The present invention generally relates to a device for the treatment of morbid obesity. More particularly, the present invention relates to an easily insertable and removable gastric banding device that encircles and compresses a portion of the stomach thereby forming a stoma opening having a reduced diameter.
Over the years many methods of treating morbid obesity have been undertaken. One of the more promising methods employs the placement of a circumscribing band around a portion of the stomach whereby the stomach may be compressed thereby creating a stoma opening that is smaller than the normal interior diameter of the stomach thereby restricting food intake into the lower digestive portion of the stomach.
Such a band has been described by Kuzmak et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,339. Kuzmak teaches a stoma-adjustable gastric band that includes a balloon section that is expandable and deflatable through a remote injection site. The balloon expandable section adjusts the size of the stoma opening both intraoperatively and post-operatively.
During the last several years, manufacturers of prior art bands have improved the designs of the balloons of these bands. One significant area of further improvement, however, is the development of a stoma-adjustable gastric band that includes a balloon section that conforms to the patient's anatomy even better than prior art bands. Such an improvement will further assure that the balloon fills uniformly, and that no portion of the balloon wall is highly stressed.”
The present invention overcomes the above noted and other deficiencies in the prior art by providing a stoma-adjustable gastric band which is configured such that it will not fold or crease and, as a result, that will reliably and substantially fill with a filling solution.
In one embodiment of the invention, the gastric band generally comprises a tension carrying belt having a fluid supply tube and a balloon disposed thereon. The balloon has a plurality of inner chambers. The fluid supply tube is in fluid communication with the inner chambers of the balloon.
In another embodiment of the invention, the gastric band comprises a tension carrying belt having a fluid supply tube and a plurality of balloons disposed thereon. The fluid supply tube has a plurality of inlets. The fluid supply tube is in fluid communication with each of the balloons by way of the plurality of corresponding inlets.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the gastric band similarly comprises a tension carrying belt having a fluid supply tube and a balloon disposed thereon. The balloon of this embodiment has a reinforced section located atop the interior wall of the balloon. The balloon is thus adapted to bend between the reinforced sections when the band is placed around the stomach.
The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. Advantages and attainments, together with a more complete understanding the invention, will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
Referring now to the Figures wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout,
The balloon 18 of the prior art band 12 has a tendency to fold and create creases when the band 12 is placed around the stomach 10. These creases may, in some instances, restrict flow of the filling solution to all areas of the balloon 18. This will affect the geometry of the balloon 18 and may also damage the balloon 18.
Referring now to
As best shown in
Fluid supply tube 24 has inlets 34 each of which correspond with and distribute the filling solution to each chamber 32. Inlets 34 may be of substantially identical diameters. Alternatively, inlets 34 may be ordered along the tube 24 from smallest diameter to largest diameter from end closest to fluid injection port such that the chamber closest to injection port fills with the filling solution at substantially the same rate as chambers further from the injection port. Also, in some applications, and as shown in
The fluid supply tube 24 may be attached atop the surface of belt portion 22 inside balloon 28, or fluid supply tube 24 may be imbedded in belt portion 22 inside balloon 28, as shown in
Alternatively, each of the partitions may have a small opening which would allow the filling solution to flow from one chamber to the next via the opening. In this case, the fluid supply tube would only need an inlet to one chamber, preferably one of the chambers at either end of the balloon; although, multiple inlets could still be used.
The segmented gastric band 20 also includes a latching mechanism 50 so that the segmented gastric band may be releasably secured in an encircled position around a portion of the stomach. Latching mechanism 50 may be of any suitable configuration to hold segmented gastric band 50 in an encircled position such as, but not limited to, a guide tab and buckle configuration, a slide and channel configuration, a hook and eye configuration or, as shown in
Installation of the segmented gastric band 20 is accomplished by first inserting the band into the patient's abdomen through a trocar. Next, a tunnel is created behind the stomach near the esophagogastric junction using a blunt dissection device. The segmented gastric band 20 is then grasped by an instrument, such as a grasper or blunt dissection device, and wrapped around the patient's stomach through the created tunnel. The latching mechanism 50 is then engaged. The injection port is then attached to the gastric band and the injection port is secured subcutaneously in the abdomen or other suitable location. A suitable filling solution, such as saline, is then injected into injection port whereby the solution is conveyed to chambers 32 of balloon 28 by way of inlets 34 in fluid supply tube 24. If necessary either at the time the gastric band is installed or at some time in the future, a predetermined quantity of the filling solution may be withdrawn for the balloon 28 by inserting a syringe into the injection port and withdrawing the solution.
An alternative embodiment of the gastric band of the present invention is shown in
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications may readily appear to those skilled in the art.
For example, instead of using partitions in balloon to create chambers in balloon, a segmented gastric band may be comprised of a plurality of balloons spaced along and attached to tension carrying belt.
Further, it will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the above invention has equally applicability to other types of implantable bands. For example, bands are used for the treatment of fecal incontinence. One such band is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,292 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Bands can also be used to treat urinary incontinence. One such band is described in U.S. patent application 2003/0105385 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Bands can also be used to treat heartburn and/or acid reflux. One such band is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,892 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Bands can also be used to treat impotence. One such band is described in U.S. patent application 2003/0114729 which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.