Pseudounipolar lead for stimulating a digestive organ

• US 7,689,284 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Inventors: Bashyam, Jacob Anthiah, Imran, Mir A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, NATASHA
• Application Number:
  US11/249,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 607/40, 607/73, 607/126, 607/130, 607/133
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0003 Apparatus for the treatment of obesity; Anti-eating devices surgical instruments or methods for treatment of obesity, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/00; hollow or tubular parts of organs A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/028 having a mainly rigid support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0509 Stomach and intestinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0517 Esophageal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers

Abstract

A pseudounipolar stimulator lead for anchoring to a digestive organ is provided.

Claims

1. An implantable stimulator for stimulating a digestive organ comprising:

a first implantable pseudounipolar electrode configured to be positioned in electrical contact with the digestive organ when deployed, wherein the first electrode has a first surface area in the range of about 2 mm² to about 20 mm²;

a second implantable electrode configured to engage tissue of the digestive organ and disposed so as to form an electrode pair with the first electrode when deployed, wherein the second electrode has a second surface area in the range of about 50 mm² to about 200 mm²; and

a retention device including said first electrode, the retention device in use, attaching to a wall of the organ so as to reduce movement of the retention device and maintain electrode contact between the deployed first electrode and the wall of the organ when the stimulator is implanted, so that the surface of the first electrode remains in electrical contact with the digestive organ during long-term implantation of the stimulator and long-term stimulation of the organ.

2. The stimulator of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the first surface area to the second surface area is about 2:

5 or less.

3. The stimulator of claim 2 wherein the ratio of the first surface area to the second surface area is between about 1:

40 and 2;

5.

4. The stimulator of claim 1 wherein the second electrode is located on the retention device.

5. The stimulator of claim 1 further comprising electronic circuitry configured to be coupled to the first electrode and second electrode to deliver an electrical signal to the digestive organ.

6. The stimulator of claim 5 wherein the electronic circuitry is disposed within an electronics housing and the second electrode is located on the housing.

7. The stimulator of claim 1 wherein the implantable stimulator is configured to be delivered endoscopically to the digestive organ.

8. The stimulator of claim 1 wherein the implantable stimulator is configured to be attached to a stomach wall.

9. The stimulator of claim 1 further comprising an anchor, the anchor having:

an expansible distal portion and an elongate portion coupled to the expansible distal portion wherein the elongate portion is configured to extend through the wall of the digestive organ when deployed, the elongate portion comprising a narrower more distal portion and wider more proximal portion; and

wherein the first electrode is located on the narrower more distal portion of the elongate member, and wherein the second electrode is located on the wider more proximal portion of the elongate member.

10. A stimulator for stimulating a digestive organ comprising:

an implantable stimulator comprising;

an implantable power source;

a first pseudounipolar electrode having a first surface area and configured to be positioned in electrical contact with the digestive organ when deployed;

a second electrode having a second surface area and configured to engage tissue of the digestive organ when deployed so as to form an electrode pair with the first electrode when deployed, the first and second electrodes coupled to the power source; and

a retention device including said first electrode, the retention device having opposed surfaces that, in use, attach to a wall of the organ so as to reduce movement of the retention device and maintain electrode contact between the deployed first electrode and the wall of the organ, and wherein the ratio of the first surface area to the second surface area is about 2;

5 or less during long-term implantation of the stimulator and long-term stimulation of the digestive organ.

11. The stimulator of claim 10 wherein the second electrode is located on the retention device.

12. The stimulator of claim 10 further comprising electronic circuitry configured to be coupled to the first electrode and second electrode to deliver an electrical signal to the digestive organ.

13. The stimulator of claim 12 wherein the electronic circuitry is disposed within an electronics housing and the second electrode is located on the housing.

14. The stimulator of claim 10 wherein the stimulator is configured to be delivered endoscopically to the digestive organ.

15. The stimulator of claim 10 wherein the stimulator is configured to be attached to a stomach wall.

16. The stimulator of claim 10 further comprising an anchor, the anchor having:

an expansible distal portion and an elongate portion coupled to the expansible distal portion wherein the elongate portion is configured to extend through the wall of the digestive organ when deployed, the elongate portion comprising a narrower more distal portion and wider more proximal portion wherein the first electrode is located on the narrower more distal portion of the elongate member, and wherein the second electrode is located on the wider more proximal portion of the elongate member.