Gi and pancreatic device for treating obesity and diabetes

Abstract

A method is provided, including placing first and second electrodes at respective first and second sites of a duodenum of a subject, and activating the electrodes to increase a blood insulin level of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more electrodes, adapted to be placed in contact with a wall of a duodenum of a subject; and   a control unit, adapted to:
 drive the electrodes to apply a current to the wall of the duodenum, 
 configure the current to stimulate a site selected from the group consisting of: 
 a vagus nerve of the subject, and enteric nervous system (ENS) tissue of the subject, 
 configure the current in accordance with a set of parameters for the current, the set of parameters including a pulse width of pulses of the current and a frequency of application of the pulses, and 
 select the set of parameters to be such as to lower a level of glucose in blood of the subject and to be sufficient to cause closure of a pylorus of the subject. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 applying a current to a wall of a duodenum of a subject;   configuring the current to stimulate a site selected from the group consisting of: a vagus nerve of the subject, and enteric nervous system (ENS) tissue of the subject, in accordance with a set of parameters for the current, the set of parameters including a pulse width of pulses of the current and a frequency of application of the pulses; and   selecting the set of parameters to be such as to lower a level of glucose in blood of the subject and to be sufficient to cause closure of a pylorus of the subject.