Nerve stimulation and blocking for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract

At least one of a plurality of gastrointestinal disorders is treated by stimulating an enteric nervous system of a patient to enhance a functional tone of the enteric nervous system. A treatment includes electrically stimulating a vagus nerve of the patient at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ. The electrical stimulation includes applying a stimulation signal at the stimulation site. An optional proximal electrical blocking signal is applied to the vagus nerve at a proximal blocking site proximal to the stimulation site. The proximal blocking signal is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses at the proximal blocking site.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating conditions associated with low vagal tone comprising:
 Positioning at least one electrode on a vagal nerve below the innervation of the heart; and   Treating conditions associated with low vagal tone by applying an electrical signal intermittently in a 24 hour period, wherein the electrical signal is selected to enhance pancreobilliary output, is not timed to trigger muscle contraction, does not have sufficient energy to drive peristaltic contractions.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal has a frequency of 12 Hz or less. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is applied at 10 minute intervals. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is not applied in response to a sensed event. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is applied during awake hours. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the electrical signal is applied during discrete intervals in the morning, afternoon and evening.