Activating muscle contractions along a gi tract portion

Abstract

Apparatus, system, and method for activating muscle contractions along a GE tract portion. Implantable apparatus includes: elongated member configured for positioning lengthwise in GI tract across a target GI tract portion; plurality of electrodes distributed longitudinally spaced in a series along the elongated member; and array of controlled relays coupled to the electrodes, that facilitates selective transition of each electrode between positively connected, grounded, and disconnected states. Implantable apparatus is connectable to an external unit including a signal generator connectable to the electrodes via the controlled relays, and controller connected to memory with preset commands set for activating generator to generate signal sequences configured to charge positive electrode into positively connected state and negative electrode into grounded state, thereby producing an electrical field that activates local muscle contraction of the GI tract portion between the positive and negative electrodes, when in contact with the positive and negative electrodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable apparatus comprising:
 an elongated member sized and configured for positioning lengthwise in a GI tract across a target GI tract portion;   a plurality of electrodes distributed longitudinally spaced with each other in a series along said elongated member; and   an array of controlled relays coupled to said electrodes, and configured to facilitate selective transition of each one of said electrodes between a positively connected state, a grounded state and a disconnected state;   the implantable apparatus is connectable to an external unit comprising a signal generator connectable to said electrodes via said controlled relays, and a controller connected to a memory with preset commands set for activating said generator to generate a signal sequence configured to charge a positive electrode into said positively connected state and a negative electrode into said grounded state, thereby producing an electrical field capable of activating a local muscle contraction of the GI tract portion between said positive electrode and said negative electrode, when in contact with said positive and negative electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, when said positive electrode is charged into said positively connected state and said negative electrode is charged into said grounded state, said preset commands are configured to set other of said electrodes, closest to said positive electrode, or to said negative electrode, or provided between said positive and negative electrodes, into said disconnected state. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, when said positive electrode is charged into said positively connected state and said negative electrode is charged into said grounded state, said preset commands are configured to set rest of said electrodes into said disconnected state. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said GI tract portion is selected from a group consisting of: esophagus, gullet, stomach wall, pylorus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, small intestine, caecum, colon, rectum, and large intestine. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said local muscular contraction has a magnitude sufficient for developing a local pressure of at least 50 mmHg in said GI tract portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein distance between each closest two of said electrodes is within a range of 5 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrodes are grouped into a plurality of terminals, and said preset commands are set to allocate, using said array of controlled relays, a chosen one of said terminals comprising said positive electrode and said negative electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein distance between each closest two of said terminals is within a range of 15 mm to 30 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said signal generator is configured to produce at least one pulse, and said preset commands are set to direct said at least one pulse to said chosen terminal, using said array of controlled relays, so as to charge said positive electrode and said negative electrode. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said signal sequence generates a train of successive pulses at each one of said terminals capable of producing a series of distally progressing contractions along said GI tract portion. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said signal sequence is staggered in time such that distally located terminals receive one of said at least one pulse after more proximally located terminals receive other of said another of said at least one pulse. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 an implantable apparatus comprising an elongated member sized and configured for positioning lengthwise in a GI tract across a target GI tract portion, a plurality of electrodes distributed longitudinally spaced with each other in a series along said elongated member, and an array of controlled relays coupled to said electrodes and configured to facilitate selective transition of each one of said electrodes between a positively connected state, a grounded state and a disconnected state; and   an external unit comprising a signal generator connectable to said electrodes via said controlled relays, and a controller connected to a memory with preset commands for activating said generator to generate a signal sequence configured to charge a positive electrode into said positively connected state and a negative electrode into said grounded state, thereby producing an electrical field capable of activating a local muscle contraction of the GI tract portion between said positive electrode and said negative electrode, when in contact with said positive and negative electrodes.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein, when said positive electrode is charged into said positively connected state and said negative electrode is charged into said grounded state, said preset commands are configured to set other of said electrodes, closest to said positive electrode, or to said negative electrode, or provided between said positive and negative electrodes, into said disconnected state. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , said electrodes are grouped into a plurality of terminals, and said preset commands are set to allocate, using said array of controlled relays, a chosen one of said terminals comprising said positive electrode and said negative electrode;
 wherein said signal generator is configured to produce at least one pulse, and said preset commands are set to direct said at least one pulse to said chosen terminal, using said array of controlled relays, so as to charge said positive electrode and said negative electrode.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein said signal sequence generates a train of successive pulses at each one of said terminals capable of producing a series of distally progressing contractions along said GI tract portion. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 implanting an implantable apparatus by positioning an elongated member lengthwise in a GI tract across a target GI tract portion, said implantable apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes distributed longitudinally spaced with each other in a series along said elongated member, and an array of controlled relays coupled to said electrodes and configured to facilitate selective transition of each one of said electrodes between a positively connected state, a grounded state and a disconnected state; and   applying an external unit by connecting a signal generator to said electrodes via said controlled relays, and ordering a controller, connected to a memory with preset commands, to generate with said generator a signal sequence, thereby charging a positive electrode into said positively connected state and a negative electrode into said grounded state, producing an electrical field, and activating a local muscle contraction of the GI tract portion between said positive electrode and said negative electrode.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 setting other of said electrodes, closest to said positive electrode, or to said negative electrode, or provided between said positive and negative electrodes, into said disconnected state.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said GI tract portion is selected from a group consisting of: esophagus, gullet, stomach wall, pylorus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, small intestine, ceacum, colon, rectum, and large intestine. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said electrodes are grouped into a plurality of terminals, the method further comprising:
 allocating a chosen one of said terminals comprising said positive electrode and said negative electrode.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 generating a train of successive pulses to each one of said terminals thereby producing a series of distally progressing contractions along said GI tract portion.