Electrical stimulation therapy to promote gastric distention for obesity management

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to techniques for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to support obesity management. The electrical stimulation therapy is configured to cause at least partial gastric distention. Gastric distention tends to induce a sensation of fullness and thereby discourages excessive food intake by the patient. The electrical stimulation therapy may be delivered to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient by electrodes deployed by one or more implantable leads coupled to an electrical stimulator. The electrical stimulator delivers stimulation pulses having a pulse width in a range found to be effective in causing gastric distention.

1 . A method comprising:
 generating a plurality of electrical stimulation pulses with a pulse width of approximately 1 to approximately 10 milliseconds; and   applying, using at least one processors, the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to promote weight loss.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to promote weight loss comprises applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to a stomach of the patient to promote weight loss. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the stomach of the patient to promote weight loss comprises applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to at least one of a lesser or greater curvature of the stomach of the patient to promote weight loss. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the stomach of the patient to promote weight loss comprises applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to a pylorus of the patient to promote weight loss. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to promote weight loss comprises applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to induce a sensation of fullness. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to promote weight loss comprises applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to reduce food intake. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to promote weight loss comprises applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to induce a sensation of at least one of satiety and nausea. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract of the patient comprises applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract of the patient according to a duty cycle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the duty cycle is defined such that the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses are applied to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient substantially continuously. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the duty cycle is defined such that the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses are applied to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient greater than approximately 20% ON. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the duty cycle is defined such that the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses are applied to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient greater than approximately 40% ON. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the duty cycle is defined such that the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses are applied to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient greater than approximately 50% ON. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting, using the at least one processor, an indication of food intake by the patient, and wherein applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to promote weight loss comprises applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient based at least in part on the detection of the indication of food intake. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting, using the at least one processor, gastric contraction by the patient, and wherein applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to promote weight loss comprises applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient based at least in part on the detection of the gastric contraction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting, using the at least one processor, gastric nerve potentials by the patient, and wherein applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient to promote weight loss comprises applying the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient based at least in part on the detection of the gastric nerve potentials. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses are activated for application to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient for a selected time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the selected time coincides with a sleep time of the patient. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the selected time coincides with a meal time of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the selected time coincides with a physical activity time of the patient. 
     
     
         20 . An implantable gastric stimulator comprising:
 an electrical stimulation pulse generator configured to generate a plurality of electrical stimulation pulses with a pulse width of approximately 1 to approximately 10 milliseconds; and   at least one processor configured to apply, via one or more electrodes coupled to the pulse generator, the plurality of electrical stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to promote weight loss.