Devices and methods for retaining a gastro-esophageal implant

• US 20050096673A1
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Synecor LLC
• Inventors: Glenn, Richard A., Stack, Richard S., Balbierz, Dan, Lunsford, John, Athas, William L., Bladel, Kevin van, Eubanks, William S. Jr., Kouri, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,431,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/301 with three legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0076 preventing normal digestion, e.g. Bariatric or gastric sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0079 Pyloric or esophageal obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0083 Reducing the size of the stomach, e.g. gastroplasty surgical interventions A61B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/00 Dilators with or without means for introducing media, e.g. remedies instruments for performing visual medical inspections of cavities or tubes of the body A61B1/00

Abstract

Various methods and devices are described for retaining a medical implant within a body cavity. According to one aspect, one or more plications are formed and the medical device is coupled to or seated against the plication(s). A patch may be positioned between tissue layers forming the plication so as to reinforce the tissue adhesion forming between the tissue layers.

Claims

1. A method of forming a plication in stomach tissue, comprising the steps of:

positioning a patch between opposed layers of body tissue; and

causing an adhesion to form through the patch between the opposed layers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue layers are serosal layers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue layers are mucosal layers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is further for retaining an implant within the stomach, and wherein the method includes coupling a portion of the implant to the patch.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the patch includes an extension element and wherein the positioning step causes the extension element to protrude into the stomach interior.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method is further for retaining an implant within the stomach, and wherein the method includes coupling the implant to the extension element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the extension element comprises a loop, and wherein the method includes passing a portion of the medical device through the loop.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plication forms a pocket between a portion of the tissue layers, and wherein the method includes causing a portion of the patch to line the pocket.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is further for position an implant within the stomach, and wherein the method includes the step of positioning an implant in contact with the plication.

10. A medical implant system, comprising:

an instrument insertable into a body for attaching regions of body tissue on the wall of a body cavity to form a plication; and

patch positionable between the regions of body tissue; and

retaining means for retaining the plication at least until an adhesion forms between the regions of body tissue.

11. The medical implant system of claim 10, further including

a medical implant positionable within the body cavity and configured to be retained within the body cavity by the plication.

12. The implant system according to claim 11, wherein the medical implant is a drug delivery device.

13. The implant system according to claim 11, wherein the medical implant is a diagnostic device.

14. The implant system according to claim 11, wherein the medical implant is an anti-reflux device.

15. The implant system according to claim 11, wherein the medical implant is positionable within a stomach for inducing weight loss.

16. The implant system according to claim 11, wherein the medical implant is an expandable space-occupier positionable within a stomach to decrease the effective volume of the stomach.

17. The implant system according to claim 11, wherein the medical implant is a flow-restrictive device positionable within a stomach to restrict the rate of flow of food into the stomach.

18. The implant system according to claim 10, wherein the instrument is a suturing instrument.

19. The implant system according to claim 10, wherein the instrument is a stapling instrument.

20. The implant system according to claim 10, wherein the instrument is a clip-applier.

21. The implant system according to claim 10, wherein the retaining means is selected from the group consisting of sutures, staples, clips, fasteners, t-bars, pledgets, adhesives and studs.