Gastric device and instrument system and method

A gastric stimulation device comprising:

• a housing constructed of a first material resistant to corrosion when located within a stomach environment;
• said housing including an electronic circuit within the housing and an electrical connector arranged to electrically couple at least one stimulating electrode to said electronic circuit;
• and
• a sealing device operative to seal said connector from the stomach environment, wherein said sealing device is constructed of a second material resistant to corrosion from the stomach environment.

A gastric stimulation device comprising:

• a housing constructed of a material resistant to corrosion when located within a stomach environment;
• said housing including an electronic circuit within the housing;
• and
• at least one stimulating electrode arranged so that when deployed said at least one stimulating electrode is coupled to the housing and is electrically coupled to the electronic circuit, wherein said electrode is formed of an electrically conductive material resistant to corrosion when located within a stomach environment, and wherein said electronic circuitry is arranged to deliver electrically stimulating signals to the stomach wall through the at least one electrode.

A gastric stimulation device comprising:

• a housing;
• electronic circuitry contained within the housing;
• at least one stimulating electrode coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry;
• an attachment device coupled to the housing and arranged to attach said housing within a stomach cavity to a stomach wall;
• and
• a sensor coupled to said stimulation device, said sensor operative to sense a parameter indicative of a condition the stomach,
• wherein said electronic circuitry is configured to deliver electrically stimulating signals to the stomach through the at least one stimulating electrode.

A gastric stimulation device comprising:

• a housing;
• electronic circuitry contained within the housing;
• at least one stimulating electrode coupled to an electrode anchoring device, said anchoring device arranged to attach the at least one electrode in electrical contact with a stomach wall, wherein said at least one electrode when deployed, is electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry;
• and
• an attachment device coupled to the housing and operative to attach said housing within the stomach to the stomach wall;
• wherein said electronic circuitry is configured to deliver electrically stimulating signals to the stomach through the at least one stimulating electrode.

An anchor for attaching to a stomach wall comprising:

• a functional portion;
• a securing portion operative to extend into the stomach wall and thereby secure the attachment device to the stomach wall;
• and
• a retaining portion arranged to prevent dislodgement of the anchor from the stomach wall.

An endoscopic instrument system for piercing a stomach wall comprising:

• a piercing needle;
• and
• an elongate member comprising a distal portion having a first axis;
• a lumen extending along a second axis parallel to said first axis;
• and a wall engaging portion located on said distal portion,
• wherein said piercing needle is arranged to extend through said lumen so that at said distal portion it is substantially parallel to said second axis so as to pierce the stomach wall in an orientation substantially perpendicular to said stomach wall.

An endoscopic system comprising:

• an elongate stimulation member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
• at least one electrode located on said distal portion coupled to a conductor extending from said distal portion to said proximal portion;
• and an electronic circuit comprising an output, said output coupled to said conductor at said proximal portion, said electronic circuit configured to deliver a stimulation signal to said electrode;
• and
• a sensing member having a sensor operative to sense a response of a stomach wall to the stimulation signal.

A system for providing electrically stimulating signals to a stomach wall comprising:

• a) a gastric stimulator including:
• a housing having electronic circuitry contained therein and including an electrical conductor arranged to electrically couple at least one electrode to the electronic circuitry, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to deliver electrically stimulating signals to the stomach wall through at least one stimulating electrode;
• and
• b) an attachment device operative to attach the housing to the inside of stomach wall;
• c) an endoscopic delivery device comprising:
• an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
• a stimulator engaging portion located at said distal portion of the elongate member, said stimulator engaging portion arranged to advance the gastric stimulator through an esophagus and towards an attachment site within the stomach.

A system for providing electrically stimulating signals to a stomach wall comprising:

• a) a gastric stimulator including:
• a housing having electronic circuitry contained therein and including an electrical conductor arranged to electrically couple at least one electrode to the electronic circuitry, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to deliver electrically stimulating signals to the stomach wall through at least one stimulating electrode;
• and
• b) an attachment device operative to attach the housing to the inside of stomach wall;
• and
• c) an endoscope comprising:
• an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a stimulator engaging portion located at said distal end of the elongate member, said stimulator engaging portion arranged to advance the gastric stimulator through an esophagus and towards an attachment site within the stomach.

