This invention relates generally to gastric reduction and, more particularly, to restricting a cross-sectional area of a cavity formed by a stomach wall.
Morbid obesity is a major health concern in the United States and other countries. Morbid obesity commonly results in advancement of diseases and conditions, such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and other related health complications.
Many treatments and surgical procedures have been developed for patients whose health and quality of life have suffered as a result of being morbidly obese. Conventional surgical procedures typically involve invasive procedures to permanently decrease the volume of the patient's stomach or bypass a portion of the stomach and/or small intestine.
In one aspect, an implantable device for restricting a cross-sectional area of a cavity formed by a stomach wall is provided. The implantable device includes a member having a first end connected with respect to a first portion of the stomach wall and an opposing second end connected with respect to a second portion of the stomach wall. The member urges the first portion toward the second portion.
In another aspect, a system for restricting a cross-sectional area of a cavity formed by a stomach wall is provided. The system includes a catheter forming a passage. A first member is initially positioned within the passage and translatable with respect to the catheter along a length of the passage. A first fastener is connected to the first member. The first fastener is movable between a retracted configuration, in which the first fastener is at least partially disposed within the passage, and a deployed configuration, in which the first fastener is attached to a first portion of the stomach wall. A second member is also initially positioned within the passage and translatable with respect to the catheter along the length of the passage. A second fastener is connected to the second member. The second fastener is movable between a retracted configuration, in which the second fastener is at least partially disposed within the passage, and a deployed configuration, in which the second fastener is attached to a second portion of the stomach wall.
In another aspect, a method for restricting a cross-sectional area of a cavity formed by a stomach wall is provided. The method includes attaching a first fastener to a first portion of the stomach wall, attaching a second fastener to a second portion of the stomach wall, and urging the first portion towards the second portion to restrict the cross-sectional area of the cavity.
Referring to
In one embodiment, an implantable device 19 for gastric reduction is shown in
Member 24 is preferably made of a biocompatible material including, without limitation, suitable metal materials, such as stainless steel, platinum, gold, titanium and nickel and/or composites or alloys thereof. In one embodiment, member 24 has shape memory properties and is adapted to move first end 26 towards second end 30. For example, in one embodiment, member 24 is made or fabricated from Nitinol. Nitinol possesses shape memory properties that allow the material to return to an initial configuration after a force applied to the material to shape, stretch, compress and/or deform the material is removed. It is apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that member 24 may be made or fabricated using any suitable biocompatible materials, including suitable polymeric materials, preferably having suitable shape memory properties.
Member 24 may have any suitable size, shape and/or configuration, which provide sufficient structural strength required by the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, device 19 includes at least one member 24 shaped as a wire, tube or cylinder, as shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, a first fastener 38 or other suitable connector connects or attaches first end 26 to the first portion of the stomach wall. Similarly, a second fastener 40, preferably the same or similar to first fastener 38, connects or attaches second end 30 to the second portion of the stomach wall. Each fastener 38, 40 is integrated with respective end 26, 30. Alternatively, fasteners 38, 40 are independent components attached or connected to member 24 using a suitable connector.
Fasteners 38, 40 may include any suitable attachment component to assist in attaching and/or securing fasteners 38, 40 with respect to the stomach wall. For example, fasteners 38, 40 include at least one flexible needle or hook each having a tip portion that extends through the stomach wall and is secured to an outer surface of the stomach wall, as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, implantable device 19 includes at least one magnet positioned with respect to each end 26, 30 of member 24. For example, a magnet is positioned at first end 26 and opposing second end 30 to magnetically urge first end 26 towards second end 30 and, thus, magnetically urge anterior portion 28 of the stomach wall towards posterior portion 32 of the stomach wall to restrict the cross-sectional area of stomach cavity 22, as desired. Alternatively, or in addition, each fastener 38, 40 includes a magnetic component that urges anterior portion 28 towards posterior portion 32 to restrict the cross-sectional area of stomach cavity 22, as desired.
A system 42 for gastric reduction according to one embodiment is shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, fasteners 48, 50 are translatable with respect to catheter 44. Fastener 48 is movable from within passage 46 and attachable or connectable to a first portion of the stomach wall, such as anterior portion 28. Preferably, fastener 48 is connected or attached to a proximal end of a member 52 that is initially positioned within passage 46. Member 52 is preferably a suture or a wire that extends through passage 46 and is translatable with respect to catheter 44 along a length of passage 46.
Upon attachment to the first portion, fastener 48 is movable to the deployed configuration to secure attachment of fastener 48 to the first portion. Preferably, fastener 48 extends into and at least partially through a thickness of the stomach wall at the first portion. For example, as shown in
Similarly, fastener 50 is movable from within passage 46 and attaches to a second portion of the stomach wall, such as posterior portion 32. Fastener 50 is preferably connected at a position on the inner surface of the stomach wall radially offset with respect to the position on the inner surface at which fastener 48 is attached to the stomach wall. In one embodiment, fastener 50 is attached to the stomach wall generally opposing fastener 48. Fastener 50 is at least partially positioned within passage 46 in an initial or retracted configuration for insertion into the stomach cavity. Within the stomach cavity, fastener 50 is extendable to a second portion of the stomach wall opposing the first portion of the stomach wall to which fastener 48 is connected.
