Controlled vagal blockage therapy
First Claim
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1. A method for treating obesity comprising:
- positioning a first electrode on a vagus nerve of an obese patient at a location below a vagal innervation of the heart, with the vagus nerve innervating at least one alimentary tract organ;
treating the patient'"'"'s obesity by applying an electrical treatment signal to the electrode with the electrical treatment signal having;
a) a frequency selected for said signal to at least partially downregulate nerve impulses on said vagal nerve, wherein said signal has a frequency in excess of 200 Hz, and without simultaneously applying a neural impulse-inducing secondary electrical signal to the vagus nerve on a proximal side of said location whenever the electrical treatment signal is applied; and
b) a plurality of on-times separated by a plurality of off-times, said signal applied during said on-times and not applied during said off-times, wherein a duration of the off-times is selected in response to a signal from a sensing electrode representing at least 50% of an activity of said vagal nerve as compared to baseline.
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Abstract
A method for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders characterized at least in part by vagal activity includes positioning an electrode around a body organ innervated by the vagus. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity. The electrical signal is applied at a frequency selected for the signal to create a neural conduction block to the vagus with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on the vagus. The application of the electrical signal is discontinued. The application of the signal and the discontinuing of the signal are repeated with durations of the discontinuing and the application selected to treat the disorder.
224 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for treating obesity comprising:
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positioning a first electrode on a vagus nerve of an obese patient at a location below a vagal innervation of the heart, with the vagus nerve innervating at least one alimentary tract organ; treating the patient'"'"'s obesity by applying an electrical treatment signal to the electrode with the electrical treatment signal having; a) a frequency selected for said signal to at least partially downregulate nerve impulses on said vagal nerve, wherein said signal has a frequency in excess of 200 Hz, and without simultaneously applying a neural impulse-inducing secondary electrical signal to the vagus nerve on a proximal side of said location whenever the electrical treatment signal is applied; and b) a plurality of on-times separated by a plurality of off-times, said signal applied during said on-times and not applied during said off-times, wherein a duration of the off-times is selected in response to a signal from a sensing electrode representing at least 50% of an activity of said vagal nerve as compared to baseline. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeReShape LifeSciences, Inc.
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Original AssigneeEnteroMedics, Inc. (ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.)
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InventorsKnudson, Mark B., Wilson, Richard R., Tweden, Katherine S., Conrad, Timothy R.
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Primary Examiner(s)Gedeon, Brian T
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Application NumberUS14/028,030Publication NumberTime in Patent Office764 DaysField of SearchNoneUS Class Current1/1CPC Class CodesA61N 1/05 for implantation or inserti...A61N 1/321 Electromedical beltsA61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointe...A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulati...A61N 1/36071 PainA61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesityA61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by va...A61N 1/36178 Burst or pulse train parame...
