Patient selection method for assisting weight loss

• US 8,442,841 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tylerton International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Matacure NV
• Inventors: Haddad, Walid, Policker, Shai, Afek, Keren
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRANG T
• Application Number:
  US11/551,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20070092446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,398 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/392 Detecting gastrointestinal contractions

Abstract

A method is provided for identifying a patient as being suitable for implantation of a weight-loss assist device. The method includes identifying the patient as being generally suitable for the implantation and subsequently, measuring a value associated with the patient. Responsively to determining that the value is beyond a threshold associated therewith, the weight-loss assist device is implanted.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

measuring a gastric emptying rate of the patient;

determining whether the gastric emptying rate exceeds a gastric emptying rate threshold in order to determine whether the patient is in (a) a first population who are likely to derive substantial benefit from implantation of an electrical stimulation treatment device or (b) a second population who are not likely to derive substantial benefit from the implantation; and

responsively to determining that the gastric emptying rate does exceed the gastric emptying rate threshold;

determining that the patient (a) is in the first population, and (b) is not in the second population;

implanting the electrical stimulation treatment device in the patient; and

activating the electrical stimulation treatment device to treat the patient by applying electrical stimulation to the patient,

wherein the substantial benefit includes at least one benefit, following activation of the electrical stimulation treatment device, selected from the group consisting of;

at least a threshold amount of weight loss, and improved control of blood sugar.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the gastric emptying rate exceeds the gastric emptying rate threshold comprises identifying a gastric emptying, rate corresponding to a level of gastric retention at two hours of less than 40%.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the gastric emptying rate exceeds the gastric emptying rate threshold comprises identifying a gastric emptying rate corresponding to a level of gastric retention at two hours of less than 30%.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining whether the gastric emptying rate exceeds the gastric emptying rate threshold comprises identifying a gastric emptying rate corresponding to a gastric half-emptying time of less than 110 minutes.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining a weight of the patient at first and second times; and

determining whether a level of weight loss of the patient from the first time to the second time exceeds a weight loss threshold,

wherein implanting the electrical stimulation device comprises implanting the weight-loss assist device responsively to determining that the gastric emptying rate exceeds the gastric emptying rate threshold and responsively to determining that the level of weight loss exceeds the weight loss threshold.

29. The method according to claim 1, wherein measuring the gastric emptying rate comprised providing a test meal for consumption by the patient.

30. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation treatment device is a weight-loss assist device, and wherein implanting the electrical stimulation treatment device comprises implanting the weight-loss assist device.

31. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation treatment device is a diabetes-treatment device, and wherein implanting the electrical stimulation treatment device comprises implanting the diabetes-treatment device.

6. A method comprising:

measuring a first rate of gastric activity of the patient, prior to food intake by the patient;

measuring a second rate of gastric activity of the patient, subsequently to the food intake;

comparing a difference between the first and second rates to a threshold in order to determine whether the patient is in (a) a first population who are likely to derive substantial benefit from implantation of an electrical stimulation treatment device or (b) a second population who are likely to derive substantial benefit from the implantation; and

in response to the comparing;

determining that the patient (a) is in the first population, and (b)is not in the second population;

implanting the electrical stimulation treatment device in the patient; and

activating the electrical stimulation treatment device to treat the patient by applying electrical stimulation to the patient,

wherein the substantial benefit includes at least one benefit, following activation of the electrical stimulation treatment device, selected from the group consisting of;

at least a threshold amount of weight loss, and improved control of blood sugar.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein comparing comprises determining whether the difference is above a threshold.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein comparing comprises determining whether the difference is below a threshold.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein determining comprises subtracting one of the rates from the other rate.

10. The method according t claim 8, wherein determining comprises calculating a ratio of the rates.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein determining comprises setting the threshold to be greater than 40%.

12. The method according, to claim 8, wherein determining comprises setting;

the threshold to be less than 40%.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein determining comprises setting the threshold to be greater than 5%.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein determining comprises setting the threshold to be between 5% and 40%.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein determining comprises setting the threshold to be between 15% and 25%.

16. The method according to claim 8, wherein measuring the first and second rates of gastric activity comprises measuring first and second rates of propagating slow waves, respectively.

17. The method according to claim 8, wherein measuring the first and second rates comprises measuring the rates noninvasively.

18. The method according to claim 8, wherein measuring the first and second rates comprises measuring the rates invasively.

19. The method according, to claim 8, wherein measuring the first and second rates comprises temporarily coupling a measurement electrode to a gastric muscle of the patient.

32. The method according to claim 6, wherein the electrical stimulation treatment device is a weight-loss assist device, and wherein implanting the electrical stimulation treatment device comprises implanting the weight-loss assist device.

33. The method according to claim 6, wherein the electrical stimulation treatment device is a diabetes-treatment device, and wherein implanting the electrical stimulation treatment device comprises implanting the diabetes-treatment device.

20. A method comprising:

measuring a first rate of gastric activity of the patient;

subsequently, applying electrical stimulation to the patient;

subsequently, measuring a second rate of gastric activity of the patient;

determining whether a difference between the first and second rates is above a threshold in order to determine whether the patient is in (a) a first population who are likely to derive substantial benefit from implantation of an electrical stimulation treatment derive or (b) a second population who are not likely to derive substantial benefit from the implantation; and

in response to determining that the difference is the threshold;

determining that the patient (a) is in the first population, and (b) is not in the second population;

implanting the electrical stimulation treatment device in the patient; and

activating the electrical stimulation treatment device to treat the patient by applying electrical stimulation to the patient,

wherein the substantial benefit includes at least one benefit, following activation of the electrical stimulation treatment device, selected from the group consisting of;

at least a threshold amount of weight loss, and improved control of blood sugar.

21. The method according, to claim 20, wherein measuring the first and second rates of gastric activity comprises measuring first and second rates of propagating slow waves, respectively.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein measuring the first and second rates comprises temporarily coupling a measurement electrode to a gastric muscle of the patient.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein applying electrical stimulation to the patient comprises temporarily coupling a measurement electrode to a gastric muscle of the patient.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein determining comprises subtracting one of the rates from other rate.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein determining comprises calculating a ratio of the rates.

26. The method according to claim 20, wherein determining comprises setting the threshold to be less than 20%.

27. The method according to claim 20, wherein determining comprises setting the threshold to be between 20% and 40%.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein determining comprises setting the threshold to be greater than 40%.

34. The method according to claim 20, wherein the electrical stimulation treatment device is a weight-loss assist device, and wherein implanting the electrical stimulation treatment device comprises implanting the weight-loss assist device.

35. The method according to claim 20, wherein the electrical stimulation treatment device is a diabetes-treatment device, and wherein implanting the electrical stimulation treatment device comprises implanting the diabetes-treatment device.