Devices, systems and methods are provided for electrical stimulation of a
body organ, particularly within the gastrointestinal tract. In preferred
embodiments, the stomach is the organ within the gastrointestinal tract
which is targeted for such stimulation. A guide wire or other delivery
device is positioned within the body so as to transect the stomach wall.
Devices and systems are then advanced over the guide wire for attachment
to the stomach wall. The guide wire may be placed by endoscopic, open,
laparoscopic or a modified percutaneous approach. In a modified
percutaneous approach, the stomach is accessed without the use of general
anesthesia by advancing a needle through the abdomen, transecting the
stomach wall with the needle and advancing the guide wire through the
needle. In some embodiments, particularly for use in obese patients, the
modified percutaneous approach includes advancing a trocar through the
tissue of the patient toward the outer surface of the organ and advancing
the needle through the trocar prior to transecting the wall with the
needle.