Direct and Indirect Control of Muscle for the Treatment of Pathologies

A method of treating a patient's biliary duct pain, associated with hypertension of bile therein, comprising applying an electrical stimulation signal directly to at least smooth muscle, the electrical stimulation signal having a frequency of about 0.2 pulses per minute to about 18,000 pulses per minute, a pulse width of about 0.01 ms to 500.0 ms and a current amplitude of about 0.01 mA to 100 mA and being sufficient to relax at least one smooth muscle of a patient's sphincter of Oddi such that reduced bile pressure in the patient's biliary duct is affected.

A method of treating a patient's pancreatic pain, associated with hypertension of pancreatic fluids, comprising applying an electrical stimulation signal directly to at least one smooth muscle of the patient's sphincter of Oddi, the electrical stimulation signal having a frequency of about 0.2 pulses per minute to about 18.000 pulses per minute to about 18,000 pulses per minute and whereby relaxation of said muscle is affected and reduced pancreatic fluid pressure is affected.

A method of reducing a patient's blood cholesterol levels, comprising applying an electrical stimulation signal directly to at least one smooth muscle of the patient's sphincter of Oddi, the electrical stimulation signal having a frequency of about 0.2 pulses per minute to about 18,000 pulses per minute and whereby a tightening of said muscle is affected and reduced bile flow from the patient's common biliary duct into the patient's digestive tract is affected.