Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Thomas F. Woon
  • Patent number: 6327503
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing on-demand 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 sensor for sensing abnormalities in gastric electrical activity. The pulse generator further features recognizing the type of gastric abnormality sensed. That is detecting whether gastric arrhythmia, bradygastria, dysrhythmia, tachygastria or retrograde propagation or uncoupling are present. If any of these gastric rhythm abnormalities are detected, then the pulse generator features emitting stimulation pulse trains to the gastric system to treat the detected gastric rhythm abnormalities. The stimulation pulse trains may take many forms and may be emitted for various periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Medtronic, INC
    Inventor: Babajide O. Familoni