The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 17, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 30, 1997
Ivan Bourgeois, Verviers, BE;
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
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 are occurring. In particular two sensors are featured. The first sensor senses low frequency gastrointestinal electrical activity between the frequency of 0.017-0.25 Hz and the second sensor senses intrinsic gastrointestinal electrical activity between the frequency of 100-300 Hz, which occurs upon normal peristaltic contractions. The second sensor only senses for a preset period after low frequency gastrointestinal electrical activity has been sensed by the first sensor. The pulse generator further delivers stimulation pulse trains to the gastrointestinal tract at a period of time after low frequency gastrointestinal electrical activity has been sensed by the first sensor. If, however, the second sensor senses intrinsic gastrointestinal electrical activity between the frequency of 100-300 Hz, then the delivery of stimulation pulse trains to the gastrointestinal tract is inhibited. In such a manner the present invention detects the occurrence of normal peristaltic contractions and further provides electrical stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract if such normal peristaltic contractions are not detected.