Patent ID: 7835796
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: A61F,A61N

Abstract:
1. A system for treating an eating disorder by electrical stimulation of a vagus nerve of the patient in a manner to induce an afferent action potential on the nerve, comprising: an implantable gastric band having an inner periphery for contacting at least a portion of the patient's gastrointestinal tract innervated by said vagus nerve, said gastric band comprising a plurality of electrodes for electrical communication with said at least a portion of the gastrointestinal tract and said vagus nerve, wherein said plurality of electrodes is used for both sensing and inducing afferent action potentials; and a pulse generator coupled to said plurality of electrodes and configured to generate a test electrical signal to be applied to said plurality of electrodes, and also configured to select which of said electrode(s) are to be used to induce said action potentials based on detection of an afferent action potential in said nerve induced by said test electrical signal and sensed by at least one said electrode, and further configured to provide an electrical stimulation signal to at least said selected electrode sufficient to induce an exogenous afferent action potential on said vagus nerve of the patient while permitting transmission of native action potentials on said nerve.