A system for attaching a functional device to a stomach wall comprising:

• an attachment device having a first portion arranged to extend into the stomach wall when said attachment device is attached to the stomach wall;
• and
• an endoscopic delivery device comprising:
• an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an attachment device engaging portion extendable through a lumen extending through said elongate member, said attachment engaging portion arranged to advance the attachment device through an esophagus and towards an attachment site within the stomach.

A gastric stimulation device comprising:

• housing means for containing electronic circuit means;
• electrode means coupled to the housing means and electrically coupled to the electronic circuit means;
• electronic circuit means for delivering electrically stimulating signals to the stomach through said electrode means;
• and
• an attachment means for attaching said housing means within a stomach cavity to a stomach wall so that said electrode means is in electrical contact with the stomach wall.

A gastric stimulation device comprising:

• a corrosion resistant housing means for containing electronic circuit means;
• electronic circuit means for delivering electrically stimulating signals to the stomach through an electrode means, said electronic circuit means comprising a connector means for electrically coupling the circuit means to an electrode means;
• and
• a corrosion resistant sealing means for sealing said connector means from the stomach environment.

A gastric stimulation device comprising:

• housing means for containing electronic circuit means;
• electrode means coupled to the housing means and electrically coupled to the electronic circuit means;
• electronic circuit means for delivering electrically stimulating signals to the stomach through said electrode means;
• and
• an attachment means for attaching said housing means within a stomach cavity to a stomach wall so that said electrode means is in electrical contact with the stomach wall;
• and
• a sensing means for sensing a parameter indicative of a condition of the stomach.

An endoscopic instrument system comprising:

• an elongate instrument means for accessing the inside of a stomach wall through an esophagus said elongate instrument means having a distal portion;
• an electrical stimulating means for electrically stimulating a stomach wall, said stimulating means located on said distal portion of said elongate instrument means;
• and
• a sensing means for sensing response of the stomach wall to electrical stimulation.

A method of stimulating a stomach wall comprising the steps of:

• providing a gastric stimulator including a housing containing electronic circuitry therein, wherein said electronic circuitry is arranged to deliver electrically stimulating signals to the stomach wall through at least one stimulating electrode;
• providing an attachment device for attaching the stimulator to the stomach wall;
• providing at least one stimulating electrode;
• advancing the gastric stimulator through the esophagus of a patient and towards an attachment site within the patient's stomach;
• attaching the stimulator device to the attachment site with the attachment device;
• and
• placing said at least one stimulating electrode in electrical contact with the stomach wall, whereby the at least one stimulating electrode is coupled to the electronic circuitry.

A method of attaching a functional device to a stomach wall comprising the steps of:

• providing a functional device;
• providing an attachment device for attaching the functional device to the stomach wall;
• advancing the attachment device through a patient's esophagus and towards an attachment site within the stomach;
• attaching the attachment device to the attachment site;
• advancing the functional device to the attachment device;
• and coupling the functional device to the attachment device.

A method of attaching a functional device to a stomach wall comprising the steps of:

• providing an anchor including a functional portion and a securing portion;
• advancing the anchor through the esophagus and towards an attachment site within the stomach;
• and
• attaching the anchor to the attachment site so that the securing portion does not substantially constrain the stomach in the plane of smooth muscle contractions.

A method of attaching a stimulating electrode to a stomach wall comprising the steps of:

• providing an anchor including a securing portion;
• advancing the anchor through a patient's esophagus and towards an attachment site within the stomach;
• attaching the anchor to the attachment site;
• providing an electrically stimulating electrode;
• advancing the electrically stimulating electrode through the esophagus and towards the anchor within the stomach;
• coupling the electrically stimulating electrode to the anchor so that the electrode is in electrical contact with the stomach wall.

A method of attaching a stimulating electrode to a stomach wall comprising the steps of:

• providing an anchor including a securing portion and an electrically stimulating electrode
• advancing the anchor through the esophagus and towards an attachment site within the stomach;
• and
• attaching the anchor to the attachment site so that the electrode is in electrical contact with the stomach wall.

A method of attaching a stimulating electrode to a stomach wall comprising the steps of:

• providing an anchor including a securing portion;
• advancing the anchor through the esophagus and towards an attachment site within the stomach;
• and
• attaching the anchor to the attachment site;
• providing an electrically stimulating electrode;
• advancing the electrically stimulating electrode through the esophagus and towards a stimulating site within the stomach;
• attaching the electrically stimulating electrode to the stimulating site so that the electrode is in electrical contact with the stomach wall.