Gastric electrical stimulation with therapy window anti-desensitization feature
First Claim
1. A method comprising delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a gastrointestinal organ of a patient for a first period of time, wherein the first period of time is selected to produce a desired therapeutic effect for a second period of time that extends at least in part beyond an end of the first period of time, and wherein the desired therapeutic effect includes a change in gastric muscle tone indicated by a degree of gastric distention.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure is directed to gastric stimulation programmers, stimulators and methods for controlling delivery of gastric stimulation therapy to maintain the efficacy of the therapy over time. Maintaining the efficacy of gastric stimulation therapy may be possible by implementing one or more anti-desensitization features in a gastric stimulation controller or stimulator. As electrical stimulation therapy is continuously delivered to a patient, the stimulated tissue may become desensitized to the electrical stimulation therapy such that the beneficial effect of the electrical stimulation is diminished. Once desensitization occurs, the affected tissue may not respond favorably to electrical stimulation therapy. Application of one or more anti-desensitization features to control gastric stimulation therapy may reduce or prevent desensitization and effectively extend the efficacy of the therapy over time.
52 Citations
26 Claims
- 1. A method comprising delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a gastrointestinal organ of a patient for a first period of time, wherein the first period of time is selected to produce a desired therapeutic effect for a second period of time that extends at least in part beyond an end of the first period of time, and wherein the desired therapeutic effect includes a change in gastric muscle tone indicated by a degree of gastric distention.
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7. A gastric electrical stimulation device comprising:
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means for generating electrical stimulation therapy for a first period of time; and means for delivering the electrical stimulation therapy to a gastrointestinal organ of a patient, wherein the first period of time is selected to produce a desired therapeutic effect for a second period of time that extends at least in part beyond an end of the first period of time, and wherein the desired therapeutic effect includes a change in gastric muscle tone indicated by a degree of gastric distention. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A gastric electrical stimulation device comprising:
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an electrical stimulation generator that generates electrical stimulation therapy for a first period of time; and one or more implantable electrodes coupled to deliver the electrical stimulation therapy to a gastrointestinal organ of a patient, wherein the first period of time is selected to produce a desired therapeutic effect for a second period of time that extends at least in part beyond an end of the first period of time, and wherein the desired therapeutic effect includes a change in gastric muscle tone indicated by a degree of gastric distention. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 19. An external programmer device for a gastric electrical stimulator, the programmer comprising a processor that controls the electrical stimulator to generate electrical stimulation therapy for a first period of time for delivery to a gastrointestinal organ of a patient, wherein the first period of time is selected to produce a desired therapeutic effect for a second period of time that extends at least in part beyond an end of the first period of time, and wherein the desired therapeutic effect includes a change in gastric muscle tone indicated by a degree of gastric distention.
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25. A method comprising:
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selecting a first period of time, for delivery of electrical stimulation therapy to a gastrointestinal organ of a patient, sufficient to produce a desired therapeutic effect for a second period of time that extends at least in part beyond an end of the first period of time; and controlling an electrical stimulator to deliver the electrical stimulation therapy to the gastrointestinal organ of the patient for the first period of time, wherein the desired therapeutic effect includes a change in gastric muscle tone indicated by a degree of gastric distention. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification