Detection of feeding intent for use in treatment of eating disorders

• US 8,498,707 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cholette, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): VOORHEES, CATHERINE M
• Application Number:
  US12/196,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/40, 607/133, 607118-119
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/392 Detecting gastrointestinal contractions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/416 the spleen
• 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 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362

Abstract

An exemplary method for treating obesity includes calling for delivery of electrical energy to a vagal nerve, detecting pre-prandial activity and, in response to the detection of pre-prandial activity, calling for delivery of electrical energy to the stomach for a pre-determined amount of time to induce satiety. Various other technologies are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for treating obesity, implemented at least in part by a computing device, the method comprising:

delivering electrical energy to a vagal nerve of a patient;

subsequent to the delivery of electrical energy to the vagal nerve of the patient sensing a physiologic signal associated with pre-prandial activity for the patient;

detecting pre-prandial activity for the patient from the physiologic signal sensed subsequent to the delivery of electrical energy to the vagal nerve of the patient; and

in response to the detection of pre-prandial activity subsequent to the delivery of electrical energy to the vagal nerve of the patient, delivering electrical energy to a stomach of the patient for a pre-determined amount of time to induce satiety.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein delivering electrical energy to a vagal nerve comprises delivering electrical energy to a branch of the anterior vagal nerve.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein delivering electrical energy to a vagal nerve comprises delivering electrical energy at level insufficient to induce vomiting.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein delivering electrical energy to a vagal nerve comprises delivering energy at a pre-determined frequency.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined amount of time comprises less than about 1 hour.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the pre-determined amount of time comprises less than about 30 minutes.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the detecting pre-prandial activity comprises analyzing the sensed physiologic signal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensed signal comprises sensed electrical activity of the vagal nerve.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensed signal comprises sensed electrical activity of the stomach.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensed signal comprises a frequency indicative of pre-prandial activity.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in response to the detection of pre-prandial activity, ending delivery of electrical energy to the vagal nerve for a pre-determined amount of time.