Methods and apparatus for retarding stomach emptying for treatment of eating disorders

A method of delivering electrical stimulation from an implantable gastro-intestinal tract stimulator comprising an implantable pulse generator and at least one electrical medical lead to suppress appetite, the method comprising the steps of:

• surgically implanting at least one electrical stimulation electrode of the electrical medical lead in operative association with the muscle layers of a pyloric sphincter;
• coupling the electrical medical lead to the implantable pulse generator;
• and
• operating the implantable pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation through the implantable medical lead and stimulation electrode to the muscle layers of the pyloric sphincter to cause the muscle layers to contract and close the pylorus lumen to inhibit passage of chyme from the stomach into the duodenum.

A method of delivering electrical stimulation from an implantable gastro-intestinal tract stimulator comprising an implantable pulse generator and at least one electrical medical lead to suppress appetite, the method comprising the steps of:

• surgically implanting at least one electrical stimulation electrode of the electrical medical lead in operative association with a nerve innervating a pyloric sphincter of a pylorus;
• coupling the electrical medical lead to the implantable pulse generator;
• and
• operating the implantable pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation through the implantable medical lead and stimulation electrode to the nerve innervating the pyloric sphincter to cause the muscle layers of the pyloric sphincter to contract and close the pylorus lumen to inhibit passage of chyme from the stomach into the duodenum.

A method of treating patients for obesity comprising the steps of:

• delivering electrical stimulation to the patient's body at a site effecting substantial closure of the pylorus lumen;
• detecting the commencement of a customary mealtime according to the patient's circadian cycle;
• responding to the detected commencement of the customary mealtime by halting delivery of the electrical stimulation to enable relaxation and opening of the pylorus lumen;
• timing an interruption duration;
• and
• resuming delivery of the electrical stimulation to the site to effect substantial closure of the pylorus lumen.

A system for treating patients for obesity comprising:

• means for delivering electrical stimulation to the patient's body at a site effecting substantial closure of the pylorus lumen;
• means for detecting the commencement of a customary mealtime according to the patient's circadian cycle;
• means for responding to the detected commencement of the customary mealtime by halting delivery of the electrical stimulation to enable relaxation and opening of the pylorus lumen;
• means for timing an interruption duration;
• and
• means for resuming delivery of the electrical stimulation to the site to effect substantial closure of the pylorus lumen.