local circumferential contraction at the proximal location;
(b) applying an electrical stimulus at at least one distal location to the smooth muscle circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the distal location is in axially spaced relationship relative to the proximal location, wherein the electrical stimulus is sufficient to stimulate the smooth muscle to produce a local circumferential contraction at the distal location and wherein the applied electrical stimulus is varied between each of the proximal and distal locations; and
(c) phase-locking the electrical stimulus applied at the proximal and distal locations such that the electrical stimulus is applied at the proximal and distal locations successively and repetitively, wherein the phase-locking step is comprised of applying the electrical stimulus at each location for an interval of time in overlapping succession such that the application of the electrical stimulus at each location ceases following the commencement of the application of the electrical stimulus at the next successive location;
wherein the axially spaced relationship between the proximal and distal locations and the timing of the phase-locking of the electrical stimulus applied to the locations are selected such that the local circumferential contractions are artificially propagated distally through the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A device for electrical stimulation of smooth muscle comprising a portion of the gastro-intestinal tract, wherein the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the device comprising:
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(a) a proximal electrode set for arrangement circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the smooth muscle may be stimulated thereby to produce a local circumferential contraction of the smooth muscle at the location of the proximal electrode set;
(b) at least one distal electrode set for arrangement circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and in axially spaced relationship relative to the proximal electrode set such that the smooth muscle may be stimulated thereby to produce a local circumferential contraction of the smooth muscle at the location of the distal electrode set;
(c) at least one power source for providing a variable electrical stimulus to the proximal and distal electrode sets sufficient to stimulate the smooth muscle to produce the local circumferential contractions, wherein the electrical stimulus is variable between each of the proximal and distal electrode sets;
(d) a timing mechanism, associated with the power source, for phase locking the electrical stimulus such that the electrical stimulus is applied to the proximal and distal electrode sets successively and repetitively, wherein the timing mechanism applies the electrical stimulus to each electrode set for an interval of time in overlapping succession such that the application of the electrical stimulus to each electrode set ceases following the commencement of the application of the electrical stimulus to all successive electrode sets;
wherein the axially spaced relationship between the electrode sets and the timing of the electrical stimulus applied to the electrode sets are selected such that the local circumferential contractions are artificially propagated distally through the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for electrical stimulation of smooth muscle comprising a portion of the gastro-intestinal tract, wherein the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and wherein the method is performed using a device comprised of a proximal electrode set and at least one distal electrode set, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) arranging the proximal electrode set circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the smooth muscle may be stimulated thereby to produce a local circumferential contraction of the smooth muscle at the location of the proximal electrode set;
(b) arranging each of the distal electrode sets circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and in axially spaced relationship relative to the proximal electrode set such that the smooth muscle may be stimulated thereby to produce a local circumferential contraction of the smooth muscle at the location of the distal electrode set;
(c) applying a variable electrical stimulus to the proximal and distal electrode sets sufficient to stimulate the smooth muscle to produce the local circumferential contractions, wherein the electrical stimulus is variable between each of the proximal and distal electrode sets, wherein the electrical stimulus is phase-locked such that the electrical stimulus is applied to the proximal and distal electrode sets successively and repetitively and wherein the applying step is comprised of applying the electrical stimulus to each electrode set for an interval of time in overlapping succession such that the application of the electrical stimulus to each electrode set ceases following the commencement of the application of the electrical stimulus to all successive electrode sets;
wherein the axially spaced relationship between the electrode sets and the timing of the phase-locking of the electrical stimulus applied to the electrode sets are selected such that the local circumferential contractions are artificially propagated distally through the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method for electrical stimulation of smooth muscle comprising a portion of the gastro-intestinal tract, wherein the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying an electrical stimulus at a proximal location to the smooth muscle circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the electrical stimulus is sufficient to stimulate the smooth muscle to produce a local circumferential contraction at the proximal location;
(b) applying an electrical stimulus at at least one distal location to the smooth muscle circumferentially about the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the distal location is in axially spaced relationship relative to the proximal location, wherein the electrical stimulus is sufficient to stimulate the smooth muscle to produce a local circumferential contraction at the distal location and wherein the applied electrical stimulus is varied between each of the proximal and distal locations; and
(c) phase-locking the electrical stimulus applied at the proximal and distal locations such that the electrical stimulus is applied at the proximal and distal locations successively and repetitively, wherein the phase-locking step is comprised of applying the electrical stimulus at each location for an interval of time in overlapping succession such that the application of the electrical stimulus at each location ceases following the commencement of the application of the electrical stimulus at all successive locations;
wherein the axially spaced relationship between the proximal and distal locations and the timing of the phase-locking of the electrical stimulus applied to the locations are selected such that the local circumferential contractions are artificially propagated distally through the portion of the gastro-intestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification