Implantable neuromuscular stimulator for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders
First Claim
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1. A system for treating a gastrointestinal tract disorder in a human patient, the system comprising:
- an implantable control module including electronic circuitry;
a plurality of electrodes connected to the electronic circuitry, wherein the electrodes are adapted to be placed on a portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, the portion comprising a first plurality of gastrointestinal tract structures; and
wherein the electronic circuitry of the control module is adapted to electrically stimulate a second plurality of gastrointestinal tract structures in a coordinated sequence with at least one time delay between structures of the second plurality, the stimulation being applied to reinforce a desired sequential function in the portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract.
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Abstract
A system and method for treating gastrointestinal and other disorders via electrical stimulation of plural portions of a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract uses an implantable control module, sensors attached to various structures of the gastrointestinal tract, and electrodes also attached to various structures of the gastrointestinal tract. Signals received from the sensors are analyzed to identify events in the gastrointestinal system, and electrical stimulation is applied to structures of the gastrointestinal tract, in sequence, to restore normal function or achieve other clinically desirable results.
421 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for treating a gastrointestinal tract disorder in a human patient, the system comprising:
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an implantable control module including electronic circuitry;
a plurality of electrodes connected to the electronic circuitry, wherein the electrodes are adapted to be placed on a portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, the portion comprising a first plurality of gastrointestinal tract structures; and
wherein the electronic circuitry of the control module is adapted to electrically stimulate a second plurality of gastrointestinal tract structures in a coordinated sequence with at least one time delay between structures of the second plurality, the stimulation being applied to reinforce a desired sequential function in the portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for treating a gastrointestinal tract disorder in a human patient with an implantable system including a control module including electronic circuitry, a plurality of electrodes connected to the electronic circuitry, wherein the electrodes are adapted to be placed on a portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, the portion comprising a plurality of gastrointestinal tract structures, and at least one sensor connected to the electronic circuitry, wherein the sensor is adapted to be placed on the portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract and is capable of sensing activity within the gastrointestinal tract, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a sensed signal from the at least one sensor, wherein the sensed signal is representative of activity within the gastrointestinal tract;
analyzing the sensed signal to identify an event in the gastrointestinal tract;
waiting for a time delay to elapse; and
stimulating at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes to restore normal function to the portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, wherein the at least one electrode is on a different structure of the plurality of gastrointestinal tract structures.
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34. A system for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a human patient, the system comprising:
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an implantable control module including electronic circuitry;
a plurality of electrodes connected to the electronic circuitry, wherein the electrodes are adapted to be placed on a portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, the portion comprising a first plurality of gastrointestinal tract structures including the lower esophageal sphincter (LES); and
wherein the electronic circuitry of the control module is adapted to electrically stimulate a second plurality of gastrointestinal tract structures including the LES in a coordinated sequence with at least one time delay between structures of the second plurality, the stimulation being applied to ensure closure of the LES during at least a portion of a digestion process and to reinforce a desired sequential function in the portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a human patient with an implantable system including a control module including electronic circuitry, a plurality of electrodes connected to the electronic circuitry, wherein the electrodes are adapted to be placed on a portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, the portion comprising a first plurality of gastrointestinal tract structures including the patient'"'"'s lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and at least one sensor connected to the electronic circuitry, wherein the sensor is adapted to be placed on the patient'"'"'s esophagus to detect swallowing, the method comprising the steps of:
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electrically stimulating a second plurality of gastrointestinal tract structures including the LES in a coordinated sequence with at least one time delay, the stimulation being applied to ensure closure of the LES during at least a portion of a digestion process and to reinforce a desired sequential function in the portion of the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract;
receiving a sensed signal from the at least one sensor, wherein the sensed signal is representative of activity within the patient'"'"'s esophagus;
analyzing the sensed signal to identify swallowing in the patient'"'"'s esophagus; and
temporarily suspending the stimulation of the LES when swallowing is identified, thereby allowing the LES to open.
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Specification