Method and system to provide therapy for obesity and other medical disorders, by providing electrical pules to symapthetic nerves or vagal nerve(s) with rechargeable implanted pulse generator

Abstract

A method and system for providing electrical pulses to splanchnic nerve(s) and/or around celiac ganglion for selective sympathetic stimulation of a patient, to provide therapy for obesity or to induce weight loss comprises implantable and external components. The implantable components are a lead and an implantable pulse generator, comprising rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-ion polymer battery. The external components are a programmer and an external recharger. In one embodiment, the implanted pulse generator may also comprise stimulus-receiver means, and a pulse generator means with rechargeable battery. The implanted stimulus-receiver is adapted to work in conjunction with an external stimulator. In another embodiment, the implanted pulse generator is adapted to be rechargeable, utilizing inductive coupling with an external recharger. The implanted system may also use a lead with one or more electrode(s), for sympathetic nerve(s) modulation with selective stimulation and/or blocking. In another embodiment, the external stimulator and/or programmer may comprise an optional telemetry unit. The addition of the telemetry unit to the external stimulator and/or programmer provides the ability to remotely interrogate and change stimulation programs over a wide area network, as well as other networking capabilities.

1 . A method of providing electrical pulses with a rechargeable implantable pulse generator for stimulation and/or blocking of sympathetic nerve(s), or its branches, or part thereof in a patient for treating, controlling, or alleviating the symptoms for at least one of obesity, eating disorders, and inducing weight loss, comprising the steps of: 
 providing said rechargeable implantable pulse generator, comprising a microcontroller, pulse generation circuitry, rechargeable battery, battery recharging circuitry, and a coil;    providing a lead with at least one electrode(s) adapted to be in contact with said sympathetic nerve(s) or its branches or part thereof, and in electrical contact with said rechargeable implantable pulse generator;    providing an external power source to charge said rechargeable implantable pulse generator; and    providing an external programmer to program said rechargeable implantable pulse generator.    
   
   
       2 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said sympathetic nerve(s) or its branch(s) or part thereof compromises at least one of splanchnic nerve, the greater splanchnic nerve, celiac ganglia or other portion of sympathetic nerve plexus in the gastric region or their branch(s) or part thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amplitude of said electrical pulses delivered to sympathetic nervous system can range from 0.25 volt to 15 volts.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pulse width of said electrical pulses delivered to sympathetic nervous system can range from 20 micro-seconds to 5 milli-seconds.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the frequency of said electrical pulses delivered to sympathetic nervous system can range from 5 cycle/second to 200 cycles/second.  
   
   
       6 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said coil used in recharging said pulse generator is around said implantable rechargeable pulse generator case in a silicone enclosure.  
   
   
       7 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said rechargeable implanted pulse generator further comprises one or two feedthrough(s) for unipolar or bipolar configurations respectively.  
   
   
       8 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said implantable rechargeable pulse generator further comprises stimulus-receiver means such that, said implantable rechargeable pulse generator can function in conjunction with an external stimulator, to provide said stimulation and/or blocking to said sympathetic nerve(s) and/or its branches or part thereof.  
   
   
       9 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said rechargeable battery comprises at least one of lithium-ion, lithium-ion polymer batteries.  
   
   
       10 . A method of  claim 1 , wherein said rechargeable implanted pulse generator is adapted to be remotely interrogated and/or programmed over a wide area network by an external interface device means.  
   
   
       11 . A method of treating, controlling, or alleviating the symptoms for at least one of obesity, eating disorders, and inducing weight loss by providing electrical pulses to at least one of splanchnic nerve, greater splanchnic nerve, celiac ganglia or other portion(s) of sympathetic nerve plexus in the gastric region or their branch(s) or part thereof in a patient, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an implantable rechargeable pulse generator, wherein said implantable rechargeable pulse generator comprises a stimulus-receiver means, and an implantable pulse generator means comprising a microcontroller, pulse generation circuitry, rechargeable battery, and battery recharging circuitry;    providing a lead with at least one electrode(s) adapted to be in contact with said at least one of splanchnic nerve, greater splanchnic nerve, celiac ganglia or other portion(s) of sympathetic nerve plexus in the gastric region or their branch(s) or part thereof in a patient, and in electrical contact with said implantable rechargeable pulse generator;    providing an external power source to charge rechargeable implantable pulse generator; and    providing an external programmer to program the said rechargeable implantable pulse generator.    
   
   
       12 . A method of  claim 11 , wherein said stimulus-receiver means provides said rechargeable implantable pulse generator, means to function in conjunction with an external stimulator to provide said electrical pulses.  
   
   
       13 . A method of  claim 11  wherein said coil used in recharging said pulse generator is around said implantable rechargeable pulse generator case in a silicone enclosure.  
   
   
       14 . A method of  claim 11 , wherein said rechargeable implantable pulse generator can be recharged using an external re-charger or an external stimulator.  
   
   
       15 . A method of  claim 11 , wherein said rechargeable battery comprises at least one of lithium-ion, lithium-ion polymer batteries.  
   
   
       16 . A system for providing electrical pulses for stimulation and/or blocking of sympathetic nerve(s) or its branches or part thereof for treating or alleviating the symptoms for at least one of obesity, eating disorders, and inducing weight loss, comprising: 
 a rechargeable implantable pulse generator, comprising a microprocessor, pulse generation circuitry, rechargeable battery, battery recharging circuitry, and a coil;    a lead with at least one electrode(s) adapted to be in contact with said sympathetic nerve(s) or its branches or part thereof and in electrical contact with said implantable rechargeable pulse generator;    an external power source to charge said rechargeable implantable pulse generator; and    an external programmer to program said rechargeable implantable pulse generator.    
   
   
       17 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein said sympathetic nerve(s) or its branch(s) or part thereof comprises at least one of splanchnic nerve, the greater splanchnic nerve, celiac ganglia or other portion of sympathetic nerve plexus in the gastric region or their branch(s) or part thereof.  
   
   
       18 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein the amplitude of said electrical pulses delivered to sympathetic nervous system can range from 0.25 volt to 15 volts.  
   
   
       19 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein the pulse width of said electrical pulses delivered to sympathetic nervous system can range from 20 micro-seconds to 5 milli-seconds.  
   
   
       20 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein the frequency of said electrical pulses delivered to sympathetic nervous system can range from 5 cycle/second to 200 cycles/second.  
   
   
       21 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein said coil used in recharging said pulse generator is around said rechargeable implantable pulse generator case in a silicone enclosure.  
   
   
       22 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein said rechargeable implanted pulse generator further comprises one or two feedthrough(s) for unipolar or bipolar configurations respectively.  
   
   
       23 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein said rechargeable implantable pulse generator further comprises stimulus-receiver means whereby said implantable rechargeable pulse generator can also function in conjunction with an external stimulator, to provide said stimulation and/or blocking to said sympathetic nerve(s) and/or its branches.  
   
   
       24 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one electrode(s) is/are of a material selected from the group consisting of platinum, platinum/iridium alloy, platinum/iridium alloy coated with titanium nitride, and carbon.  
   
   
       25 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein said rechargeable battery comprises at least one of lithium-ion, lithium-ion polymer batteries.  
   
   
       26 . A system of  claim 16 , wherein said rechargeable implanted pulse generator is adapted to be remotely interrogated and/or programmed over a wide area network by an external interface means.