Patents Assigned to EnteroMedics Inc.
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Patent number: 9682233Abstract: At least one of a plurality of gastrointestinal disorders is treated by stimulating an enteric nervous system of a patient to enhance a functional tone of the enteric nervous system. A treatment includes electrically stimulating a vagus nerve of the patient at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ. The electrical stimulation includes applying a stimulation signal at the stimulation site. An optional proximal electrical blocking signal is applied to the vagus nerve at a proximal blocking site proximal to the stimulation site. The proximal blocking signal is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses at the proximal blocking site.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Richard R. Wilson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 9616231Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a condition associated with impaired blood pressure and/or heart rate in a subject comprising applying an electrical treatment signal, wherein the electrical treatment signal is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses, or in some embodiments, to augment nerve impulses.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2015Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: Enteromedics Inc.Inventors: Katherine S. Tweden, Richard R. Wilson, Mark B. Knudson, Dennis Dong-Won Kim, Deepak Bhole
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Patent number: 9586046Abstract: At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning an electrode on a vagus nerve. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity by an amount selected to treat the disorder. In some embodiments, the disorder is obesity. The signal may be a blocking or a stimulation signal. In some embodiments, the signal is selected to, at least in part, downregulate neural activity on the vagus nerve.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Enteromedics, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Richard R. Wilson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 9393420Abstract: A therapy system for applying an electrical signal to an internal anatomical feature of a patient includes an implantable component and an external component. The medical device can be checked for safety issues by periodically initiating a sequence of tests of an H-bridge circuit, and, during each test, monitoring a current flow through a sensing resistor electrically connected between a sensing connection of the H-bridge circuit and a ground. Current flow through the sensing resistor indicates that both series electrical switches within at least one of the two pairs of series electrical switches are active during that test.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Al Almendinger, Gregory Pat Spar, Koen Jacob Weijand, Randy Maas, Steve Ellsworth
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Patent number: 9358395Abstract: A system for designing a therapy or for treating a gastrointestinal disorder or a condition associated with excess weight in a subject comprising at least one electrode configured to be implanted within a body of the patient and placed at a vagus nerve, the electrode also configured to apply therapy to the vagus nerve upon application of a therapy cycle to the electrode; an implantable neuroregulator for placement in the body of the patient beneath the skin layer, the implantable neuroregulator being configured to generate a therapy cycle, wherein the therapy cycle comprises an on time during which an electrical signal is delivered, the electrical signal comprising: a) a set of pulses applied at a first selected frequency of about 150-10,000 Hz, wherein each pulse of the set of pulses has a pulse width of at least 0.01 milliseconds and less than the period of the first selected frequency.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Katherine S. Tweden, Jonathan J. Waataja, Adrianus P. Donders, Mark B. Knudson
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Patent number: 9333340Abstract: Various methods and apparatus for treating a condition associated with impaired glucose regulation in a subject comprising in one embodiment, applying a neural conduction block to a target nerve at a blocking site with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve pulses. In another embodiment, combinations of down-regulating and or up-regulating with or without pharmaceutical agents are used to treat impaired glucose regulation. In other embodiments, up-regulation or down-regulation of various nerves, such as the vagus and its branches, and the splanchnic is used to modify the production of GLP-1 and GIP, thereby controlling glucose levels. In yet further embodiments, combinations of down-regulating and or up-regulating with or without pharmaceutical agents are used to modify the production of GLP-1 and GIP, to treat impaired glucose regulation.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2012Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Arnold W. Thornton, Dennis Dong-won Kim, Mark B. Knudson, Katherine S. Tweden, Richard R. Wilson
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Patent number: 9186502Abstract: A method and system for designing a therapy or for treating a condition associated with excess weight in a subject comprising applying a neural conduction block to the vagus nerve at a blocking site with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on the vagus nerve at the blocking site and administering a composition comprising an effective amount of an agent that alters the energy balance of the subject.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2009Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Dennis Dong-Won Kim, Mark B. Knudson
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Patent number: 9174040Abstract: At least one of a plurality of gastrointestinal disorders is treated by stimulating an enteric nervous system of a patient to enhance a functional tone of the enteric nervous system. A treatment includes electrically stimulating a vagus nerve of the patient at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ. The electrical stimulation includes applying a stimulation signal at the stimulation site. An optional proximal electrical blocking signal is applied to the vagus nerve at a proximal blocking site proximal to the stimulation site. The proximal blocking signal is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses at the proximal blocking site.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Richard R. Wilson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 9162062Abstract: A method for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders characterized at least in part by vagal activity includes positioning an electrode around a body organ innervated by the vagus. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity. The electrical signal is applied at a frequency selected for the signal to create a neural conduction block to the vagus with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on the vagus. The application of the electrical signal is discontinued. The application of the signal and the discontinuing of the signal are repeated with durations of the discontinuing and the application selected to treat the disorder.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Richard R. Wilson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 9095711Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a condition associated with impaired blood pressure and/or heart rate in a subject comprising applying an electrical treatment signal, wherein the electrical treatment signal is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses, or in some embodiments, to augment nerve impulses.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Katherine S. Tweden, Richard R. Wilson, Mark B. Knudson, Dennis Dong-Won Kim, Deepak Bhole
