383 results about "Eating disorders" patented technology

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.

This invention encompasses methods for the treatment and prevention of disorders that include, but are not limited to, eating disorders; weight gain; obesity; irritable bowel syndrome; obsessive-compulsive disorders; platelet adhesion; apnea; affective disorders such as attention deficit disorders, depression, and anxiety; male and female sexual function disorders; restless leg syndrome; osteoarthritis; substance abuse including nicotine and cocaine addiction; narcolepsy; pain such as neuropathic pain, diabetic neuropathy, and chronic pain; migraines; cerebral function disorders; chronic disorders such as premenstrual syndrome; and incontinence. The invention further encompasses pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms which comprise optically pure (+) sibutramine, optionally in combination with a phosphodiesterase inhibitor or a lipase inhibitor.

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.

A small implantable stimulator(s) having at least two electrodes is implanted adjacent to a gastrointestinal nerve and/or muscle for the stimulation treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, including gastrointestinal motility, sphincteric disorders, and/or eating disorders. The stimulator provides a means of stimulating tissue at a stimulation site when desired, and may be implanted via a minimal surgical procedure.

A method and apparatus for treating patients suffering from obesity or eating disorders by applying a predetermined stimulating signal to the patient's vagus nerve appropriate to alleviate the condition and by applying a neural conduction block to the vagus nerve at a blocking site with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on the vagus nerve at the blocking site.

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.

Methods and systems of treating a patient having an eating disorder involving coupling at least one electrode to at least one cranial nerve of the patient, implanting a sensory stimulation device in the patient, applying a sensory stimulus to the patient using the sensory stimulation device, detecting the patient's response to the sensory stimulus, and applying an electrical signal to the cranial nerve using the electrode after detecting the response to treat the eating disorder. The methods and systems are effective in treating bulimia.

A method and apparatus for treating persons suffering from an eating disorder includes direct or indirect stimulation of selected areas of the brain associated with a symptom of the eating disorder. The stimulation regimen is programmable to enable physician optimization of stimulation signal parameters to ameliorate at least one symptom of bulimia or another eating disorder. Certain embodiments employ deep brain stimulation and/or sensing together with cranial nerve stimulation and/or sensing.

The present invention relates generally to novel GIP analogs and GIP hybrid polypeptides with selectable properties, useful as agents for the treatment and prevention of metabolic diseases and disorders, for example those which can be alleviated by control plasma glucose levels, insulin levels, and/or insulin secretion, positive inotropic effects, reduction of catabolic effects, slowing of gastric emptying. Such conditions and disorders include, but are not limited to, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, critical care, insulin-resistance, obesity, and diabetes mellitus of any kind, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

The present invention relates generally to novel GIP analogs and GIP hybrid polypeptides with selectable properties, useful as agents for the treatment and prevention of metabolic diseases and disorders, for example those which can be alleviated by control plasma glucose levels, insulin levels, and/or insulin secretion, positive inotropic effects, reduction of catabolic effects, slowing of gastric emptying. Such conditions and disorders include, but are not limited to, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, critical care, insulin-resistance, obesity, and diabetes mellitus of any kind, including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Systems and methods are provided for modulating the autonomic nervous system by the electrical stimulation of the neuro-muscular system of a patient, and include an implantable electrical system for gastrointestinal stimulation which incorporates a heart rate sensor to indicate the neurovegetative patient condition, to initiate and terminate stimulation at specific locations, and an algorithm to automatically control electrical stimulation frequency, interval, amplitude, or a combination of such parameters for adaptive treatment of obesity, anorexia, other eating disorders, diseases related with the so called “metabolic syndrome” (e.g., impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes type 2, GERD, systemic hypertension, early arterovascular degeneration, early senility, and the like), and disorders related to a pathologic inbalance of the autonomic nervous system.