NERVE STIMULATION AND BLOCKING FOR TREATMENT OF GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
At least one of a plurality of gastrointestinal disorders is treated by stimulating an enteric nervous system of a patient to enhance a functional tone of the enteric nervous system. A treatment includes electrically stimulating a vagus nerve of the patient at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ. The electrical stimulation includes applying a stimulation signal at the stimulation site. An optional proximal electrical blocking signal is applied to the vagus nerve at a proximal blocking site proximal to the stimulation site. The proximal blocking signal is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses at the proximal blocking site.
1 . A method of treating conditions associated with low vagal tone comprising:
Positioning at least one electrode on a vagal nerve below the innervation of the heart; and
Treating conditions associated with low vagal tone by applying an electrical signal intermittently in a 24 hour period, wherein the electrical signal is selected to enhance pancreobilliary output, is not timed to trigger muscle contraction, does not have sufficient energy to drive peristaltic contractions.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal has a frequency of 12 Hz or less.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is applied at 10 minute intervals.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is not applied in response to a sensed event.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is applied during awake hours.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the electrical signal is applied during discrete intervals in the morning, afternoon and evening.