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Patent number: 8862233Abstract: At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of organs of the patient is treated by a method that includes positioning an electrode on a vagus nerve. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity by an amount selected to treat the disorder. In some embodiments, the disorder is obesity. The signal may be a blocking or a stimulation signal. In some embodiments, the signal is selected to, at least in part, downregulate neural activity on the vagus nerve.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2013Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Richard R. Wilson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 8825164Abstract: A system for designing a therapy or for treating a gastrointestinal disorder or a condition associated with excess weight in a subject comprising at least one electrode configured to be implanted within a body of the patient and placed at a vagus nerve, the electrode also configured to apply therapy to the vagus nerve upon application of a therapy cycle to the electrode; an implantable neuroregulator for placement in the body of the patient beneath the skin layer, the implantable neuroregulator being configured to generate a therapy cycle, wherein the therapy cycle comprises an on time during which an electrical signal is delivered, the electrical signal comprising: a) a set of pulses applied at a first selected frequency of about 150-10,000 Hz, wherein each pulse of the set of pulses has a pulse width of at least 0.01 milliseconds and less than the period of the first selected frequency.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Katherine S. Tweden, Jonathan J. Waataja, Adrianus P. Donders, Mark B. Knudson
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Publication number: 20140214129Abstract: A therapy system for applying an electrical signal to a target nerve includes an electrode, an implantable component and an external component. The electrode has an impedance of at least about 2000 ohms. The electrical signal is applied using constant current or constant voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: ENTEROMEDICS INC.Inventors: Jonathan J. Waataja, Adrianus P. Donders
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Patent number: 8768469Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a condition associated with impaired blood pressure and/or heart rate in a subject comprising applying an electrical treatment signal, wherein the electrical treatment signal is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses, or in some embodiments, to augment nerve impulses.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2009Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Katherine S. Tweden, Richard R. Wilson, Mark B. Knudson, Dennis Dong-Won Kim, Deepak Bhole
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Publication number: 20140172039Abstract: A method for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders characterized at least in part by vagal activity includes positioning an electrode around a body organ innervated by the vagus. An electrical signal is applied to the electrode to modulate vagal activity. The electrical signal is applied at a frequency selected for the signal to create a neural conduction block to the vagus with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on the vagus. The application of the electrical signal is discontinued. The application of the signal and the discontinuing of the signal are repeated with durations of the discontinuing and the application selected to treat the disorder.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Richard R. Wilson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Publication number: 20140172052Abstract: At least one of a plurality of gastrointestinal disorders is treated by stimulating an enteric nervous system of a patient to enhance a functional tone of the enteric nervous system. A treatment includes electrically stimulating a vagus nerve of the patient at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ. The electrical stimulation includes applying a stimulation signal at the stimulation site. An optional proximal electrical blocking signal is applied to the vagus nerve at a proximal blocking site proximal to the stimulation site. The proximal blocking signal is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses at the proximal blocking site.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Richard R. Wilson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 8617095Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a patient's health condition by diverting pancreatic exocrine secretions include a flow diverter of material compatible with chronic residence within a small intestine of the patient. The flow diverter has a cover end and a discharge end. The flow diverter is sized to be placed within the small intestine with the discharge end placed distally from said cover end and with said flow diverter further sized so permit passage of chyme through the small intestine and past the flow diverter. The cover end is sized to cover a discharge papilla of the pancreatic duct. The diverter is adapted to divert at least a portion of pancreatic exocrine secretion from the papilla to the distal discharge end.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Timothy R. Conrad
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Publication number: 20130317567Abstract: A treatment system includes a regulator implanted within a patient, a computing device storing at least one patient database associated with the patient in whom the regulator is implanted, and a data transfer device. The data transfer device provides bi-directional communication (e.g., voice communication) and a data exchange (e.g., a treatment history, a patient database, and operational instructions) between the regulator and the computing device. A programmer can obtain patient reports and/or default treatment values from the computing device based on the data exchange.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Vineel Vallapureddy, Adrianus P. Donders, Satish Ramadhyani, Wu Wang, Hang Chan
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Patent number: 8538533Abstract: Systems and methods for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders characterized at least in part by vagal activity.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Richard R. Wilson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad
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Patent number: 8538542Abstract: Systems and methods of using a system for treating a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by dysmotility of a gastrointestinal organ.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: EnteroMedics Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Knudson, Richard R. Wilson, Katherine S. Tweden, Timothy R. Conrad