METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PERCUTANEOUSLY MODIFYING ORGANS TO TREAT PATIENTS

• US 20070179335A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Gertner, Neil J. Sheehan, Robert Brommer
• Original Assignee: Michael Gertner, Neil J. Sheehan, Robert Brommer
• Inventors: Gertner, Michael, Brommer, Robert, Sheehan, Neil
• Application Number:
  US11/693,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179335A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• 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 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0076 preventing normal digestion, e.g. Bariatric or gastric sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0086 : using clamps, folding means or the like

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for implantation into the walls of an organ such as the stomach. Deformable or inflatable anchors with a connector between are used to pull the walls of the organ together, or to implant devices in the wall of the organ. Also disclosed are surgical instruments useful in practicing the disclosed methods.

Claims

1. A method for treating a condition in a human subject comprising:

passing a device through the skin of the human subject;

implanting said device in said human subject near an anatomic structure in a tissue region adjacent to said anatomic structure;

wherein said device comprises at least one anchor, and wherein said device modifies the volume of the anatomic structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said device is inflatable.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said device is a mesh.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing an electrical current into the device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of delivering a therapeutic substance from said device to a location within or near said anatomic structure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a connector.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a plurality of said devices is placed near the anatomic structure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said anatomic structure is the stomach.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said device further comprises a second anchor.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said connector is passed through the anatomic structure and tensioned between the anchors to compress the anatomic structure.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said second anchor is placed adjacent to a tissue of the abdominal wall.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said anatomic structure is a stomach;

and

wherein said method further comprises inducing a feeling of satiety in said human subject by tensioning said connector.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said tension is quantitatively determined.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising passing electrical current through the connector.

15. A method for treating a condition in a human subject comprising:

placing a first anchor at a first location on, in, or adjacent to an anatomic structure in said human subject;

placing a second anchor at a second location adjacent to said anatomic structure;

placing a connector between the first and second anchors, said connector length between said first and second anchors such that the volume of said anatomic structure is modified.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said anatomic structure comprises a lumen.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said anatomic structure is the stomach.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said connector penetrates through a region of the wall of the stomach.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said connector is a suture.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said connector comprises a plurality of sutures.

21. The method claim 15, wherein said anchor comprises a mesh.

22. The method claim 15, wherein at least one anchor resides in said anatomic structure.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said anatomic structure is the stomach.