Gastric constriction device

• US 20050119674A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proxy Biomedical Limited
• Original Assignee: Proxy Biomedical Limited
• Inventors: Gingras, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0003 Apparatus for the treatment of obesity; Anti-eating devices surgical instruments or methods for treatment of obesity, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/00; hollow or tubular parts of organs A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0026 Anti-eating devices using electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0063 wrapping the stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0086 using clamps, folding means or the like

Abstract

A gastric constriction device (160) comprises a sheet (131) extending over part of the wall of the stomach (24). Five bands (151) extend around the stomach (24) to fix the sheet (131) in position relative to the stomach (24). The lower two bands (151) extend from the first side (152) of the sheet (131) around the stomach (24) only partially towards the second side (153). These lower two bands (151) are not fixed to the second side (153). This arrangement results in an unconstricted portion of the stomach (161). In this manner, the device (160) restricts expansion of the majority of the stomach wall while facilitating expansion of this unconstricted portion (161). The unconstricted portion (161) is therefore free to expand or bulge outwardly upon ingestion. This expansion may trigger the feeling of satiation due to the presence of the vagal nerves in this portion (161) of the stomach (24).

Claims

1. A gastric constriction device for constricting the volume of a stomach, the device comprising a material for extending over at least part of the wall of a stomach to constrict the volume of the stomach, the device being configured to restrict expansion of a first region of the stomach wall and to facilitate expansion of a second region of the stomach wall.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the constricting properties of the device vary over at least part of the device.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material is configured to extend partially around a stomach to restrict expansion of the first region of the stomach wall over which the material extends, and to facilitate expansion of the second region of the stomach wall which remains uncovered by the material.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the material is configured to extend substantially circumferentially partially around a stomach.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the material comprises a sheet.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sheet is substantially planar.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sheet is configured to extend over only part of the wall of a stomach.

8. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sheet is configured to extend over substantially the entire wall of a stomach to enclose the stomach.

9. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the constricting properties of the sheet vary over the area of the sheet.

10. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the device comprises a fixation arrangement for fixing the sheet in position extending over at least part of the wall of a stomach.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein a first region of the sheet is configured to be fixed to a second region of the sheet to fix the sheet in position extending over at least part of the wall of a stomach.

12. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the fixing arrangement comprises at least one band for extending from a first region of the sheet partially around a stomach to a second region of the sheet.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the band is releasably fixed to the second region of the sheet.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the fixation of the band to the second region of the sheet is adjustable.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device comprises a first opening to accommodate an oesophagus and a second opening to accommodate a pylorus.

16. A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the sheet is substantially shell-shaped.

76. A gastric constriction apparatus comprising:

a gastric constriction device as claimed in claim 1;

and

a collapsing device at least partially insertable into the interior of a stomach to at least partially collapse the stomach from a normal volume to a reduced volume.

77. An apparatus as claimed in claim 76 wherein the collapsing device comprises a suction device to at least partially collapse a stomach by applying suction to the interior of the stomach.

78. An apparatus as claimed in claim 76 wherein the collapsing device comprises a sealing member for sealing the entry to a stomach at the oesophagus.

79. An apparatus as claimed claim 76 wherein the collapsing device comprises a sealing member for sealing the exit from a stomach at the pylorus.

80. An apparatus as claimed in claim 78 wherein the sealing member is inflatable.

17. A gastric constriction device for constricting the volume of a stomach, the device comprising a band for extending at least partially around a stomach in a spiral to constrict the volume of the stomach.

18. A device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the band is a spiral band.

19. A device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the band is pre-formed as a spiral.

20. A device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the band is substantially elongated.

21. A device as claimed in claim 17 wherein at least one spiral turn at least partially overlaps an adjacent spiral turn.

22. A device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the device comprises a fixation arrangement for fixing the band in position extending at least partially around a stomach.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22 wherein a first region of the band is configured to be fixed to a second region of the band to fix the band in position extending at least partially around a stomach.

24. A device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the first region is located at an end of the band, and the second region is located at an opposite end of the band.

