GASTRIC BAND WITH ELECTRIC STIMULATION

1 . An implantable gastric band for introducing an electrical signal to a splanchnic nerve of a patient, the implantable gastric band configured to be used to treat obesity, comprising:

a body having a head end including a buckle, and a tail end including a belt tab;

an inflatable member connected to the body between the head end and the tail end;

a conduit for carrying fluid, the conduit configured to be fluidly coupled to the inflatable member;

an electrode attached to the body or the inflatable member, the electrode configured to introduce the electric signal to the splanchnic nerve; and

a wire connected to the electrode, the wire being encapsulated by an insulator.

2 . The gastric band of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is further configured to introduce an electric signal to a vagal nerve.

3 . The gastric band of claim 2 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the wire, the sensor configured to obtain physiological information related to the patient.

4 . The gastric band of claim 3 , wherein the inflatable member is configured to inflate or deflate based on the physiological information obtained by the sensor.

5 . The gastric band of claim 3 , wherein the electrode is further configured to introduce the electric signal to the splanchnic nerve based on the physiological information obtained by the sensor.

6 . The gastric band of claim 3 , wherein the electrode is further configured to introduce the electric signal to the vagal nerve based on the physiological information obtained by the sensor.

7 . A method of stimulating a splanchnic nerve to control an appetite of a patient, comprising:

determining a first electric signal to be transmitted to an electrode for stimulating the splanchnic nerve;

transmitting the first electric signal to the electrode to stimulate the splanchnic nerve; and

determining that the electrode successfully received the first electric signal.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining a second electric signal to be transmitted to an electrode for stimulating the vagal nerve;

transmitting the second electric signal to the electrode to stimulate the vagal nerve; and

determining that the electrode successfully received the second electric signal.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the first electric signal to be transmitted is based on physiological information obtained by a sensor inside a body of the patient.

10 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising transmitting a message to a computer outside the body of the patient that the electrode received the first electric signal.

11 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining if nausea was reported after transmitting the first signal to the electrode;

selecting a different signal to be transmitted to the electrode in response to determining that nausea was reported; and

transmitting the different signal to the electrode.

12 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining if satiety was reported after transmitting the first signal to the electrode;

selecting a different signal to be transmitted to the electrode in response to determining that satiety was not reported; and

transmitting the different signal to the electrode.

13 . A gastric band system with electrical stimulation, comprising:

an implantable gastric band having an inflatable member and a stimulation electrode on an inner circumference of the implantable gastric band;

an implantable controller coupled to the stimulation electrode, the implantable controller having a power source and circuitry for sending electrical pulses;

a flexible cord extending from the gastric band to the implantable controller, the flexible cord enclosing electric wires connecting the stimulation electrode to the implantable controller; and

a fluid conduit in communication between the inflatable member and an implanted reservoir, the fluid conduit extending in parallel with the flexible cord,

wherein the stimulating electrode is configured to contact a patient's stomach region and deliver electric stimulation to a splanchnic nerve in response to receiving an electric pulse from the power source, the electric pulse traversing the electric wires.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the stimulating electrode further delivers an electric stimulation to a vagal nerve in response to receiving the electric pulse from the power source.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the gastric band further includes an adjustable circumference.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the stimulation electrode is mounted on an inner surface of the inflatable member.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the implantable controller includes a return electrode for the stimulation electrode.

18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the inflatable member has an uneven inner circumference having inwardly-directed troughs and peaks on which are mounted a series of the stimulation electrodes in the troughs.

19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the inflatable member has an uneven inner circumference having inwardly-directed troughs and peaks on which are mounted a series of the stimulation electrodes in the peaks.

20 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the implantable controller, the sensor being configured to obtain physiological information and to feed the physiological information to the circuitry for operating either a gastric band size adjustment and/or the stimulation electrode.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the stimulation electrode is mounted on the inner surface of the inflatable member, and the sensor includes a pressure sensor for monitoring the hydraulic pressure within the inflatable member.

22 . A gastric band system with electrical stimulation, comprising:

an implantable gastric band having an inflatable inner member with an uneven inner circumference having inwardly-directed troughs and peaks on which are mounted a series of stimulation electrodes in the peaks; and

an implantable controller including a power source and circuitry for sending electrical pulses to the stimulation electrodes.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the stimulation electrodes are configured to stimulate a splanchnic nerve.

24 . The system of claim 23 , wherein the stimulation electrodes are configured to stimulate a vagal nerve.