System and method to restrict stomach size

• US 20070203511A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gil Vardi
• Original Assignee: Gil Vardi
• Inventors: Vardi, Gil
• Granted Patent: US 8,337,388 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/153
• 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 17/0487 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 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/048 for reducing heart wall tension, e.g. sutures with a pad on each extremity
• 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: A61B 2017/081 Tissue approximator A61B2017/1103, A61B17/8866 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2487 Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints

Abstract

A device for restricting a cross-sectional area of a cavity formed by a stomach wall includes a band defining a cylindrical wall and a plurality of retaining members formed within the wall. Each retaining member is movable between a retracted position substantially coplanar with an outer surface of the wall and an extended position extending radially outwardly from the wall to facilitate coupling the device to the stomach wall.

Claims

1. A device for restricting a cross-sectional area of a cavity formed by a stomach wall, said device comprising a band defining a cylindrical wall and a plurality of retaining members formed within said wall, each of said plurality of retaining members movable between a retracted position substantially coplanar with an outer surface of said wall and an extended position extending radially outwardly from said wall to facilitate coupling said device to the stomach wall.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said retaining member is biased towards the extended position.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said retaining member further comprises a tip portion configured to penetrate at least an inner surface of the stomach wall.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein said tip portion is configured to extend through the stomach wall and couple to an outer surface of the stomach wall.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said band further comprises a plurality of coupled cells, each cell of said plurality of cells defining a void.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein at least one said retaining member is movably coupled to one cell of said plurality of cells and positioned within a corresponding void in the retracted position.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said retaining member is substantially perpendicular to said outer surface in the extended position.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said band is fabricated at least partially from a shape memory alloy.

9. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said band is fabricated at least partially from a polymer material.

10. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said retaining member comprises at least one of a needle, a book, a staple and a suture.

11. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein each said retaining member further comprises a plurality of extendable hooks, each extendable hook of said plurality of extendable hooks passing through the stomach wall and interfering with an outer surface of the stomach wall.

12. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one said retaining member further comprises a hinge portion configured to facilitate moving said retaining member between the retracted position and the extended position.

13. A system for restricting a cross-sectional area of a cavity formed by a stomach wall, said system comprising:

a catheter;

a device initially positioned about said catheter, said device comprising a band defining a cylindrical wall and a plurality of retaining members formed within said wall, each of said plurality of retaining members movable between a retracted position and an extended position, in the extended position each said retaining member extending radially outwardly from said wall to facilitate coupling said device to the stomach wall; and

a sheath movably positioned about said band to facilitate retaining each said retaining member in the retracted position.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein, in the retracted position, each said retaining member substantially coplanar with an outer surface of said wall.

15. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein, in the extended position, each said retaining member substantially perpendicular to said wall.

16. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein each said retaining member further comprises a tip portion configured to penetrate at least an inner surface of the stomach wall.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said tip portion is configured to extend through the stomach wall and interfere with an outer surface of the stomach wall.

18. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein said band further comprises a plurality of coupled cells, each cell of said plurality of cells forming a void, at least one said retaining member movably coupled to one cell of said plurality of cells and positioned within a corresponding void in the retracted position.

19. A system in accordance with claim 13 wherein at least one said retaining member further comprises a hinge portion configured to facilitate moving said retaining member between the retracted position and the extended position.

20. A method for restricting a cross-sectional area of a cavity formed by a stomach wall, said method comprising:

introducing into the cavity a device configured to restrict the cross-sectional area of the cavity, the device comprising a band defining a cylindrical wall and a plurality of retaining members formed within the wall, each of the plurality of retaining members movable between a retracted position substantially coplanar with an outer surface of the wall and an extended position extending radially outwardly from the wall to facilitate coupling the device to the stomach wall;

collapsing the stomach wall to urge the stomach wall towards the device; and

coupling the device to the stomach wall to secure the cavity in a restricted configuration.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein introducing into the cavity a device further comprises:

positioning the device about a catheter;

positioning a sheath about at least a portion of the band with the retaining members in the retracted position;

inserting the catheter into the cavity through a patient'"'"'s esophagus; and

removing the sheath from about the band to facilitate the retaining members moving from the retracted position to the extended position.

22. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein coupling the device to the stomach wall further comprises penetrating at least an inner surface of the stomach wall with a tip portion of at least two retaining members of said plurality of retaining members.