Patent · US Active

Nerve blocking for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

US8010204B2 · kind B2 · utility

26Cited by
110References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 11, 2010
Grant dateAug 30, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 11, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/36071
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system comprising: at least one electrode adapted to be placed on a vagus nerve below a vagal innervation of the heart; an implantable controller comprising an induction coil, at least one circuit for generating a neural conduction blocking signal connected to the at least one electrode, a battery, and a central processing unit comprising program storage and memory; and an external programmer configured to: communicate at least one parameter for the neural conduction blocking signal to the implantable controller, wherein the parameter is selected for the neural conduction blocking signal to i) at least partially downregulate the vagus nerve, ii) allow at least partial recovery of the nerve activity following discontinuation of the neural conduction blocking signal, and iii) reduce pancreatic and biliary output via inhibition of pancreo-biliary output; and an external coil adapted to be worn by the patient, wherein the external coil is connected to the external programmer, and is adapted to inductively couple to the induction coil of the implantable controller.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.