Obesity controlling method

• US 20040037865A1
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temple University of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Original Assignee: Temple University of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Inventors: Miller, Larry Sherwin
• Granted Patent: US 7,737,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/423
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/39 Connective tissue peptides, e.g. collagen, elastin, laminin, fibronectin, vitronectin, cold insoluble globulin [CIG]

Abstract

A method of controlling obesity by physically narrowing the lumen of the pylorus One embodiment includes injection of a bio-compatible bulking or stiffening material into the pyloric sphincter area of the stomach. The injection of this material bulks the pyloric sphincter, narrowing the lumen, retarding stomach emptying and producing a feeling of satiation in the patient. The method may be practiced or supplemented by cauterization of the pyloric sphincter or by suturing the sphincter to narrow the same and may be augmented by inducing flacid paralysis of the stomach by injecting botulinum toxin into the muscle tissue of the antrum or fundus of the stomach.

Claims

1. A method of treating obesity comprising endoscopically narrowing the lumen of the pylorus sufficiently to retard passage of the stomach contents and slow gastric emptying.

2. A method of treating obesity according to claim 1 comprising injecting a biocompatible bulking or stiffening material submucosally or intramuscularly into the pyloric area of the stomach in an amount sufficient to cause the lumen of pylorus to narrow and slow gastric emptying.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said bio-compatible bulking material comprises collagen, fibrin, or elastin.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said bio-compatible bulking material comprises collagen in one of the following forms:

fibrillar, non-fibrillar, crosslinked, non-crosslinked, aqueous, or denatured gelatin.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said bio-compatible bulking material comprises, Teflon paste, a synthetic polymeric hydrogel, a glycoaminoglycan, a proteoglycan, or microbeads suspended. in a biological fluid lubricant.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said bio-compatible bulking material is injected through a needle inserted through a biopsy channel of an endoscope inserted into the stomach.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising supplemental treatment of the pylorus wherein a laser or thermal device is placed through the biopsy channel and the pylorus is scarred with said device to further narrow the lumen.

8. The method of claim 6 comprising supplemental narrowing of the pylorus wherein a sewing device is used to sew the pylorus to further narrow the lumen.

9. The method of claim 6 comprising inducing supplemental flaccid paralyses of the stomach wherein a needle is placed through the biopsy channel and botulinum toxin is injected into the muscles of the fundus.

10. The method of claim 6 comprising inducing supplemental flaccid paralyses of the stomach wherein a needle is placed through the biopsy channel and botulinum toxin is injected into the antrum of the stomach.

11. A method of treating obesity according to claim 1, comprising cauterizing the pyloric area of the stomach sufficiently to cause the lumen of pylorus to narrow and slow gastric emptying.

12. A method of treating obesity according to claim 1, comprising suturing the pyloric area of the stomach sufficiently to cause the lumen of pylorus to narrow and slow gastric emptying.

13. The method of claim 11, comprising inducing supplemental flaccid paralyses of the stomach wherein a needle is placed through the biopsy channel and botulinum toxin is injected into the muscles of the fundus or antrum of the stomach.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising inducing supplemental flaccid paralyses of the stomach wherein a needle is placed through the biopsy channel and botulinum toxin is injected into the fundus or antrum of the stomach.