Autonomic nerve stimulation to treat a gastrointestinal disorder
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a patient having a gastrointestinal disorder, comprising:
- receiving, by an implantable medical device (IMD), external input from a patient, the external input pertaining to a subjective observation by the patient of a symptom of a gastrointestinal disorder affecting the patient;
receiving, by the IMD, internal input from a sensor in the patient, the internal input pertaining to at least one symptom from the group consisting of;
an acid production factor;
a muscle spasm relating to the diaphragm;
a diaphragm measurement;
spasms related to the esophagus; and
spasms related to the stomach region;
in response to receiving the internal and external inputs, automatically determining whether or not electrical stimulation treatment is appropriate;
in response to a determination that electrical stimulation treatment is appropriate, automatically determining, based on data relating to the gastrointestinal disorder, signal characteristics suitable to reduce at least one disorder effect from the group consisting of;
acid production;
a muscle spasm relating to the diaphragm;
a spasm related to an esophagus region; and
a spasm related to the stomach region;
after determining the signal characteristics suitable to reduce at least one disorder effect, generating an electrical signal according to the determined signal characteristics; and
applying the electrical signal to a vagus nerve of the patient via at least one electrode directly coupled to at least one portion of the vagus nerve, the portion selected from the group consisting of;
a myenteric plexus of Auerbach;
a submucous plexus of the Meissner;
a principal nerve of the lesser curvature of the stomach; and
a gastric branch of said vagus nerve.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for stimulating a portion of a vagus nerve of a patient to treat a gastrointestinal disorder is provided. At least one electrode is coupled to at least one portion of a vagus nerve of the patient. The portion of the a vagus nerve may include an esophageal plexus, a myenteric plexus of aurbach, a submucous plexus of the meissner, a principal nerve of the lesser curvature of the stomach, and a gastric branch of said vagus nerve. An electrical signal is applied to the portion of the vagus nerve using the electrode to treat the gastrointestinal disorder.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of treating a patient having a gastrointestinal disorder, comprising:
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receiving, by an implantable medical device (IMD), external input from a patient, the external input pertaining to a subjective observation by the patient of a symptom of a gastrointestinal disorder affecting the patient; receiving, by the IMD, internal input from a sensor in the patient, the internal input pertaining to at least one symptom from the group consisting of; an acid production factor; a muscle spasm relating to the diaphragm; a diaphragm measurement; spasms related to the esophagus; and spasms related to the stomach region; in response to receiving the internal and external inputs, automatically determining whether or not electrical stimulation treatment is appropriate; in response to a determination that electrical stimulation treatment is appropriate, automatically determining, based on data relating to the gastrointestinal disorder, signal characteristics suitable to reduce at least one disorder effect from the group consisting of; acid production; a muscle spasm relating to the diaphragm; a spasm related to an esophagus region; and a spasm related to the stomach region; after determining the signal characteristics suitable to reduce at least one disorder effect, generating an electrical signal according to the determined signal characteristics; and applying the electrical signal to a vagus nerve of the patient via at least one electrode directly coupled to at least one portion of the vagus nerve, the portion selected from the group consisting of; a myenteric plexus of Auerbach; a submucous plexus of the Meissner; a principal nerve of the lesser curvature of the stomach; and a gastric branch of said vagus nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to perform operations comprising; receiving external input from a patient, the external input pertaining to a subjective observation by the patient of a symptom of a gastrointestinal disorder affecting the patient; receiving internal input from a sensor in the patient, the internal input pertaining to at least one symptom from the group consisting of; an acid production factor; a muscle spasm relating to the diaphragm; a diaphragm measurement; spasms related to the esophagus; and spasms related to the stomach region; in response to receiving the internal and external inputs, automatically determining whether or not electrical stimulation treatment is appropriate; in response to a determination that electrical stimulation treatment is appropriate, automatically determining, based on data relating to the gastrointestinal disorder, signal characteristics suitable to reduce at least one disorder effect from the group consisting of; acid production; a muscle spasm relating to the diaphragm; a spasm related to an esophagus region; and a spasm related to the stomach region; after determining the signal characteristics suitable to reduce at least one disorder effect, generating an electrical signal according to the determined signal characteristics for application to a vagus nerve of the patient via at least one electrode directly coupled to at least one portion of the vagus nerve, the portion selected from the group consisting of; a myenteric plexus of Auerbach; a submucous plexus of the Meissner; a principal nerve of the lesser curvature of the stomach; and a gastric branch of said vagus nerve. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification