Intragastric space filler

• US 20070100368A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Reshape Medical, Inc. (ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Reshape Medical, Inc. (ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tu, Hosheng, Purkait, Bobby, Cragg, Andrew, Quijano, Rodolfo
• Application Number:
  US11/263,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0036 Intragastrical devices

Abstract

A gastric space filler device for treating obesity in a patient by reducing the stomach volume comprising an inflatable space filler and a safety element secured to the space filler, wherein the safety element yields a noticeable signal for causing removal of the space filler.

Claims

1. A gastric space filler device for treating obesity in a patient by reducing the stomach volume comprising an inflatable space filler and a safety element secured to said space filler, wherein the safety element comprises a mechanism to yield a noticeable signal for causing a removal of said space filler.

2. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the safety element comprises a pressure sensor element for sensing an internal pressure of said inflatable space filler.

4. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the safety element comprises a pH sensor element for sensing a pH of a stomach of the patient.

6. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the space filler and the safety element are configured to be in tandem or substantially parallel to each other inside a stomach pouch of the patient.

7. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the safety element is anchored to an inner wall of a stomach pouch of the patient.

8. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein either the safety element or the space filler is ultrasonically visible.

9. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein an ultrasonic transducer is provided for emitting an ultrasonic signal.

10. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the gastric space filler is configured to be deliverable through an esophagus of the patient.

11. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the space filler device is treated with an anti-acid substance.

12. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the space filler device is treated with a corrosion-resistant substance.

13. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the space filler device is treated with an anti-adhesion substance.

14. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the space filler device is treated with albumin or melatonin.

15. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the space filler device is treated with phosphorylcholine.

16. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the space filler comprises a central opening extending therethrough.

17. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the space filler is sized to occupy at least 90% of a stomach volume of the patient.

18. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the space filler has an adjustable volume and is sized and configured to occupy up to 90% of a stomach volume of the patient.

19. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the space filler comprises a volume-adjusting mechanism for adjusting the space filler over time to allow initial acceptance by the stomach and increasing volume to get a right balance of weight loss and lack of nausea and vomiting.

20. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the safety element is an inflatable balloon made of a biodegradable material.

21. The gastric space filler device of claim 20, wherein the biodegradable material is selected from a group consisting of polymers or copolymers of lactide, glycolide, caprolactone, polydioxanone, trimethylene carbonate, polyorthoesters, and polyethylene oxide.

22. The gastric space filler device of claim 20, wherein the biodegradable material is selected from a group consisting of collagen, chitosan, elastin, gelatin, and combinations thereof.

23. The gastric space filler device of claim 1, wherein the space filler is made of a non-biodegradable material selected from a group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, Nylon, polyethylene, silicone, latex, polyethylene, and copolymers thereof.

3. The gastric space filler device of claim 3, wherein the pressure sensor element further comprises a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the sensed internal pressure to a receiver outside a body of the patient.

5. The gastric space filler device of claim 5, wherein the pH sensor element further comprises a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the sensed pH to a receiver outside a body of the patient.

24. A gastric space filler device for treating obesity in a patient by reducing a stomach volume comprising an inflatable space filler with a first reference shape at an inflated state and means for substantially maintaining said first reference shape at a deflated state.

25. The gastric space filler device of claim 24, wherein the means for substantially maintaining said first reference shape at the deflated state is to provide a spiral supportive ridgeline onto said space filler.

26. The gastric space filler device of claim 25, wherein the spiral ridgeline comprises a material similar to material of the space filler.

27. The gastric space filler device of claim 24, wherein the means for substantially maintaining said first reference shape at the deflated state is to provide a plurality of cross bars inside an interior space of said space filler.

28. A gastric space filler device for treating obesity in a patient by reducing a stomach volume comprising an inflatable space filler with a first cross-sectional circumference dimension at an inflated state and means for maintaining a second cross-sectional circumference dimension with at least 75 percentage of said first circumference dimension at a deflated state.