Restore Medical, Inc.

Enteromedics Inc.

Pi Medical, Inc.

Medtronic Xomed, Inc.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Heartstent Corporation

Medtronix Xomed, Inc.

Venturi Group, LLC

Flathead Partners, LLC

Timothy R Conrad

Mark B Knudson

Katherine S Tweden

Richard R Wilson

John P Sopp

Anja Metzger

Brian J Erickson

Jerry C Griffin

Susan L Critzer

Adrianus P Donders

Walter J Stevens

Larry A Walter

Robert J Spinner

David P Martin

Robert S Nickoloff

Luke B Evnin

Anja K Metzger

A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating a variety of conditions include treating a disorder associated with neural activity near a region of a brain. In such condition, the method includes placing an electrode to create a field near said region, creating said field with parameters selected to at least partially block neural activity within said field. For treating a tissue sensation, the method includes identifying a target area of tissue to be treated and placing an electrode to create a field near the target area, and creating the field with parameters selected to at least partially block neural activity within the target area. For treating a condition associated with neural activity of a spinal cord, the method includes placing an electrode to create a field near a nerve associated with the spinal cord, and creating the field with parameters selected to at least partially block neural activity within the nerve.

Neural blocking therapy

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.

Nerve stimulation and blocking for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning an electrode on a vagus nerve. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity by an amount selected to treat the disorder. In some embodiments, the disorder is obesity. The signal may be a blocking or a stimulation signal. In some embodiments, the signal is selected to, at least in part, downregulate neural activity on the vagus nerve.

Electrode band system and methods of using the system to treat obesity

A method for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders characterized at least in part by vagal activity includes positioning an electrode around a body organ innervated by the vagus. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity. The electrical signal is applied at a frequency selected for the signal to create a neural conduction block to the vagus with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on the vagus. The application of the electrical signal is discontinued. The application of the signal and the discontinuing of the signal are repeated with durations of the discontinuing and the application selected to treat the disorder.

Controlled vagal blockage therapy

A patient's pharyngeal wall is treated by inserting an expander member into the airway and positioning an active portion of the expander member in opposition to portions of the pharyngeal wall to be treated. The expander member is activated to urge the wall portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position. The expander member is then deactivated while leaving the wall portions in the outwardly placed position and the expander member is removed from said airway. A further aspect of the treatment includes stabilization of at least a portion of the pharyngeal wall after compression of portions of the wall.

Pharyngeal wall treatment

At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning an electrode on a vagus nerve. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity by an amount selected to treat the disorder. In some embodiments, the disorder is obesity. The signal may be a blocking or a stimulation signal. In some embodiments, the signal is selected to, at least in part, downregulate neural activity on the vagus nerve. In embodiments, a system comprises a band comprising a first electrode array and a second electrode array; a signal generator electrically connected to each of said first, and second electrode array; 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 neuroconduction 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.

A method and apparatus for treating a patient's health condition by diverting pancreatic exocrine secretions include a flow diverter of material compatible with chronic residence within a small intestine of the patient. The flow diverter has a cover end and a discharge end. The flow diverter is sized to be placed within the small intestine with the discharge end placed distally from said cover end and with said flow diverter further sized so permit passage of chyme through the small intestine and past the flow diverter. The cover end is sized to cover a discharge papilla of the pancreatic duct. The diverter is adapted to divert at least a portion of pancreatic exocrine secretion from the papilla to the distal discharge end.

Pancreatic exocrine secretion diversion apparatus and method

Systems and methods for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders characterized at least in part by vagal activity. In embodiments, a method for treating obesity comprises positioning a first electrode on a vagus nerve of an obese patient at a location below a vagal innervation of the heart; treating the patient's obesity by applying an electrical treatment signal to the electrode with the electrical treatment signal having: a frequency selected for the signal to at least partially downregulate nerve impulses on the vagal nerve, wherein the signal has a frequency in excess of 200 Hz, and without simultaneously applying a neural impulse-inducing secondary electrical signal to the vagus nerve on a proximal side of the location whenever the electrical treatment signal is applied; and b) a plurality of on-times separated by a plurality of off-times, the signal applied during the on-times and not applied during the off-times, wherein the duration of the off-times is selected in response to a signal from a sensing electrode representing at least 50% of the activity of the vagal nerve as compared to baseline.

Systems and methods of using a system for treating a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by dysmotility of a gastrointestinal organ. A system comprises a first electrode adapted for placement on the vagus nerve at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ, a second electrode adapted for placement on the vagus nerve at a site proximal to the stimulation site, a third electrode adapted for placement on the vagus nerve at a distal blocking site distal to the stimulation site, an implantable controller comprising at least one circuit for generating a neural conduction blocking signal connected to the second and third electrode, at least one circuit for generating a neural conduction stimulating signal connected to the first electrode; and an external programmer configured to communicate at least one parameter for the neural conduction blocking signal to the implantable controller; 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 implantable controller.

A pharyngeal airway having a pharyngeal wall of a patient at least partially surrounding and defining the airway is treated by selecting an implant dimensioned so as to be implanted at or beneath a mucosal layer of the pharyngeal wall and extending transverse to said wall. The implant has mechanical characteristics for the implant, at least in combination with a fibrotic tissue response induced by the implant, to stiffen said pharyngeal wall to resist radial collapse. The implant is implanted into the pharyngeal wall transverse to a longitudinal axis of the airway.

Stiffening pharyngeal wall treatment

At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning an electrode on a vagus nerve. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity by an amount selected to treat the disorder. In some embodiments, the disorder is gastroparesis. The signal may be a blocking or a stimulation signal. In some embodiments, the signal is selected to a) at least in part, upregulate neural activity on the vagus nerve without triggering muscular contractility, and, b) increase pancreobilliary output.

Growing community of inventors

Eden Prairie, MN, United States of America

Timothy R Conrad