Patent ID: 7702386

Claim:
A method, for treating at least one of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in a patient, comprising: providing a pulse generator, the pulse generator having a programmable stimulation pattern configured to deliver energy to an at least one nerve fiber group in a splanchnic nerve with a signal-on time that comprises a subthreshold period and a suprathreshold period and wherein the stimulation pattern comprises a frequency, a pulse width and a current, wherein the frequency is between about 0.1 Hz and 500 Hz, the pulse width is between about 100 microseconds and about 1 millisecond, and the current is between about 0.1 mA and about 10 mA; electrically stimulating the nerve fiber group during the subthreshold period, wherein the subthreshold period comprises a period in which the energy delivered to the nerve fiber group is below the threshold for exciting the nerve fiber group; electrically activating the nerve fiber group during the suprathreshold period, wherein the suprathreshold period comprises a period in which the energy delivered to the nerve fiber group meets or exceeds a threshold for exciting the nerve fiber group; and wherein the stimulation pattern is configured to ameliorate or eliminate the at least one of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and Type 2 diabetes in the patient.