Patent ID: 7856273

Claim:
A method of treating a patient having a gastrointestinal disorder, comprising: receiving, by an implantable medical device (IMD), external input from a patient, the external input pertaining to a subjective observation by the patient of a symptom of a gastrointestinal disorder affecting the patient; receiving, by the IMD, internal input from a sensor in the patient, the internal input pertaining to at least one symptom from the group consisting of: an acid production factor; a muscle spasm relating to the diaphragm; a diaphragm measurement; spasms related to the esophagus; and spasms related to the stomach region; in response to receiving the internal and external inputs, automatically determining whether or not electrical stimulation treatment is appropriate; in response to a determination that electrical stimulation treatment is appropriate, automatically determining, based on data relating to the gastrointestinal disorder, signal characteristics suitable to reduce at least one disorder effect from the group consisting of: acid production; a muscle spasm relating to the diaphragm; a spasm related to an esophagus region; and a spasm related to the stomach region; after determining the signal characteristics suitable to reduce at least one disorder effect, generating an electrical signal according to the determined signal characteristics; and applying the electrical signal to a vagus nerve of the patient via at least one electrode directly coupled to at least one portion of the vagus nerve, the portion selected from the group consisting of: a myenteric plexus of Auerbach; a submucous plexus of the Meissner; a principal nerve of the lesser curvature of the stomach; and a gastric branch of said vagus nerve.