IP Library Granted Patent US 7,616,996
Granted Patent B2
US 7,616,996 · App. 11/219,004 · Granted Nov 10, 2009

Randomized stimulation of a gastrointestinal organ

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,616,996
App. No.
11/219,004
Granted
Nov 10, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device, system and method for stimulating a digestive organ is provided where the stimulation is randomized.

Claims (18)

1. A method of randomly stimulating a digestive organ comprising the steps of:

providing a stimulator electrically coupled to the digestive organ;

randomly selecting an initial parameter for stimulation of the digestive organ at non-physiologic rates, wherein the step of selecting a parameter comprises generating a random number corresponding to a pre-selected stimulation parameter and determining the random stimulation parameter based on the random number;

delivering a stimulation signal comprising the parameter to the digestive organ;

sensing a response to the stimulation signal;

determining if the response is a desired response; and

randomly selecting a subsequent parameter if the response is not the desired response.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of randomly selecting a parameter comprises pseudorandomly selecting a parameter.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of randomly selecting a parameter comprises selecting a parameter from predetermined parameter windows.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting a parameter comprises selecting a first parameter from a first type of parameters and selecting a second parameter from a second type of parameters; and

wherein the step of delivering a stimulation signal comprises delivering a stimulation signal comprising the first parameter and the second parameter to the digestive organ.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of delivering the signal to the digestive organ comprises delivering the signal to a portion of the gastrointestinal tract.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of delivering the signal to the gastrointestinal tract comprises delivering a signal to the stomach to create a sensation of satiety.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

wherein the step of providing a stimulator electrically coupled to the digestive organ comprises providing a stimulator electrically coupled to a plurality of sites at the digestive organ;

wherein the step of randomly selecting a parameter for stimulation of the digestive organ comprises randomly selecting an independent parameter for stimulation at each of the plurality of sites; and

wherein the step of delivering a stimulation signal comprising the parameter to the digestive organ comprises delivering a stimulation signal comprising an independent parameter to each of the plurality of sites wherein the each independent parameter at a site is independently selected from other of the independent parameters delivered to other of said plurality of sites.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the random parameter is selected from the group consisting of pulse width, pulse amplitude, pulse repetition rate, burst frequency, burst repetition rate, pulses per burst, pulse shape and burst envelope.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2015
From: HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC, AS AGENT, AND ASSIGNEE OF GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
To: INTRAPACE, INC.
Reel/Frame 037328/0632 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2015
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS RETIRING AGENT
To: HEALTHCARE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC, AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 037150/0419 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 26, 2015
From: INTRAPACE, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 036965/0195 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 13, 2012
From: INTRAPACE, INC.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027850/0156 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2006
From: IMRAN, MIR A.
To: INTRAPACE, INC.
Reel/Frame 017212/0984 →