Irritable bowel syndrome treatment

• US 7,693,577 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• 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): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): SARCIONE, JESSICA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/656,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20070142870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 607 40- 41, 607 1- 2, 607 45- 46
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0026 Anti-eating devices using electrical stimulation
• 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 1/321 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 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer

Abstract

At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning a neurostimulator carrier around a body organ of the patient where the organ is innervated by at least a vagal trunk. An electrode is disposed on the carrier and positioned at the vagal trunk. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity by an amount selected to treat the disorder. The signal may be a blocking or a stimulation signal.

Claims

1. A method for treating diarrhea dominant irritable bowel syndrome in a patient comprising:

positioning an electrode on a vagus nerve below a vagal innervation of a heart of the patient, with the nerve innervating at least one of a plurality of alimentary tract organs; and

treating the patient'"'"'s diarrhea dominant irritable bowel syndrome by applying an electrical signal to the electrode with the signal selected to

a) at least in part, down-regulate neural activity on the vagus nerve,

b) allow partial restoration of nerve activity upon discontinuation of the electrical signal,

c) have a frequency of at least 500 Hz, and

d) reduce pancreatic output via inhibition of pancreo-biliary output;

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

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electrical signal is applied at a frequency selected for the signal to create a neural conduction block on the nerve at a blocking site with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on the nerve at the blocking site.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein application of the neural conduction block is variable by a controller to alter a characteristic of the block.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electrode is placed on the vagus nerve at an esophagus of the patient.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signal has a frequency of about 5,000 Hz.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signal is intermittently applied.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signal is applied to a trunk of the vagus nerve.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signal is applied to a branch of the vagus nerve.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signal is applied to both an anterior vagus nerve and a posterior vagus nerve of the patient.

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

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signal is selected to at least partially block afferent nerve signals.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signal is selected to at least partially block efferent nerve signals.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signal is selected to at least partially block both afferent and efferent nerve signals.