Methods and apparatus for treatment of obesity
First Claim
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1. A method for reducing obesity by reducing the transmission of a hunger signal through the vagal nerve by transesophageal ablation of the vagal nerve comprising the steps of:
- introducing an ablation energy delivery device into the esophagus through the nose or mouth and positioning said device below the diaphragm,ablating at least one vagal nerve branch by transesophageal delivery of ablation energy to the site of the at least one vagal nerve branch on the outer wall of the esophagus wherein transmission of the hunger signal through the at least one vagal nerve branch is prevented.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for treating obesity by use of transesophageal delivery of energy to interrupt the function of vagal nerves. The energy, which may be highly focused ultrasound energy or other types of energy is delivered through the wall of the esophagus by a device placed in the esophagus. The energy delivered is sufficient to ablate a vagal nerve on the outer wall of the esophagus.
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22 Claims
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1. A method for reducing obesity by reducing the transmission of a hunger signal through the vagal nerve by transesophageal ablation of the vagal nerve comprising the steps of:
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introducing an ablation energy delivery device into the esophagus through the nose or mouth and positioning said device below the diaphragm, ablating at least one vagal nerve branch by transesophageal delivery of ablation energy to the site of the at least one vagal nerve branch on the outer wall of the esophagus wherein transmission of the hunger signal through the at least one vagal nerve branch is prevented. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In an apparatus for ablation of a vagal nerve branch to reduce the transmission of hunger signals through the vagal nerves to reduce obesity comprising an energy delivery device, and a carrier for said energy delivery device, said carrier being adapted to pass through the nose or mouth and locate said energy delivery device in the esophagus, the improvement comprising:
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the energy delivery device being an ablation energy delivery device configured to ablate a vagal nerve branch by transesophageal delivery of ablation energy to the vagal nerve, and an actuator configured to energize the ablation energy delivery device with energy sufficient to ablate the vagal nerve branch to prevent transmission of hunger signals through the vagal nerve branch. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification