US 20050209653A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No.: US 2005/0209653 Al
Herbert et al. (43) Pub. Date: Sep. 22,2005
(54) INTRA LUMINAL DEVICE FOR
GASTROINTESTINAL ELECTRICAL
STIMULATION
(75) Inventors: Timothy P. Herbert, Maple Grove, MN (US); Warren L. Starkebaum,
Plymouth, MN (US)
Correspondence Address:
MEDTRONIC, INC.
710 MEDTRONIC PARKWAY NE
MS-LC340
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55432-5604 (US) (73) Assignee: Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
(21) Appl. No.: 10/801,230
(22) Filed: Mar. 16, 2004
(57) ABSTRACT
An intra-luminal device for gastrointestinal electrical stimulation is self-powered and self-contained within a capsulelike housing, and is capable of non-surgical implantation within the patient. The device includes an implantable pulse generator and one or more electrodes mounted within a common device housing. The device housing is capable of endoscopic introduction to a desired location within the gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach, via the esophagus. The device may be appropriate for short-term, mid-term or trial stimulation applications.
