Patent ID: 8538542

Claim:
A system for treating a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by dysmotility of a gastrointestinal organ comprising: a first electrode adapted for placement on a vagus nerve at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ and below a diaphragm of patient, and a second electrode adapted for placement on said vagus nerve at a site proximal to said stimulation site, a third electrode adapted for placement on said vagus nerve at a distal blocking site distal to said stimulation site, an implantable controller comprising an induction coil, at least one circuit for generating a neural conduction blocking signal connected to the second and third electrode, at least one circuit for generating a neural conduction stimulating signal connected to the first electrode, a battery, and a central processing unit comprising program storage and memory; and an external programmer configured to: communicate at least one parameter for the neural conduction blocking signal to the implantable controller, wherein the parameter is selected for the neuroconduction blocking signal to i) at least partially downregulate the vagus nerve, ii) allow at least partial recovery of the nerve activity following discontinuation of the neural conduction blocking signal, and iii) reduce pancreatic and biliary output via inhibition of pancreo-biliary output, and communicate at least one parameter for the neural conduction stimulating signal to the implantable controller, wherein the parameter is selected for the neuroconduction stimulating signal to enhance pancreatic and biliary output; and an external coil adapted to be worn by the patient, wherein the external coil is connected to the external programmer, and is adapted to inductively couple to the induction coil of the implantable controller.