Electrical method to control autonomic nerve stimulation of gastrointestinal tract

• US 6,775,573 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Codes of Life LLC
• Original Assignee: Medical Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: Schuler, Eleanor L., Lee, Claude K.
• Primary Examiner(s): GETZOW, SCOTT M
• Application Number:
  US10/085,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20030212439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 607/40, 607/41
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

A method and device for controlling autonomic or sympathic nerve stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract. The method comprises selecting waveforms from a storage area that are representative of body organ function. The selected waveforms are then transmitted to a treatment member, which is in direct contact with the body or attached to internal targets, and which then broadcasts the waveforms to a specific body organ to modulate the body organ functioning. A control module is provided for transmission to the treatment member. The control module contains waveforms which are selected and transmitted to the treatment member, and computer storage can be provided for greater storage capacity and manipulation of the waveforms.

Claims

1. A method for controlling autonomic nerve stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract comprising the steps of:

a. selecting from a storage area one or more waveforms generated in the body and carried by neurons in the body;

b. transmitting or conducting the selected waveforms to a treatment member in contact with the body; and

c. broadcasting the selected waveforms from the treatment member to an organ in the body.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which step “

a”

further includes selecting said waveforms from a storage area in a computer.

3. The method according to claim 1, in which step “

b”

further comprises transmitting the selected waveforms remotely to the treatment member.

4. The method according to claim 1, in which step “

b”

further comprises transmission of the selected waveforms.

5. An apparatus for controlling autonomic nerve stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract, comprising:

a. a source of collected waveforms indicative of body organ functioning;

b. a treatment member in direct contact with the body;

c. means for transmitting one or more of the collected waveforms to the treatment member; and

d. means for broadcasting the collected waveforms from the treatment member to a body organ to stimulate organ function.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, in which said transmitting means includes a digital to analog converter.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, in which said source comprises a computer having collected waveforms stored in digital format.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, in which said computer includes separate storage areas for collecting waveforms of different respiratory functional categories.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, in which the treatment member comprises an antenna for broadcasting respiratory signals.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5, in which the treatment member comprises an electrode.