Method and apparatus for treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Abstract

GERD is treated through a method and apparatus of stimulating the body organ to accelerate a discharge of contents from the duodenum of the patient to thereby encourage discharge of contents from the stomach of the patient across the pyloric valve and into the duodenum.

1 . A method for treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) of a patient comprising: 
 treating a body organ to accelerate a discharge of contents through at least a portion of a small intestine of the patient to thereby encourage discharge of contents from a stomach of the patient across a pyloric valve of the patient and into said small intestine.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said portion is a duodenum of said patient.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said treating is a stimulation selected to increase a pH of said contents of said portion of said small intestine.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said treating is a stimulation selected to decrease an osmolality of said contents of said portion of said small intestine.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said organ is a pancreas of said patient and said treating is a stimulation of said organ selected to stimulate delivery of an exocrine secretion from said pancreas to said portion of said small intestine.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein said pancreas is stimulated directly.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein said pancreas is indirectly stimulated by stimulating at least a nerve of said pancreas.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein said stimulation is initiated by said patient.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein said stimulation is initiated by a controller operatively connected to stimulating electrodes and having an input operatively connected to a sensor.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said sensor senses a pH level of said portion of said small intestine.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said sensor senses a degree of filling of said portion of said small intestine.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said sensor senses a degree of osmolality within said portion of said small intestine.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said sensor senses a degree of motility within said portion of said small intestine.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said treatment includes delivery of a paralyzing agent to said pyloric valve.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14  wherein said delivery is done in conjunction with agents to manage acidity of a content of said portion of said small intestine.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein said agents are selected from a group including H 2  antagonists and PPI's.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein said stimulation is an electrical stimulation.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein said stimulation is at a frequency selected to encourage exocrine secretion without excess endocrine secretion.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said treating is a stimulation selected to encourage bile delivery to the portion of said small intestine.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the body organ is a duodenum of said patient.