Non-invasive magnetic or electrical nerve stimulation to treat gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, and other functional gastrointestinal disorders

摘要

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating or preventing gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, and other functional gastrointestinal disorders. The methods comprise transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers, particularly those in a vagus nerve. The methods provide damaged interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) with trophic factors via vagal afferent nerve fibers, thereby reversing ICC damage, and as a consequence improving gastric motility. The methods also increase levels of inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain so as to decrease neural activity within the area postrema, or they deactivate a resting state neural network containing parts of the anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex, which will thereby reduce abnormal interoception and visceral hypersensitivity.

主权项

1. A method of treating or preventing at least one of gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia in a patient, the method comprising:
positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of the patient, wherein the device comprises a housing which houses one or more electrodes, an electrically conductive fluid, and an electrical impulse generator; contacting an electrically conductive, non-porous interface coupled to the housing with the skin surface; generating, via the electrical impulse generator, one or more shaped electrical impulses at the one or more electrodes within said device; and transmitting the one or more shaped electrical impulses from the one or more electrodes through the electrically conductive fluid within the device and then through the electrically conductive, non-porous interface to selected nerve fibers in the patient, wherein the one or more shaped electrical impulses is sufficient to modify at least one of gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia within the patient.