Randomized stimulation of a gastrointestinal organ

• US 8,032,223 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman; Mark W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinga; Roland
• Application Number:
  US12/572,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 607 40- 41, 607 72- 73, 607/133, 607/138, 607/116, 600 29- 30
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

A device, system and method for stimulating a digestive organ is provided where the stimulation is randomized.

Claims

1. A digestive organ stimulator comprising:

a stimulation signal generator;

a selector coupled to the stimulation signal generator and configured to randomly select an initial signal parameter for stimulation of the digestive organ at non-physiologic rates, wherein the initial signal parameter is generated from a random number corresponding to a pre-selected stimulation parameter, wherein the random stimulation parameter is determined based on the random number;

a stimulation output configured to be coupled to the digestive organ, wherein the stimulation signal generator is configured to output through the stimulation output, a stimulation signal comprising at least one randomly selected signal parameter; and

a sensor for determining if a response to the stimulation signal is a desired response, wherein the sensor is coupled to the selector and the selector is configured to randomly select a subsequent parameter if the sensor senses a response that is not the desired response.

2. The digestive organ stimulator of claim 1 wherein the selector comprises a pseudorandom selector configured to pseudorandomly select-said at least one signal parameter.

3. The digestive organ stimulator of claim 1 wherein the at least one randomly selected signal parameter is selected from a group comprising:

pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse repetition rate, burst frequency, burst envelope, pulses per burst, pulse shape and burst repetition rate.

4. The digestive organ stimulator of claim 1 wherein the at least one randomly selected signal parameter is selected from a predetermined group of signal parameters.

5. The digestive organ stimulator of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of outputs wherein the selector is configured to randomly select a signal parameter for each of said plurality of outputs to be delivered thereto.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the selector is configured to select a parameter for each of a plurality of parameter types.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the stimulation output comprises an electrode.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the stimulation output comprises an electrode configured to be coupled to a gastrointestinal tract.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the stimulation output comprises an electrode configured to be coupled to a stomach.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the stimulation signal creates a sensation of satiety.