Method and apparatus for electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract
US6115635A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/36007
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract. The apparatus features an implantable pulse generator which may be coupled to the gastric system through one or more medical electrical leads. In the preferred embodiment the leads couple to the circular layer of the stomach. The pulse generator preferably features sensors for sensing gastric electrical activity, and in particular, whether peristaltic contractions as occurring. One embodiment particularly solves the problem of accurately detecting gastric arrhythmias by periodically reverting into a sensed intrinsic gastric rhythm mode. In this mode the output of electrical stimulation is adjusted to only occur at an exceedingly slow rate. This slow rate of stimulation thus permits the gastro-intestinal tissues to undergo an intrinsic depolarization so that the underlying intrinsic slow wave rate may be detected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.