Vagal down-regulation obesity treatment

• US 7,489,969 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EnteroMedics, Inc. (ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.)
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Wilson, Richard R., Tweden, Katherine S., Conrad, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle; Kennedy J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reidel; Jessica
• Application Number:
  US10/674,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: 607 2- 3, 607 40- 41, 607 45- 46, 607/48, 607/63, 606 20- 26, 604/890.1, 604/891.1, 604/892.1, 604 19- 21
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/321 Electromedical belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

Obesity is treated by applying a non-ablative, non-systemic therapy to a vagus nerve of an obese patient at a site below a vagal innervation of a heart. The therapy is selected to at least partially down-regulate a neural activity on the vagus nerve of the obese patient. The therapy is applied in a manner to down-regulate at least afferent signals on the vagus nerve.

Claims

1. A method for treating obesity of an obese patient by applying a neural treatment comprising:

applying an electrode to a vagus nerve of the obese patient at a site below a vagal innervation of a heart of the patient to deliver an electrical signal and with the electrical signal applied by a device with a component chronically implanted within the patient'"'"'s body; and

applying the electrical signal to the vagus nerve intermittently multiple times in a day and over multiple days, wherein the electrical signal is selected to a) at least partially block at least an afferent neural activity on the vagus nerve without ablating the vagus nerve of the obese patient;

b) allow at least partial restoration of nerve activity following discontinuation of application of the signal to the nerve; and

c) reduce pancreo-biliary output;

wherein the electrical signal is not applied in response to a sensed event.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural treatment is regulated to heighten a sensation of satiety of said patient.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electrode is applied at a vagal trunk.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electrode is applied at a vagal branch.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electrode is applied at both anterior and posterior vagus nerves of the patient.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electrode is applied at the vagus nerve at a location near or distal to a diaphragm of the patient.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the neural treatment is further selected to at least partially block efferent nerve signals.

8. A method for treating obesity in a patient comprising:

applying a treatment comprising a reversible intermittent electrical signal by placing an electrode on a vagus nerve of the patient at a site below a vagal innervation of a heart of the patient by a device with a component chronically implanted within the patient'"'"'s body;

wherein the electrical signal is selected to a) at least partially block at least an afferent neural activity on the vagus nerve of the patient;

b) allow at least partial restoration of nerve activity following discontinuation of application of the signal to the nerve; and

c) reduce pancreo-biliary output;

wherein the electrical signal is not applied in response to a sensed event.