Patent ID: 6238423
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
An anticonstipation apparatus for treating constipation in a human patient, comprising:electrode means for delivering sequential electrical stimulation to muscles that are associated with a target portion of the gut of said patient;stimulus generator means for generating said sequential electrical stimulation; andelectrical lead means adapted to convey said sequential electrical stimulation from said stimulus generator means to said electrode means;wherein said muscles are located sequentially with respect to each other in a proximal to caudad direction and the electrode means are adapted to stimulate same;wherein said sequential electrical stimulation is selected to urge said muscles to sequentially contract, in said proximal to caudad direction, to urge at least a portion of the contents of said target portion to move in said proximal to caudad direction, and wherein said electrical lead means comprises an electrical lead, said electrical lead comprising an electrode portion having a flexible, flat, ribbon-like configuration, at least a portion of said electrode means being located on a first face of said electrode portion wherein said electrode means further comprises from two to 100 pairs of electrodes.