Importance

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Abstract

A screening test is used on a patient to determine if pancreatic secretion is responsive to stimulation. The screening test compares measurements of a pancreatic indicator both before and after natural stimulation. The pancreatic indicator is measured before natural stimulation and then the patient's pancreas is naturally stimulated. After waiting a time period from when the natural stimulation began, the pancreatic indicator is once again measured. The difference between the pancreatic indicator measured before ingesting the meal and the pancreatic response indicator measured after ingesting and waiting a time period is calculated and a decision is made whether the patient has a pancreatic condition suitable for treatment with electrical stimulation. Additionally, an efficacy test is used to evaluate the efficacy of employing electrical stimulation to treat a pancreatic condition. Electrical stimulation is administered with a gastroelectric stimulator having a neurostimulator, an electrical lead, and electrodes placed in the patient's abdomen at a location to stimulate the patient's pancreas. The efficacy test compares a pancreatic response indicator before electrical stimulation and after electrical stimulation to decides whether there is efficacy in using electrical stimulation to treat a patient's pancreatic condition.

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First Claim