Apparatus and methods of inducing weight loss using blood flow control

• US 10,123,896 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Original Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic)
• Inventors: Farrugia, Gianrico, Friedman, Paul A., Rajan, Elizabeth, Bruce, Charles J., Asirvatham, Samuel J., Levy, Michael J., Wong Kee Song, Louis-Michel, Bingener-Casey, Juliane, Buttar, Navtej S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fay, Zohreh A
• Application Number:
  US15/123,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20170105860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00818 Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00494 Stomach, intestines or bowel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00613 Irreversible electroporation reversible electroporation A61N1/327
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00863 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/063 for measuring volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/03 Detecting, measuring or recording fluid pressure within the body other than blood pressure, e.g. cerebral pressure; Measuring pressure in body tissues or organs A61B5/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4205 Evaluating swallowing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0016 : comprising measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0261 : medicated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 : for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0013 : Implantable devices or invasive measures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/123 : using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 : Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 : of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 : adapted for a particular treatment

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for inducing weight loss using blood flow control are described herein. The apparatus and methods operate by controlling blood flow to the stomach and/or small bowel.

Claims

1. A method of inducing weight loss, the method comprising:

making a determination that a patient is ingesting food; and

reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract after making the determination that a patient is ingesting food, wherein reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract comprises cooling an exterior surface of one or more blood vessels that supply the stomach and/or small bowel.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein making a determination that a patient is ingesting food comprises one or more of:

sensing distention of the patient'"'"'s stomach, sensing increased pressure in the patient'"'"'s stomach, sensing swallowing by the patient, receiving direct feedback from the user, and Doppler flow measurements to measure flow velocity.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract comprises mechanically constricting one or more blood vessels that supply the stomach and/or small bowel.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein cooling an exterior surface of one or more blood vessels that supply the stomach and/or small bowel comprises coiling a cooling device around the one or more blood vessels that supply the stomach and/or small bowel.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract comprises:

sensing an increase in blood flow in one or more gastric supply blood vessels; and

diverting flow away from the one or more blood vessels that supply the stomach and/or small bowel after sensing the increase in blood flow in the one or more blood vessels that supply the stomach and/or small bowel.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract comprises eluting a drug to reduce flow through one or more blood vessels that supply the stomach and/or small bowel.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract comprises expanding one or more blood vessels that do not supply the stomach and/or small bowel.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract comprises reducing the flow of blood away from the gastrointestinal tract.

5. A method of inducing weight loss, the method comprising:

making a determination that a patient is ingesting food; and

reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract after making the determination that a patient is ingesting food, wherein reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract comprises cooling blood flowing through one or more blood vessels supplying blood to the stomach and/or the small bowel.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the cooling comprises locating a perfusion balloon in a blood vessel and supplying cooling fluid within the perfusion balloon to reduce the temperature of blood flowing through the blood vessel past the perfusion balloon.

12. A method according to claim 5, wherein making a determination that a patient is ingesting food comprises one or more of:

sensing distention of the patient'"'"'s stomach, sensing increased pressure in the patient'"'"'s stomach, sensing swallowing by the patient, receiving direct feedback from the user, and Doppler flow measurements to measure flow velocity.

11. A method of inducing weight loss, the method comprising:

making a determination that a patient is ingesting food; and

reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract after making the determination that a patient is ingesting food, wherein reducing blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract comprises cooling one or more of;

stomach, small bowel, and nerves associated with the stomach and/or small bowel.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein making a determination that a patient is ingesting food comprises one or more of:

sensing distention of the patient'"'"'s stomach, sensing increased pressure in the patient'"'"'s stomach, sensing swallowing by the patient, receiving direct feedback from the user, and Doppler flow measurements to measure flow velocity.