Gastric stimulation anchor and method

• US 7,756,582 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Inventors: Layman, Ted W., Colliou, Olivier K., Imran, Mir A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOKLOSA, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US11/256,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20060111753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 607/40, 607/133, 607/116, 607126-128
• 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 device, system and method for electrically stimulating the stomach is provided. A device system and method for attaching a stimulating device to the stomach wall is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for coupling an electrical stimulator to a stomach of a patient, the stomach comprising a stomach wall, an inside of the stomach being surrounded by the stomach wall, the inside of the stomach having an acidic environment, the method comprising:

providing an electrode and a housing having an electronics circuit operable to deliver electrically stimulating signals through the electrode;

attaching a first anchor to the stomach wall by positioning the first anchor through the stomach wall so that an inner portion of the first anchor is disposed within the inside of the stomach, so that an outer portion of the first anchor is disposed outside of the stomach, and so that a body of the first anchor extends between the inside portion and the outside portion and by engaging the outer portion of the first anchor in contacts with an outer surface of the stomach wall surrounding the body of the first anchor when the first anchor extends through the stomach wall, the engagement between the outer portion of the first anchor and the outer surface of the stomach sealing off the acidic environment within the interior of the stomach from a surrounding environment within the patient, the outer portion having a greater cross-sectional area than the body of the first anchor extending through the stomach wall so that the outer portion inhibits movement of the body of the anchor into the inside of the stomach, the electrode being mounted to the body portion so that the electrode is in electrical contact with the stomach wall;

coupling the electronics circuit to the stomach by extending a flexible member between the housing and the anchor.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising engaging a bumper of the anchor against the inner surface of the stomach wall, the bumper being affixed to the body of the anchor and cross-sectional area larger than the body portion so as to inhibit movement of the anchor outward from the stomach.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of attaching the housing to the stomach wall with the first flexible member coupled to a first anchor comprises attaching the first anchor to the fundus region of a stomach.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of attaching the electrode to the stomach wall comprises attaching the electrode anchor to the antrum of the stomach.

5. A method for attaching an electrical stimulator to the stomach comprising:

providing an electrode and a housing having an electronics circuit operable to deliver electrically stimulating signals through the electrode;

attaching the housing to a stomach wall of a patient with a first flexible member coupled to a first anchor; and

attaching the electrode to the stomach with a second flexible member coupled to the housing by providing an electrode anchor and attaching the electrode to the stomach wall with the electrode anchor, wherein the step of attaching the electrode anchor comprises attaching the electrode anchor with the second flexible member so that the second flexible member extends from the housing within the stomach to the stomach wall,

wherein at least one of;

the step of attaching the housing to the stomach wall with a first flexible member coupled to the first anchor or

the step of attaching the electrode to the stomach with the second flexible member coupled to the housing by providing an electrode anchor and attaching the electrode to the stomach wall with the electrode anchor

comprises extending at least one of the first anchor or the electrode anchor through the stomach wall so that the at least one of the first anchor or the electrode anchor extends from the inside of the stomach to outside of the stomach, and

wherein an outer portion of the at least one of the first anchor or the electrode anchor contacts an outer surface of the stomach wall when the at least one of the first anchor or the electrode anchor extends from outside of the stomach to the inside of the stomach, the outer portion having a greater cross-sectional area than a body portion of the at least one of the first anchor or the electrode anchor extending through the stomach wall, the outer portion surrounding the body portion and engaging the outer surface of the stomach wall so as to seal off an acidic environment within the interior of the stomach from a surrounding environment within the patient.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the second flexible member comprises a lead.

7. A method for attaching an electrical stimulator to a stomach of a patient comprising the steps of:

attaching a first anchor to a fundus region of a stomach wall of the stomach;

attaching a second anchor to the stomach wall of the stomach;

supporting an electronics circuit within the stomach using the first anchor, the electronics circuit operable to deliver electrically stimulating signals;

extending a first flexible member between the electronics circuit and the second anchor, the first flexible member comprising a lead and electrically coupling the electronics circuit to an electrode of the second anchor; and

applying the signals to the stomach wall with the electrode,

wherein at least one of;

the step of attaching the first anchor to the fundus region of the stomach wall and

the step of attaching the second anchor to the stomach wall of the stomach

comprises extending at least one of the first anchor or the second anchor through the stomach wall so that the at least one of the first anchor or the second anchor extends from outside of the stomach to the inside of the stomach, and

wherein an outer portion of the at least one of the first anchor or the second anchor contacts an outer surface of the stomach wall when the at least one of the first anchor or the electrode anchor extends from outside of the stomach to the inside of the stomach, the outer portion having a greater cross-sectional area than a body portion of the at least one of the first anchor or the second anchor extending through the stomach wall, the outer portion surrounding the body portion and engaging the outer surface of the stomach wall so as to seal off an acidic environment within the interior of the stomach from a surrounding environment within the patient.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second anchor is attached to a more contractile region of the stomach wall than the fundus.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second anchor is attached to an antrum region of the stomach wall.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second anchor is attached along a lesser curvature of the stomach wall.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein a second flexible member extends between the first anchor and the electronics circuit so that the first anchor supports the electronics circuit via the second flexible member.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the electrode is mounted to the second anchor, and wherein the first anchor extends through the stomach wall from outside the stomach to inside the stomach.