Gastric ring for treatment of obesity

• US 20050154274A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sofradim Production
• Original Assignee: Sofradim Production
• Inventors: Jarsaillon, Philippe, Therin, Michel
• Granted Patent: US 7,297,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0066 Closing devices for gastric bands

Abstract

This gastric ring comprises a band which is able to surround the wall of the stomach, and means with which it is possible, after implantation, to modify the cross section of the opening delimited by the ring. According to the invention, the band comprises at least one zone made of a material which is elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction of this band; said zone has at least two bearing points formed on it at two locations separated in the longitudinal direction of the band, and the ring comprises at least one rigid element made of a bioabsorbable material and bearing against said zone in the area of said bearing points, this rigid element, before absorption, making it possible to maintain said bearing points at a distance from one another different than the distance separating these two bearing points in the absence of elastic deformation of said zone of the bands, and, after absorption, no longer forming an obstacle to the return of said zone of the band to its nondeformed state.

Claims

1. A gastric ring for treatment of obesity, comprising:

a band which is able to surround the wall of the stomach;

means for maintaining the band in the form of a ring able to surround the stomach, and

means with which it is possible, after implantation, to modify the cross section of the opening delimited by the ring;

said gastric ring being characterized in that;

the band comprises at least one zone made of a material which is elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction of this band;

said zone has at least two bearing points formed on it at two locations separated in the longitudinal direction of the band, and

the ring comprises at least one rigid element made of a bioabsorbable or biodegradable material and bearing against said zone in the area of said bearing points, this rigid element, before absorption, making it possible to maintain said bearing points at a distance from one another different than the distance separating these two bearing points in the absence of elastic deformation of said zone of the band, and, after absorption, no longer forming an obstacle to the return of said zone of the band to its nondeformed state.

2. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each element made of bioabsorbable material is designed in such a way as to maintain the zone of the band, along which it extends, in a stretched state.

3. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each element made of bioabsorbable material is designed in such a way as to maintain the zone of the band, along which it extends, in a contracted state.

4. The gastric ring as claimed claim 1, characterized in that the band forms, at one end, an eyelet delimiting a shoulder, and in that it has, at its other end, a tapered shape facilitating its insertion into the eyelet, this other end comprising at least one snap-fit catch intended to be snap-fitted into the eyelet and to cooperate with the shoulder in order to maintain the band in the form of a ring.

5. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said other end comprises several successive catches, making it possible to close the band at several diameters adapted to the specific circumstances of the patient to be treated.

6. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that:

each pair of bearing points is formed by two opposite zones of an opening formed radially and through said deformable zone of the band, this opening being of circular shape when the deformable zone is in a nondeformed state, but being able to assume an oblong shape when this deformable zone is stretched longitudinally; and

each rigid element has an oblong tubular shape and is dimensioned so as to be able to be introduced with force into the aforementioned opening in order to confer on this opening a corresponding oblong shape, this oblong shape producing a correlated longitudinal stretching of said deformable zone.

7. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that each insert has a slightly flared shape and is intended to be placed on said deformable zone in such a way that its end of greater cross section is disposed on the outside of the ring.

8. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that:

each pair of bearing points is formed by two holes formed in said deformable zone of the band, and

each rigid element has a staple shape, that is to say comprises a body having two stubs, these stubs being intended to be received in the holes;

the distance separating the stubs is greater than the distance separating the two holes when said zone is in the unstretched state, so that the portion of this zone situated between these holes is stretched when these stubs are engaged in these holes.

9. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the body has a curved shape permitting adaptation of this element to the curvature of the ring.

10. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the stubs have a length which is such that they traverse said deformable zone, and in that these stubs receive a small plate engaged on them and connecting them to one another.

11. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the stubs and said small plate are designed in such a way as to form an assembly, in particular by snap-fitting, between these stubs and this small plate.

12. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the holes of the deformable zone which are intended to receive said stubs are formed substantially perpendicular to this deformable zone, in such a way as to be located substantially parallel to the axis of the ring after formation of the latter.

13. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that:

each pair of bearing points is formed by two shoulders delimited by a portion with a cross section smaller than that of said deformable zone, and

each rigid element has a tubular shape and is intended to be engaged on this portion of smaller cross section, in such a way as to bear against the shoulders, the length of this element being greater than the distance separating said shoulders when said deformable zone in is the unstretched state, in such a way that, when the ends of the tubular element are placed against these shoulders, said portion of smaller cross section is stretched.

14. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the element has a curved shape corresponding to the curvature of the ring.

15. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least said deformable zone, if not the whole of the band, is made of silicone.

16. The gastric ring as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each rigid element is made of a lactic acid or polyglycolic acid polymer, or of a lactic acid or polyglycolic acid copolymer.