386 results about "Eating disorders" patented technology

Systems and methods for introducing one or more stimulating drugs and / or applying electrical stimulation to the brain to at least treat or prevent obesity and / or other eating disorders uses at least one system control unit (SCU) producing electrical pulses delivered via electrodes implanted in the brain and / or producing drug infusion pulses, wherein the stimulating drug(s) are delivered to targeted areas in the brain.

An external pulse generator comprising a primary coil and adapted to inductively couple to an implanted receiving means, is designed to deliver neuromodulation therapy for disorders comprising obesity, eating disorders, anxiety and the like. The external pulse generator contains limited number of predetermined programs. These programs provide the patient or caretaker a means to adjust the therapy within confined limits, or turn the device off. The predetermined programs contain unique combination of pulse amplitude, pulse width, frequency of stimulation, and on-off time. In another mode of operation, the parameters can be individually adjusted and the stimulation therapy program can be “customized” for the patient, and stored in the memory. The programs are capable of being modified with a programming station connected to the pulse generator with a RS232-C serial connection. Additionally, the external pulse generator has two-way wireless capabilities, whereby enabling the physicians to remotely control the therapy programs of their patients using wireless internet. Moreover, the external pulse generator has proximity sensing and feedback regulation component to provide a constant therapy in accordance with the predetermined programs.

A method and apparatus for treatment of an eating disorder includes electrically, mechanically and / or pharmaceutically / chemically stimulating a of the vagus nerve of the lower esophagus, cardia, esophageal / cardia junction, cardia / fundus junction or upper stomach so as to induce afferent action potentials on the vagus nerve. The device may be noninvasively adjusted after implantation to provide increased or decreased restriction on the patient's gastrointestinal tract. Each stimulus may be administered as a series of programmed pulses of defined amplitude, duration and period, to evoke a responsive signal to the brain by the target nerve, effective for producing a temporary feeling of satiety in the person. An implantable stimulus generator may be operatively coupled to a nerve electrode, pressure device or chemical outlet to apply a defined signal to a selected nerve branch. The implantable stimulus generator is programmable to allow clinician programming of defined signal parameters effective to treat the eating disorder of the patient. Methods are also provided to identify electrodes nearest to a branch of the vagus nerve to apply an electrical stimulation signal with improved efficiency.

Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate gastrointestinal tissue to treat medical conditions such as eating disorders, gastroparesis, and gastric reflux. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the nerve, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the pre-determined gastrointestinal tissue site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be implanted or located externally. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located in the various regions on or around the gastrointestinal tissue that needs to be stimulated. The implantable receiver-stimulator stimulates different gastrointestinal tissue to provide the desired therapeutic benefit.

A method and system to provide pre-determined electrical pulses for neuromodulating vagus nerve(s) or its branches to provide therapy for bulimia / eating disorders, comprises implantable and external components. The electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s) may be stimulating and / or blocking. The pulsed electrical stimulation / blocking to vagus nerve(s) may be provided using one of the following stimulation systems, such as: a) an implanted stimulus-receiver with an external stimulator; b) an implanted stimulus-receiver comprising a high value capacitor for storing charge, used in conjunction with an external stimulator; c) a programmer-less implantable pulse generator (IPG) which is operable with a magnet; d) a microstimulator; e) a programmable implantable pulse generator; f) a combination implantable device comprising both a stimulus-receiver and a programmable implantable pulse generator (IPG); and g) an implantable pulse generator (IPG) comprising a rechargeable battery. In one embodiment, the external components such as the programmer or external stimulator may comprise a telemetry circuit for networking. The telemetry circuit therefore allows for interrogation or programming of implanted device, from a remote location over a wide area network.

Feedback systems and methods communicate implanted sensor-based feedback signals to promote behavior modifications that ameliorate obesity and other eating disorders. The system and methods described may also be applicable to any treatment in which presenting feedback regarding patients' eating and exercise habits is desired. The present invention provides a method and system for treating a patient by collecting ingestion and exercise information about the patient from an implanted sensor and communicating the collected information to the patient, his or her physician and / or other health care providers. In some embodiments, stimulation of the patient's stomach is also provided to reduce caloric intake. In some embodiments, the collected data is transmitted to a central server. Further embodiments may provide access to additional information in conjunction with the collected patient information, such as a calorie database, an exercise planner, and so forth, with the data optionally being used within a social networking system.

Disclosed are devices and methods for detecting, preventing, and / or treating neurological disorders. These devices and methods utilize electrical stimulation, and comprise a unique concentric ring electrode component. The disclosed methods involve the positioning of multiple electrodes on the scalp of a mammal; monitoring the mammal's brain electrical patterns to identify the onset of a neurological event; identifying the location of the brain electrical patterns indicative of neurological event; and applying transcutaneous or transcranial electrical stimulation to the location of the neurological event to beneficially modify brain electrical patterns. The disclosed methods may be useful in the detection, prevention, and / or treatment of a variety of indications, such as epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, depression, bipolar disorder, phobia, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, migraine or headache, concussion, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorder, substance abuse, and anxiety. The disclosed methods may also be used in combination with other peripheral stimulation techniques.

A system and method for providing pulsed electrical stimulation to one or both vagus nerve(s) of a patient to provide therapy for obesity, eating disorders, neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. The electrical pulses can be provided either unilaterally or bilaterally (left and right vagus nerves) and can be supra-diaphramatic or be sub-diaphramatic. The system comprising implantable stimulator, lead(s), an external stimulator, and a programmer. The implantable stimulator, comprising a pulse generator module, and a stimulus-receiver module which is used in conjunction with an external stimulator. Control circuitry ensures selective operation of one of the modules of the implanted stimulator, at a time. Further, the external stimulator comprises a telemetry module for remotely activating (or de-activating) programs over the internet, to arrive at the optimal program for each patient. Once the optimal “dose” is titrated using the external stimulator, the implanted pulse generator can then be programmed to similar parameters. The external stimulator in conjunction with the implanted stimulus-receiver can override the implanted pulse generator module, to provide extra dose of therapy, and also to conserve the implanted battery. The external stimulator is networked to other computers. Using the networking, a physician situated remotely can monitor and program the devices, as well as, automatically generate invoicing. In one embodiment, the external stimulator also comprises GPS circuitry for locating patient.

Novel peptide agonists of GLP-1 activity useful for lowering blood glucose levels. The novel peptides comprise variants of the GLP-1 or the exendin-4 polypeptide sequence and are pharmacologically active and stable. These peptides are useful in the treatment of diseases that benefit from regulation of excess levels of blood glucose and / or regulation of gastric emptying, such as diabetes and eating disorders.