Wireless Leads For Gastrointestinal Tract Applications

• US 20100228105A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tylerton International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Metacure NV
• Inventors: Rousso, Benny, Bitton, Ophir, Glasberg, Offer, Prutchi, David, Policker, Shai
• Granted Patent: US 8,265,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/392 Detecting gastrointestinal contractions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• 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 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

Apparatus is provided, including a control unit (310), adapted to be implanted within a patient (324), and a corkscrew-shaped electrode mount (400), adapted to be implanted in a wall of a stomach of the patient. The corkscrew-shaped electrode mount includes first (404) and second (424) electrodes, at respective sites of the electrode mount, and a controller (420), wirelessly coupled to the control unit. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a control unit, adapted to be implanted within a patient; and

a corkscrew-shaped electrode mount, adapted to be implanted in a wall of a stomach of the patient, comprising;

first and second electrodes, at respective sites of the electrode mount; and

a controller, wirelessly coupled to the control unit.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the corkscrew-shaped electrode mount extends in its corkscrew shape for greater than 720 degrees.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an implantation tool, wherein the corkscrew-shaped electrode mount is coiled around the implantation tool and corkscrewed therefrom into the wall of the stomach.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the corkscrew-shaped electrode mount comprises at least a number of electrodes selected from the group consisting of:

4, 5, 20, 50, and 100.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the corkscrew-shaped electrode mount comprises a force transducer, adapted to generate a signal in response to filling of the stomach.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is disposed at a site along the corkscrew-shaped electrode mount between the first and second electrodes.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are disposed at non-opposing sites with respect to a longitudinal axis of the corkscrew-shaped electrode mount.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an endoscope comprising a plurality of cartridges, each cartridge comprising a respective corkscrew-shaped electrode mount.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are adapted to both be in contact with a muscular layer of the stomach following implantation.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first and second electrodes are adapted to be not in contact with a mucosal layer of the stomach following implantation.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the corkscrew-shaped electrode mount, the first electrode is disposed at 12 o'"'"'clock and the second electrode is disposed at a site between 4 o'"'"'clock and 6 o'"'"'clock.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second electrode is disposed at 6 o'"'"'clock with respect to the longitudinal axis.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode is disposed at a site along the corkscrew-shaped electrode mount between the first electrode and the controller.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, comprising a tool for implanting the mount in the wall of the stomach, and wherein the mount is adapted to be coupled to the tool during the implantation such that the controller enters the wall of the stomach before the first and second electrodes enter the wall.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the tool is adapted to place at least a portion of the controller at a site outside of the stomach.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to wirelessly transmit data to the control unit, responsively to a current between the electrodes.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the electrode mount is adapted to flex in response to filling of the stomach, wherein the current varies in response to the flexing, and wherein the control unit is adapted to identify filling of the stomach in response to variation of the current.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the controller is adapted to wirelessly receive power from the control unit, responsively to the data.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the controller is adapted to apply a signal to the stomach responsively to receiving the power.

2-5. -5. (canceled)

24. Apparatus, comprising:

an electrode, adapted to be implanted in a wall of a stomach of the patient;

a clamshell cover, adapted to enclose the electrode and to penetrate a mucosal layer of the stomach in a closed clamshell disposition; and

a tool, adapted to be activated by an operator to open the clamshell cover at a time after the clamshell cover has entered the mucosal layer to allow the electrode to be coupled to a muscular layer of the stomach.

25. Apparatus, comprising:

an endoscope;

a flexible arrangement comprising first and second electrodes; and

a shape-defining element coupled to the endoscope and to the flexible arrangement, the element having a property of being able to be placed in one shape during the application of forces thereto, and to assume a natural shape thereof in the absence of external forces applied thereto, the element adapted to enter a wall of a stomach with the flexible arrangement.

26-37. -37. (canceled)

38. Apparatus, comprising:

an endoscope; and

a plurality of electrode cartridges within the endoscope, each cartridge comprising at least one electrode for implantation in a patient.

39. (canceled)

40. Apparatus, comprising:

an endoscope; and

an insertion head coupled to the endoscope and comprising an electrode, the insertion head being adapted to be pushed through a wall of a stomach to a site outside of the stomach and to be subsequently moved by the endoscope in a manner that places the electrode in contact with a muscular layer of the stomach.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the insertion head is adapted to be rotated by the endoscope to place the electrode in contact with the muscular layer.

42. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the insertion head is adapted to be pulled by the endoscope to place the electrode in contact with the muscular layer.