Digestive organ retention device

• US 20060074458A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• 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: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/028 having a mainly rigid support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0509 Stomach and intestinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0517 Esophageal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 : comprising organic polymers

Abstract

An retaining device for attaching to a contractile organ such as a digestive tract organ or stomach is provided. One aspect may include a lead for stimulating a digestive organ. The device may be an electrical stimulation device configured to deliver electrical signals to the organ.

Claims

1. A retaining device for attaching to contractile organ having a cavity, the retaining device comprising:

an anchor configured to engage a wall of the organ; and

an elongate portion coupled to the anchor wherein the elongate portion is configured to extend through the wall of the organ into a cavity of the organ, the elongate portion comprising a tapered portion that tapers from a wider portion located more distally with respect to the anchor to a narrower portion located more proximally with respect to the anchor than the wider portion.

2. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the tapered portion is configured to extend at least in part, into the wall of the organ.

3. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the contractile organ is a stomach.

4. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises an expandable member configured to expand from a narrower configuration to a wider configuration.

5. The retaining device of claim 1 further comprising a lead wherein the elongate portion comprises an electrode located thereon.

6. The retaining device of claim 1 further comprising a lead wherein the anchor comprises an electrode located thereon.

7. The retaining device of claim 1 further comprising an electrode, wherein the elongate portion and anchor in combination are configured to maintain the electrode in electrical contact with the wall of the digestive organ while permitting contractile activity of the wall of the digestive organ.

8. The retaining device of claim 7 wherein the electrode is coupled to an electronic circuit, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to provided electrically stimulating signals to the organ through the electrode.

9. The retaining device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor positioned on the retaining device, wherein the retaining device is configured to generally maintain a position of the sensor with respect to the organ.

10. The retaining device of claim 9 wherein the sensor comprises a contraction sensor configured to sense information corresponding to contraction of the organ.

11. The retaining device of claim 1 wherein the retaining device comprises a soft elastic material

12. The retaining device of claim 11 wherein the soft elastic material is a fluoropolymer.

13. A method for attaching a device to a contractile organ having a cavity comprising the steps of:

providing anchor on a first side of a wall of the organ so that the anchor engages the first side of the wall of the organ; and

providing an elongate member extending from the first side of the wall of the organ, through the wall of the organ so that the anchor remains in intimate contact with the wall while permitting the wall of the organ to thicken along the elongate member.

14. The method for attaching a device of claim 13 wherein the step of providing an elongate member comprises providing a taper on the elongate member that extends at least in part, into the wall of the organ.

15. A stimulator for stimulating the wall of a stomach comprising:

a lead comprising and electrode thereon;

a distal anchor configured to be positioned on the outside of the stomach wall; and

an elongate portion located proximally of the distal anchor, wherein the elongate portion when deployed extends through the stomach wall, the elongate portion comprising a tapered portion that tapers from a proximal location on the elongate portion to a distal location on the elongate portion; and

a housing comprising an attachment element configured to attach the housing to the inside of a stomach wall; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the electrode of the lead and configured to provide an electrical signal to the electrode.