Gastric stimulation for altered perception to treat obesity

• US 7,177,693 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2004
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Starkebaum, Warren L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heller; Tammie K.
• Application Number:
  US10/768,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 607/40, 607/133
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

In general, an implantable medical device is disclosed for generating and applying an electric stimulation signal to a portion of a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract to induce symptoms of gastroparesis in the patient without substantially reducing normal stomach motility. The induced symptoms of gastroparesis may reduce a patient'"'"'s desire to consume large portions of food and thus provide an effective treatment for obesity.

Claims

1. A method for providing gastric stimulation to induce symptoms in a patient, the method comprising:

generating an electric stimulation signal for inducing symptoms in the patient; and

applying the electric stimulation signal to a gastrointestinal tract of the patient;

wherein the electric stimulation signal induces symptoms of gastroparesis in the patient without substantially disrupting stomach motility.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric stimulation signal has a frequency significantly greater than a normal gastric slow wave of the patient.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the symptoms include at least one of nausea, satiety, and gastric discomfort.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an external command for initiating and terminating electric stimulation; and

generating the electric stimulation signal in response to the external command.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the external command comprises:

a command operation; and

a command time of day when the command operation is to occur.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the external command indicates initiation of the application of the electric stimulation signal.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the external command indicates termination of the application of the electric stimulation signal.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric stimulation signal comprises a set of signal parameters comprising an amplitude, a signal frequency, a pulse width, and a duty cycle, and at least one of the parameters is selected to be insufficient to cause disruption of normal stomach motility.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric stimulation signal comprises a set of signal parameters, the set of signal parameters comprising:

an amplitude between approximately 1 mA and 100 mA;

a signal frequency between approximately 0.5 Hz and 500 Hz;

a pulse width between approximately 10 microseconds and 5000 microseconds;

an on duty cycle between approximately 0.1 seconds and 1 second; and

an off duty cycle between approximately 1 second and 60 seconds.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric stimulation signal comprises a set of signal parameter, the set of signal parameters comprising:

an amplitude between approximately 0.1 mA and 10 mA;

a signal frequency between approximately 10 Hz and 250 Hz;

a pulse width between approximately 100 microseconds and 1000 microseconds;

an on duty cycle between approximately 0.1 seconds and 0.5 seconds; and

an off duty cycle between approximately 1 second and 10 seconds.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric stimulation signal comprises a set of signal parameter, the set of signal parameters comprising:

an amplitude of approximately 5 mA;

a signal frequency of approximately 14 Hz;

a pulse width of approximately 330 microseconds;

an on duty cycle of approximately 0.1 seconds; and

an off duty cycle of approximately 5 seconds.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

sensing a physiological parameter associated with the gastrointestinal tract; and

adjusting the set of signal parameters based upon the sensed physiological parameter.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein adjusting the set of signal parameters results in termination of generation of the electric stimulation signal.