Patent ID: 7729771

Claim:
A method for treating a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by dysmotility of a gastrointestinal organ comprising: electrically stimulating a vagus nerve of a patient having the gastrointestinal disorder by applying a first electrode on the vagus nerve at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ and below a diaphragm of said patient, said electrical stimulation comprising applying a stimulation signal at said site intermittently, wherein said stimulation signal is selected to enhance pancreo-biliary output; and applying a second electrode to deliver an electrical blocking signal intermittently to said vagus nerve at a site proximal to said stimulation site, said electrical stimulation further comprising applying said blocking signal to said proximal site wherein said blocking signal is selected to a) block nerve impulses proximal to said proximal blocking site; b) allow recovery of the nerve after cessation of the blocking signal; c) have a frequency of at least 500 Hz; and d) at least partially block afferent signals proximal to the stimulation site; and applying a third electrode to deliver a distal electrical blocking signal to said vagus nerve at a distal blocking site distal to said stimulation site, said electrical stimulation further comprising applying said distal electrical blocking signal to said distal blocking site with said distal electrical blocking signal selected to at least partially block transmission of efferent signals distal to said distal blocking site.