Methods for treating gastrointestinal disorders
View Patent ↗A small implantable stimulator(s) having at least two electrodes is implanted adjacent to a gastrointestinal nerve and/or muscle for the stimulation treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, including gastrointestinal motility, sphincteric disorders, and/or eating disorders. The stimulator provides a means of stimulating tissue at a stimulation site when desired, and may be implanted via a minimal surgical procedure.
1. A method for treating a patient suffering from obesity, comprising:
providing at least one stimulator coupled to at least two electrodes implanted within the patient;
using at least one external appliance to transmit stimulation parameters;
generating stimulation pulses with the at least one stimulator in accordance with the stimulation parameters; and
delivering the stimulation pulses via the at least two electrodes to a lower esophageal sphincter of the patient, wherein the at least one stimulator is operated, such that the lower esophageal sphincter is opened when the patient is eating and closed when the patient is not eating.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing at least one sensor;
using the at least one sensor to sense physiological information; and
determining the stimulation parameters based upon the sensed physiological information.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one sensor is a part of the stimulator.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a pump having at least one infusion outlet; and
delivering with the pump via the at least one infusion outlet a drug to the lower esophageal sphincter;
wherein the pump is part of the stimulator.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
providing at least one catheter in communication with the pump; and
delivering the drug to the lower esophageal sphincter via the at least one catheter.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the electrodes is located on a surface of at least one flexible lead.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising implanting the at least one stimulator within the patient.
8. A method for treating a patient suffering from obesity, comprising:
providing at least one stimulator coupled to at least two electrodes implanted within the patient;
providing at least one sensor;
using the sensor to sense physiological information;
configuring one or more stimulation parameters to treat the obesity in accordance with the sensed physiological information;
generating stimulation pulses in accordance with the stimulation parameters; and
delivering the stimulation pulses via the at least two electrodes to a lower esophageal sphincter of the patient, wherein the at least one stimulator is operated, such that the lower esophageal sphincter is opened when the patient is eating and closed when the patient is not eating.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one sensor is a part of the stimulator.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of the electrodes is located on a surface of at least one flexible lead.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
providing a pump having at least one infusion outlet; and
delivering with the pump via the at least one infusion outlet a drug to the lower esophageal sphincter;
wherein the pump is part of the stimulator.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing at least one additional infusion port at the end of at least one flexible catheter, wherein the catheter is part of the stimulator.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising implanting the at least one stimulator within the patient.
14. A method of treating a patient suffering from obesity, comprising:
providing a stimulator;
configuring one or more stimulation parameters to treat the obesity;
programming the stimulator with the one or more stimulation parameters;
generating an electrical stimulation current configured to treat the obesity with the stimulator in accordance with the one or more stimulation parameters; and
applying the electrical stimulation current with the stimulator to a lower esophageal sphincter of the patient, wherein the at least one stimulator is operated, such that the lower esophageal sphincter is opened when the patient is eating and closed when the patient is not eating.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
providing at least one sensor;
using the at least one sensor to sense physiological information; and
determining the stimulation parameters based upon the sensed physiological information.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one sensor is a part of the stimulator.
17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
providing a pump having at least one infusion outlet; and
delivering with the pump via the at least one infusion outlet a drug to the lower esophageal sphincter;
wherein the pump is part of the stimulator.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
providing at least one catheter in communication with the pump; and
delivering the drug to the lower esophageal sphincter via the at least one catheter.
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
providing at least one replenishing port coupled to the pump; and
using the at least one replenishing port to refill the pump with the drug.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing at least one additional replenishing port at the end of at least one flexible catheter, wherein the catheter is part of the stimulator.
21. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one of the electrodes is located on a surface of at least one flexible lead.