25. A device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the first region is located at an end of the band, and the second region is located intermediate the ends of the band.

26. A gastric constriction device for constricting the volume of a stomach, the device comprising a bio-absorbable material for absorption of at least some of the material into the stomach wall over time.

27. A device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the device is configured for absorption of substantially all of the device into the stomach wall over time.

28. A device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the absorption properties of the material vary over the material.

29. A device as claimed in claim 28 wherein the absorption properties vary through the depth of the material.

30. A device as claimed in claim 28 wherein the absorption properties vary across the area of the material.

31. A device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the material is at least partially of a laminate construction.

32. A device as claimed in claim 31 wherein the material comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first layer having a higher absorption rate than the second layer.

33. A device as claimed in claim 32 wherein the first layer is located adjacent to the second layer.

34. A device as claimed in claim 32 wherein the second layer is configured to be located closer to a stomach wall than the first layer.

35. A device as claimed in claim 32 wherein the material is at least partially porous to promote tissue in-growth.

36. A device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the first layer has a higher pore density than the second layer.

37. A device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the first layer has smaller pore size than the second layer.

38. A device as claimed in claim 35 wherein at least some of the pores form at least a partial gradient.

39. A device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the material comprises an anti-adhesion filler filling at least some of the pores.

40. A device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the material comprises an anti-adhesion coating along at least part of the surface of the material.

41. A device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the material comprises a film.

42. A device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the device comprises a band for extending at least partially around a stomach to constrict the volume of the stomach.

43. A device as claimed in claim 42 wherein the band is substantially elongated.

44. A device as claimed in claim 42 wherein the band comprises a loop band for extending at least partially around a stomach in a loop.

45. A device as claimed in claim 44 wherein the device comprises a plurality of loop bands for extending at least partially around a stomach at a plurality of regions along the stomach.

46. A device as claimed in claim 45 wherein each loop band is disconnected from an adjacent loop band.

47. A device as claimed in claim 45 wherein at least one loop band at least partially overlaps an adjacent loop band.

48. A device as claimed in claim 42 wherein the band is configured to be extended at least partially around a stomach in a spiral.

49. A device as claimed in claim 48 wherein the band is a spiral band.

50. A device as claimed in claim 49 wherein the band is pre-formed as a spiral.

51. A device as claimed in claim 48 wherein at least one spiral turn at least partially overlaps an adjacent spiral turn.

52. A device as claimed in claim 42 wherein the device comprises a fixation arrangement for fixing the band in position extending at least partially around a stomach.

53. A device as claimed in claim 52 wherein a first region of the band is configured to be fixed to a second region of the band to fix the band in position extending at least partially around a stomach.

54. A device as claimed in claim 53 wherein the first region is located at an end of the band, and the second region is located at an opposite end of the band.

55. A device as claimed in claim 53 wherein the first region is located at an end of the band, and the second region is located intermediate the ends of the band.

56. A device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the device comprises a sheet for extending over at least part of the wall of a stomach to constrict the volume of the stomach.

57. A device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the device is configured to restrict expansion of a first region of a stomach wall and to facilitate expansion of a second region of the stomach wall.

58. A device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the constricting properties of the device vary over at least part of the device.

59. A device as claimed in claim 57 wherein the material is configured to extend partially around a stomach to restrict expansion of the first region of the stomach wall over which the material extends, and to facilitate expansion of the second region of the stomach wall which remains uncovered by the material.

60. A device as claimed in claim 59 wherein the material is configured to extend substantially circumferentially partially around a stomach.

61. A device as claimed in claim 56 wherein the constricting properties of the sheet vary over the area of the sheet.

62. A device as claimed in claim 56 wherein the sheet is configured to extend over only part of the wall of a stomach.

63. A device as claimed in claim 56 wherein the sheet is configured to extend over substantially the entire wall of a stomach to enclose the stomach.

64. A device as claimed in claim 56 wherein the device comprises a fixation arrangement for fixing the sheet in position extending over at least part of the wall of a stomach.

