Patent ID: 7756582
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M,A61N,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for coupling an electrical stimulator to a stomach of a patient, the stomach comprising a stomach wall, an inside of the stomach being surrounded by the stomach wall, the inside of the stomach having an acidic environment, the method comprising: providing an electrode and a housing having an electronics circuit operable to deliver electrically stimulating signals through the electrode; attaching a first anchor to the stomach wall by positioning the first anchor through the stomach wall so that an inner portion of the first anchor is disposed within the inside of the stomach, so that an outer portion of the first anchor is disposed outside of the stomach, and so that a body of the first anchor extends between the inside portion and the outside portion and by engaging the outer portion of the first anchor in contacts with an outer surface of the stomach wall surrounding the body of the first anchor when the first anchor extends through the stomach wall, the engagement between the outer portion of the first anchor and the outer surface of the stomach sealing off the acidic environment within the interior of the stomach from a surrounding environment within the patient, the outer portion having a greater cross-sectional area than the body of the first anchor extending through the stomach wall so that the outer portion inhibits movement of the body of the anchor into the inside of the stomach, the electrode being mounted to the body portion so that the electrode is in electrical contact with the stomach wall; coupling the electronics circuit to the stomach by extending a flexible member between the housing and the anchor.