Method and apparatus to treat disorders of gastrointestinal peristalsis

• US 20020123774A1
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Published: 09/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Alfred E. Mann Institute For Biomedical Engineering At The University Of Southern California (University of Southern California)
• Original Assignee: The Alfred E. Mann Institute For Biomedical Engineering At The University Of Southern California (University of Southern California)
• Inventors: Loeb, Gerald E., Richmond, Frances J.R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,895,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

Many patients suffer from diseases and surgical damage that result in failure of the stomach and intestinal tract to contract and relax normally in order to transfer contents distally. Electrical stimulation applied to one or more sites on the surface of the gastrointestinal viscera can treat this problem by triggering or altering muscle contractility. The present invention provides such stimulation by implanting leadless microstimulators in or on the walls of the viscera that can be programmed or controlled from a source outside the body.

Claims

1. A system for treating disorders of gastrointestinal peristalsis, comprising:

at least one leadless microstimulator implanted within a patient; and

a wireless controller coupled to the at least one leadless microstimulator for generating and transmitting a signal and power to the leadless microstimulator, causing the leadless microstimulator to generate stimulation pulses with the appropriate timing and intensity to evoke a desired gastrointestinal muscle contraction.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the leadless microstimulator is a class of microstimulator operable by a continuous RF field.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the leadless microstimulator is a class of microstimulator operable by a rechargeable lithium battery.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the leadless microstimulator is implanted into the stomach for treatment of gastroparesis.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the leadless microstimulator is implanted contacting tissue in at least one of the group consisting of:

stomach, esophagus, small intestine, large bowel, small bowel, and rectum.

6. An apparatus for providing stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract comprising:

a leadless microstimulator implanted in the gastrointestinal tract of a patient; and

a controller located outside the body of the patient for transmitting a signal and power to the microstimulator, comprising;

a transmission coil wirelessly coupled to the microstimulator;

memory means for storing modulated signal patterns;

a driver coupled to the transmission coil for generating a carrier frequency according to modulated signal patterns located in memory; and

a switch operable by the patient for initiating the operation of the transmission coil, causing each microstimulator to generate pulses with the appropriate timing and intensity to evoke the desired contraction.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the leadless microstimulator is a class of microstimulator operable by a continuous RF field.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the leadless microstimulator is implanted into the stomach for treatment of gastroparesis.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the leadless microstimulator is implanted contacting tissue in at least one of the group consisting of:

stomach, esophagus, small intestine, large bowel, small bowel, and rectum.

10. A method for treating disorders of gastrointestinal peristalsis, comprising:

implanting a leadless microstimulator into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient;

providing the patient with a controller providing power and command signals to the microstimulator upon operation; and

electrically stimulating the area of the gastrointestinal tract where the leadless microstimulator is implanted so as to excite a physiological response from tissue near the microstimulator.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the leadless microstimulator is implanted through injection from the serosal surface via a laparoscopy tool.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the leadless microstimulator is implanted through an endoscope.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the leadless microstimulator is attached to the serosal wall of the gastrointestinal tract with a surgical clip.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the leadless microstimulator is attached to the serosal wall of the gastrointestinal tract with a suture.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the leadless microstimulator is attached to the serosal wall of the gastrointestinal tract with a staple.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the leadless microstimulator is implanted near the fundus of the stomach.

17. An apparatus for treating disorders of stomach peristalsis, the apparatus comprising:

a leadless microstimulator implanted in the wall of the stomach near the fundus; and

a controller located outside the body of the patient for transmitting a signal and power to the microstimulator, comprising;

a transmission coil wirelessly coupled to the microstimulator;

memory means for storing modulated signal patterns;

a driver coupled to the transmission coil for generating a carrier frequency according to modulated signal patterns located in memory; and

a switch operable by the patient for initiating the operation of the transmission coil, causing the microstimulator to generate pulses with the appropriate timing and intensity to evoke a peristaltic contraction in the stomach.

18. An apparatus for treating disorders of stomach peristalsis, comprising:

at least one wireless microstimulator affixed directly to the moving gut; and

external means for selectively controlling the at least one wireless microstimulator to produce a sequence of electrical pulses necessary to achieve proper peristalsis of the stomach.