Patent ID: 7738961

Claim:
A method of electrically stimulating one or more structures in an upper esophageal sphincter or esophagus to modify activity of said upper esophageal sphincter or esophagus in order to treat gastrointestinal conditions of a patient, the method comprising the steps of: arranging at least two stimulating electrodes within a portion of said upper esophageal sphincter or esophagus, wherein said at least two stimulating electrodes are in different locations within said portion of said upper esophageal sphincter or esophagus; and triggering electrical stimuli from the stimulating electrodes when said patient enters a feed phase and wherein said stimuli causes said portion of said upper esophageal sphincter or esophagus to contract and wherein the electrodes are stimulated in a pattern that slows passage of a food bolus through the upper esophageal sphincter or esophagus.