Method and apparatus for treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Abstract

GERD is treated through a method and apparatus of stimulating the body organ to accelerate a discharge of contents from the duodenum of the patient to thereby encourage discharge of contents from the stomach of the patient across the pyloric valve and into the duodenum.

Description

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] This invention pertains to the field of treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art[0004] Gastro-esophageal reflux is a physical condition in which stomach acids reflux, or flow back from the stomach into the esophagus. Frequent reflux episodes may result in a more severe problem known as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is the most common form of dyspepsia, being present in approximately 40% of adults in the United States on an intermittent basis and some 10% on a daily basis as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,629 Johnson et al., dated Aug. 8, 2000.[0005] As indicated in Johnson et al., dyspepsia, or heartburn is defined as a burning sensation or discomfort behind the breastbone or sternum and is the most common symptom of GERD. Other symptoms of GERD include dysphasia, odynophagia, hemorrhage, water brash and pulmonary manifestations such as asthma, co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease of a patient. The method includes stimulating a body organ to accelerate a discharge of contents from a duodenum of a patient to thereby encourage discharge of contents from a stomach of the patient across a pyloric valve of the patient and into the duodenum. The apparatus of the invention includes a signal generator for generating a stimulation signal. A conductor electrically connects the signal generator to the body organ to accelerate a discharge of contents from the duodenum of the patient to encourage gastric emptying.

Problems solved by technology

Frequent reflux episodes may result in a more severe problem known as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

While these avoidance strategies may be helpful there is relatively little data pointing to the efficacy of lifestyle modification for the treatment of GERD.

Conventional antacids such as Tums.RTM. and Rolaids.RTM. may, in some patients, produce short-term relief but often have side effects including diarrhea and constipation.

Other drugs have been more effective at controlling GERD but fail to treat underlying causes of the disease and have been proven to be extremely expensive and not readily available to all patients due to such expense.

Notwithstanding multiple attempts at various types of treatment, GERD continues to be a serious disease proving to be difficult to treat by any of the foregoing prior art techniques.

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