Aendoscopic instrument system@
First Claim
1. An endoscopic system comprising:
- an elongate stimulation member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
at least one electrode located on said distal portion coupled to a conductor extending from said distal portion to said proximal portion; and
an electronic circuit comprising an output, said output coupled to said conductor at said proximal portion, said electronic circuit configured to deliver a stimulation signal to said electrode to elicit a muscle or neurological response; and
a sensing member having a sensor operative to sense the muscle or neurological response of a stomach wall to the stimulation signal.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device, system and method for diagnosing and treating gastric disorders is provided. A functional device resides within the patient'"'"'s stomach and is secured to the stomach wall by an attachment device. The functional device may be a sensor for sensing various parameters of the stomach or stomach environment, or may be a therapeutic delivery device. The functional device in one embodiment provides a device, system and method for gastric electrical stimulation where stimulating electrodes are secured to the wall of the stomach by the attachment device or otherwise. A preferred device includes: at least one stimulating electrode in electrical contact with the stomach wall; an electronics unit containing the electronic circuitry of the device; and an attachment mechanism for attaching the device to the stomach wall. The functional devices may be programmed to respond to sensed information or signals. An endoscopic delivery system delivers the functional device through the esophagus and into the stomach where it is attached the stomach wall. The endoscopic instruments attach or remove the attachment devices and functional devices from the stomach and may be used to assist in determining the optimal attachment location.
122 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An endoscopic system comprising:
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an elongate stimulation member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
at least one electrode located on said distal portion coupled to a conductor extending from said distal portion to said proximal portion; and
an electronic circuit comprising an output, said output coupled to said conductor at said proximal portion, said electronic circuit configured to deliver a stimulation signal to said electrode to elicit a muscle or neurological response; anda sensing member having a sensor operative to sense the muscle or neurological response of a stomach wall to the stimulation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An endoscopic instrument system comprising:
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an elongate instrument means for accessing the inside of a stomach wall through an esophagus, said elongate instrument means having a distal portion; and an electrical signal sensing means for sensing muscle or neurological electrical activity of a stomach wall, said electrical signal sensing means located on said distal portion of said elongate instrument means.
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9. An endoscopic instrument system comprising:
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an elongate instrument means for accessing the inside of a stomach wall through an esophagus said elongate instrument means having a distal portion; an electrical stimulating means for electrically stimulating a stomach wall to elicit a muscle or neurological response, said stimulating means located on said distal portion of said elongate instrument means; and a sensing means for sensing the muscle or neurological response of the stomach wall to electrical stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A device for optimizing stimulation to a portion of a gastrointestinal tract comprising:
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an electrode configured to be electrically coupled to the portion of the gastrointestinal tract; a stimulator configured to deliver a stimulation signal to the portion of the gastrointestinal tract through the electrode; a contraction sensor positioned in proximity to the electrode, wherein the contraction sensor is configured to sense a muscle contraction response of the portion of the gastrointestinal tract resulting from the stimulation signal at the electrode.
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12. A method for determining a location for attaching an electrode to a stomach for electrical stimulation comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate member having a distal portion wherein the distal portion comprises at least one electrode; advancing the distal portion of the elongate member through the esophagus into the stomach so that the at least one electrode is in electrical contact with the stomach wall at a first location; electrically stimulating the stomach with the electrode to elicit a muscle or neurological response and observing the muscle or neurological response to the stimulation; and determining if the first location is a suitable location for attaching an electrode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for determining a effectiveness of at least one stimulation parameter for electrical stimulation of a stomach comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate member having a distal portion wherein the distal portion comprises at least one electrode; advancing the distal portion of the elongate member through the esophagus into the stomach so that the at least one electrode is in electrical contact with the stomach wall at a first location; electrically stimulating the stomach with the at least one electrode using at least one stimulation parameter and observing a muscle or neurological response to the stimulation; and determining if the at least one stimulation parameter evokes a desired response. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of determining a stimulation parameter for stimulating a portion of a gastrointestinal tract comprising the steps of:
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providing an electrode electrically coupled to tissue of a gastrointestinal tract; providing a stimulator coupled to the electrode and configured to deliver an electrical stimulation signal to the portion of the gastrointestinal tract through the electrode; providing a contraction sensor in proximity to the electrode; delivering an electrically stimulating signal to the portion of the gastrointestinal tract through the electrode; and sensing muscle contraction of the portion of the gastrointestinal tract in proximity to the electrode.
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23. An endoscopic instrument system comprising:
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an elongate instrument configured to access the inside of a stomach wall through an esophagus, said elongate instrument having a distal portion; and an electrical signal sensor configured to sense muscle or neurological activity of a stomach wall, said electrical signal sensor located on said distal portion of said elongate instrument.
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24. An endoscopic instrument system comprising:
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an elongate instrument configured to access the inside of a stomach wall through an esophagus said elongate instrument having a distal portion; an electrical stimulator configured to electrically stimulate a stomach wall to elicit a muscle or neurological response, said stimulator located on said distal portion of said elongate instrument; and a sensor configured to sense a the muscle or neurological response of the stomach wall to electrical stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. An endoscopic system for sensing an evoked response of a gastrointestinal tissue of a patient, the system comprising:
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an elongate member having an end effector, wherein the end effector includes at least one electrode configured to deliver a test stimulation signal to the gastrointestinal tissue, wherein the signal is configured to evoke a muscle or neurological response by the gastrointestinal tissue indicative of gastric motility; and at least one sensor operative to sense contraction of the stomach wall, wherein the at least one sensor is operative to sense the muscle or neurological response. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification