Electrical stimulation therapy to promote gastric distention for obesity management

• US 8,538,532 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Starkebaum, Warren L., Chen, Jiande, Firestone, Elizabeth D., Maude-Griffin, Roland C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEWAR
• Application Number:
  US12/715,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 607/40, 607/116, 607/133
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0026 Anti-eating devices using electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

In some examples, electrical stimulation therapy is delivered to support obesity management. The electrical stimulation therapy is configured to cause at least partial gastric distention. Gastric distention tends to induce a sensation of fullness and thereby discourages excessive food intake by the patient. The electrical stimulation therapy may be delivered to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient by electrodes deployed by one or more implantable leads coupled to an electrical stimulator. The electrical stimulator delivers stimulation pulses having a pulse width in a range found to be effective in causing gastric distention.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating electrical stimulation including a first electrical stimulation pulse and a plurality of pulse bursts, wherein the first electrical stimulation pulse has a duration greater than approximately 100 milliseconds, each of the pulse bursts having a duration of greater than approximately 100 milliseconds, wherein each of the pulse bursts includes a plurality of second pulses, each of the second pulses having a pulse width of approximately 2 milliseconds to approximately 20 milliseconds; and

applying the electrical stimulation to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention, wherein applying the electrical stimulation includes application of the electrical stimulation pulse followed by at least one of the plurality of pulse bursts.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following applies:

the plurality of second pulses are delivered at a frequency of approximately 2 hertz to approximately 90 hertz; and

each of the plurality of second pulses has a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient comprises applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein applying the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient comprises applying the plurality of pulse bursts to at least one of a lesser or greater curvature of the stomach of the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following applies:

the plurality of second pulses of each pulse burst is are delivered at a frequency of approximately 5 hertz to approximately 50 hertz;

the first electrical stimulation pulse and the one of the plurality of pulse bursts each have a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps; and

the electrical stimulation is applied by repeating the application of the electrical stimulation pulse followed by at least one of the plurality of pulse bursts.

6. An implantable gastric stimulator comprising:

an electrical stimulation pulse generator configured to

generate electrical stimulation including a first electrical stimulation pulse and a plurality of pulse bursts, wherein the first electrical stimulation pulse has a duration greater than approximately 100 milliseconds, each of the pulse bursts having a duration of greater than approximately 100 milliseconds, wherein each of the pulse bursts includes a plurality of second pulses, each of the second pulses having a pulse width of approximately 2 milliseconds to approximately 20 milliseconds; and

one or more electrodes, coupled to the pulse generator, configured to apply the electrical stimulation to a gastrointestinal tract of the patient to cause gastric distention, and wherein electrical stimulation pulse generator is configured to apply the first electrical stimulation pulse followed by at least one of the plurality of pulse bursts.

7. The stimulator of claim 6, wherein at least one of the following applies:

the plurality of second pulses are delivered at a frequency of approximately 2 hertz to approximately 90 hertz; and

each of the plurality of second pulses has a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps.

8. The stimulator of claim 6, wherein the one or more electrodes configured to apply the plurality of pulse bursts to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient are configured to apply the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient.

9. The stimulator of claim 8, wherein the one or more electrodes configured to apply the plurality of pulse bursts to a stomach of the patient are further configured to apply the second stimulation pulses to at least one of a lesser or greater curvature of the stomach of the patient.

10. The stimulator of claim 6, wherein at least one of the following applies:

the plurality of second pulses of each pulse burst are delivered at a frequency of approximately 5 hertz to approximately 50 hertz;

the first electrical stimulation pulse and respective second pulses of the plurality of pulse bursts each have a pulse current amplitude of approximately 1 milliamp to approximately 15 milliamps; and

the electrical stimulation pulse generator applies the electrical stimulation by repeating the application of the first electrical stimulation pulse followed by one of the plurality of pulse bursts.