Patent ID: 7444183

Claim:
An apparatus for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient where the disorders are characterized at least in part by vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of alimentary tract organs of said patient at an innervation site, said apparatus comprising: a neurostimulator carrier sized to be positioned through a natural orifice of a patient and within a lumen of an esophagus of said patient and extend through a complete length of said esophagus and terminate at a distal end in an organ distal to said esophagus, said carrier having a carrier lumen extending throughout a length of said carrier; an electrode disposed on said carrier to be positioned at a mucosal layer of said esophagus when said distal end is disposed in said organ with said electrode opposing and unattached to said mucosal layer; said carrier having an opening exposing said carrier lumen and positioned on said carrier and said length of said carrier being at least long enough for said opening to be positioned beyond a fundus of said patient when said electrode is positioned within said esophagus; said electrode connected to a source of electrical signal selected to generate a blocking signal to at least a vagal trunk said vagus nerve external to said esophagus; and wherein said electrical signal is non-ablative and selected for a function of said vagal trunk affected by said electrical signal to at least partially recover following discontinuation of application of said electrical signal; and wherein said carrier is sized for said opening to reside in an interior of a small intestine of said patient when said electrode resides within said esophagus.