65. A device as claimed in claim 64 wherein a first region of the sheet is configured to be fixed to a second region of the sheet to fix the sheet in position extending over at least part of the wall of a stomach.

66. A device as claimed in claim 64 wherein the fixing arrangement comprises at least one band for extending from a first region of the sheet partially around a stomach to a second region of the sheet.

67. A device as claimed in claim 66 wherein the band is releasably fixed to the second region of the sheet.

68. A device as claimed in claim 66 wherein the fixation of the band to the second region of the sheet is adjustable.

69. A device as claimed in claim 56 wherein the device comprises a first opening to accommodate an oesophagus and a second opening to accommodate a pylorus.

70. A device as claimed in claim 56 wherein the sheet is substantially shell-shaped.

71. A device as claimed in claim 26 wherein the device comprises a gastric nerve stimulator.

72. A gastric constriction device for constricting the volume of a stomach, the device comprising a material for extending over at least part of the wall of a stomach to constrict the volume of the stomach, wherein the device comprises a gastric stimulator.

73. A device as claimed in claim 72 wherein the gastric stimulator comprises a gastric nerve stimulator.

74. A gastric constriction device for constricting the volume of a stomach, the device comprising a sheet for extending over at least part of the wall of a stomach to constrict the volume of the stomach, and a band for extending at least partially around the stomach to constrict the volume of the stomach.

75. A device as claimed in claim 74 wherein the band is configured to be located between the sheet and the wall of a stomach.

81. A method of constricting the volume of a stomach, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a collapsing force to the stomach to at least partially collapse the stomach from a normal volume to a reduced volume;

positioning a gastric constriction device relative to the stomach; and

releasing the collapsing force;

the gastric constriction device then applying a constricting force to the stomach to constrict the volume of the stomach.

82. A method as claimed in claim 81 wherein the method comprises the step of inserting a collapsing device at least partially into the interior of the stomach before applying the collapsing force.

83. A method as claimed in claim 81 wherein the collapsing force is applied by applying suction to the interior of the stomach.

84. A method as claimed in claim 83 wherein the method comprises the steps of sealing the entry to the stomach at the oesophagus before applying suction.

85. A method as claimed in claim 83 wherein the method comprises the step of sealing the exit from the stomach at the pylorus before applying suction.

86. A method as claimed in claim 84 wherein the sealing is effected by inflating a sealing member.

87. A method as claimed in claim 83 wherein the collapsing force is released by releasing suction of the interior of the stomach.

88. A method as claimed in claim 81 wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending at least partially around the stomach.

89. A method as claimed in claim 88 wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending at least partially around the stomach in a loop.

90. A method as claimed in claim 88 wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending at least partially around the stomach in a spiral.

91. A method as claimed in claim 81 wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending over at least part of the wall of the stomach.

92. A method as claimed in claim 91 wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending over only part of the wall of the stomach.

93. A method as claimed in claim 91 wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending over substantially the entire wall of the stomach to enclose the stomach.

94. A method as claimed in claim 81 wherein a first part of the gastric constriction device is positioned extending at least partially around the stomach, and a second part of the gastric constriction device is positioned extending over at least part of the wall of the stomach.

95. A method as claimed in claim 94 wherein the first part is positioned between the second part and the wall of the stomach.

96. A method as claimed in claim 81 wherein the method comprises the step of fixing the gastric constriction device in position relative to the stomach.

97. A method as claimed in claim 81 wherein the method comprises the step of adjusting the constricting force applied to the stomach.

98. A method as claimed in claim 81 wherein the gastric constriction device restricts expansion of a first region of the stomach wall and facilitates expansion of a second region of the stomach wall.

99. A method as claimed in claim 81 wherein the method comprises the step of stimulating gastric nerves.

100. A method of treating obesity comprising the steps of:

constricting the volume of a stomach; and

stimulating gastric nerves

101. A method as claimed in claim 100 wherein the step of constricting the volume of the stomach comprises a method as claimed in claim 81.

102. A bariatric surgical method as claimed in claim 100.