Gastrointestinal electrical stimulation

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of regulating gastrointestinal action in a subject using a stimulatory electrode and a sensor to provide retrograde feedback control of electrical stimulation to the GI tract.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing electrical field stimulation to a gastrointestinal organ, the method comprising:
 positioning a first stimulatory electrode in a gastrointestinal organ;   positioning a second stimulatory electrode in the gastrointestinal organ, the second stimulatory electrode being positioned at least about two centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode; and   electrically stimulating the gastrointestinal organ simultaneously through the first and the second stimulatory electrodes, wherein one of the first and the second stimulatory electrodes has a positive polarity and wherein the other one of the first and the second stimulatory electrodes has a negative polarity, thereby providing electrical field stimulation to the gastrointestinal organ between the first and the second stimulatory electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about three centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about five centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about ten centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the stomach. 
     
     
         6 . A method of providing electrical potential gradient in a gastrointestinal organ, the method comprising:
 positioning a first stimulatory electrode in a gastrointestinal organ;   positioning a second stimulatory electrode in the gastrointestinal organ, the second stimulatory electrode being positioned at least about two centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode; and   electrically stimulating the gastrointestinal organ simultaneously through the first and the second stimulatory electrodes, wherein voltage generated by the first stimulatory electrode differs from voltage generated by the second stimulatory electrode, thereby providing an electrical potential gradient in the gastrointestinal organ between the first and the second stimulatory electrodes.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about three centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about five centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about ten centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the stomach.