In one embodiment, fastener 50 is connected to a proximal end of a member 54 that is initially positioned within passage 46. Member 54 is preferably a suture or wire that extends through passage 46 and is translatable with respect to catheter 44, independently of member 52, along a length of passage 46.
In one embodiment, each fastener 48, 50 includes at least one flexible needle or hook that punctures and penetrates the stomach wall to contact the outer surface of the stomach wall and maintain a secure connection thereto. In the deployed configuration, each fastener 48, 50 is configured to curve or bend, for example as a result of the shape memory of the material used to fabricate the fasteners, to maintain each fastener 48, 50 securely positioned with respect to the stomach wall. In one embodiment, each fastener 48, 50 is initially positioned within a sheath 55 that maintains flexible hooks 57 of fasteners 48, 50 in the retracted position, as shown in
In an alternative embodiment, each fastener 48, 50 is initially retained within a groove 59 formed in catheter 44, as shown in
With fasteners 48, 50 secured with respect to the stomach wall, catheter 44 is movable within the stomach cavity to urge fastener 48 toward fastener 50. For example, catheter 44 is movable along a length of each member 52, 54 to move fasteners 48, 50 together and, thus, urge the first portion of the stomach wall into proximity with the second portion of the stomach wall to close or restrict the cross-sectional area of the stomach cavity. Alternatively, members 52, 54 are pulled together with respect to catheter 44 to move fasteners 48, 50 together.
With fasteners 48, 50 moved together as desired, a retainer 56, such as a ring, a clip, a clamp, a collar or a suitable mechanical connector, is positioned with respect to fasteners 48, 50 to secure the first stomach wall portion in proximity with the second stomach wall portion and, thus, maintain the cross-sectional area of the stomach cavity in a restricted position, as shown in
It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the system of the present invention may include any suitable number of fasteners. For example, as shown in
In an alternate embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the stomach cavity is restricted by applying a suction force to constrict the stomach wall. For example, a suitable suction device 62, preferably having a plurality of apertures 64 to provide a suitable or desired suction force, is positioned within cavity 22, as shown in
As briefly discussed above, in an alternate embodiment, system 42 is introduced into the patient's stomach cavity percutaneously, to restrict the size of a patient's stomach and/or constrict an opening formed by the stomach wall. Preferably, system 42 is introduced into the stomach cavity with the assistance or guidance of an endoscope 66. Endoscope 66 is inserted into the stomach cavity through the patient's esophagus. A light emitted from endoscope 66 is visible through the skin to allow the doctor to see the impression of the percutaneously-introduced catheter 44 on the stomach wall.
Fastener 48 preferably includes a plurality of shapeable needles or hooks that extend through the thickness of posterior portion 32 and contact the outer surface of the stomach wall at posterior portion 32. A rod 72 is slidably positioned within passage 71 and connected to fastener 48. With fastener 48 secured to posterior portion 32, a retainer 56, such as a clip, a clamp, a collar or a ring, is positioned about an outer periphery of rod 72 and is slidably movable along a length of rod 72 to move anterior portion 28 towards posterior portion 32 and restrict cavity 22. With anterior portion 28 positioned relative to posterior portion 32, retainer 56 maintains rod 72 in position. Alternatively, a fastener, such as fastener 50, attaches rod 72 to anterior portion 28. In one embodiment, an excess or unused portion of rod 72 is detached and removed from the patient's body, along with catheter 70, to complete the procedure.
In an alternate embodiment, system 42 is introduced percutaneously without entering into the patient's stomach cavity to restrict the size of a patient's stomach. Referring to
As shown in
In this embodiment, member 82 is fabricated using a Nitinol skeleton including a covering cloth. In alternative embodiments, member 82 includes the skeleton without the covering cloth. Further, member 82 may be fabricated using a suitable biocompatible material known to those skilled in the art and guided by the teachings herein provided.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4616656 | Nicholson et al. | Oct 1986 | A |
5320632 | Heidmueller | Jun 1994 | A |
5368601 | Sauer et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5397355 | Marin et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
5800526 | Anderson et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5865791 | Whayne et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
6036699 | Andreas et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6113609 | Adams | Sep 2000 | A |
6471700 | Burbank et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6517573 | Pollock et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6572629 | Kalloo et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6755869 | Geitz | Jun 2004 | B2 |
7033384 | Gannoe et al. | Apr 2006 | B2 |
7211094 | Gannoe et | May 2007 | B2 |
7708684 | Demarais et al. | May 2010 | B2 |
20020183768 | Deem et al. | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20030093117 | Saadat | May 2003 | A1 |
20040092892 | Kagan et al. | May 2004 | A1 |
20040122456 | Saadat et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040122473 | Ewers et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040148034 | Kagan et al. | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20040167546 | Saadat et al. | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20040220682 | Levine et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
20050192599 | Demarais | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20050192601 | Demarais | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20050203576 | Sulamanidze et al. | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20060036267 | Saadat et al. | Feb 2006 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2007051107 | May 2007 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070093861 A1 | Apr 2007 | US |