Method and apparatus for gastrointestinal stimulation via the lymphatic system
First Claim
1. A method for delivering stimulation to a body having lymphatic vessels and a gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the lymphatic vessels including a thoracic duct and vessels branching from the thoracic duct, the GI tract including GI organs and nerves innervating the GI organs, the method comprising:
- delivering GI stimuli to one or more of the GI organs and the nerves innervating the GI organs from an implantable medical device through at least a first stimulation electrode placed in a lymphatic vessel of the thoracic duct and the lymphatic vessels branching from the thoracic duct.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable gastrointestinal (GI) stimulation system includes an implantable medical device and at least one stimulus delivery device configured to be placed in one or more lymphatic vessels of a patient, such as the patient'"'"'s thoracic duct and/or vessels branching from the thoracic duct. In one embodiment, the implantable medical device includes a GI stimulation circuit to deliver electrical stimulation pulses to one or more target regions adjacent to a lymphatic vessel through the stimulus delivery device. In one embodiment, to control obesity, the electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to the organs and/or nerves of the GI tract to create a sensation of satiety and/or to expedite food movement through the GI tract.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for delivering stimulation to a body having lymphatic vessels and a gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the lymphatic vessels including a thoracic duct and vessels branching from the thoracic duct, the GI tract including GI organs and nerves innervating the GI organs, the method comprising:
delivering GI stimuli to one or more of the GI organs and the nerves innervating the GI organs from an implantable medical device through at least a first stimulation electrode placed in a lymphatic vessel of the thoracic duct and the lymphatic vessels branching from the thoracic duct. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification