Patent ID: 9623238
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: A61N

Claim:
1. A method for treating esophageal dysfunction and preventing a hiatal hernia in a patient, comprising: providing a device comprising at least one electrode operably connected to a pulse generator, and an energy source, said device adapted to apply electrical stimulation to a target tissue, wherein the at least one electrode is positioned on a first end of the device and the pulse generator is positioned on a second end of the device; implanting said device within a gastrointestinal tract of the patient, wherein the first end of the device is implanted in a portion of esophageal tissue of the patient and said at least one electrode is positioned to be in electrical communication with a lower esophageal sphincter of the patient, wherein the second end of the device is implanted in an abdomen of the patient, and wherein said device is implanted such that a slack in a range of 1 cm to 10 cm exists between said first end and said second end; and operating said device to cause electrical stimulation to be applied to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter muscle to modulate function of said lower esophageal sphincter muscle, wherein said operation is not dependent upon, influenced by, modified by, lengthened by, or shortened by a physiological state of a patient.