MEDICAL AGENT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080015523A1
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sentinel Group, LLC (Signal Restoration Services LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sentinel Group, LLC (Signal Restoration Services LLC)
• Inventors: Baker, Randal
• Application Number:
  US11/780,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015523A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/288.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0003 Nasal or oral feeding-tubes, e.g. tube entering body through nose or mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0015 Gastrostomy feeding-tubes insertion tools or methods A61B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/003 Means for fixing the tube inside the body, e.g. balloons, retaining means holding devices holding in the body A61M25/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0084 for sensing parameters related to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00

Abstract

A medical agent delivery system and method of dispensing a medical agent include providing a medical agent dispensing member and supporting said medical agent dispensing member at the gastro-esophageal region of the patient.

Claims

1. A medical agent delivery system, comprising:

a medical agent dispensing member; and

a support supporting said agent dispensing member, said support adapted to position said agent dispensing member at the region of a patient defined by at least one chosen from (i) the abdominal portion of the esophagus, (ii) the esophageal-gastric junction, and (iii) the cardiac portion of the stomach.

2. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said agent dispensing member comprises a replenishable agent reservoir and a diffusion member, said diffusion member dispensing an agent from said reservoir.

3. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 2 including a fluid receiving port, said port in fluid connection with said agent reservoir.

4. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said port is adapted to receive a blunt needle.

5. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said port is adapted to receive a blunt needle inserted endoscopically.

6. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said port comprises a flexible-connection tubing.

7. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said tubing is adapted to terminate subcutaneously.

8. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support has a wall configured to generally conform to the size and shape of at least one chosen from (i) the abdominal portion of the esophagus, (ii) the esophageal-gastric junction and (iii) the cardiac portion of the stomach.

9. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 8 including at least one fixation mechanism that is adapted to resist distal migration of said support.

10. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said fixation mechanism includes at least one chosen from barbs, V-shaped appendages, metallic anchors extending radially from said body, staples and sutures.

11. The bariatric device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said fixation mechanism includes an inflatable anchor bladder.

12. The bariatric device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said fixation mechanism includes at least a portion of said wall having natural tissue ingrowth orifices.

13. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said wall has a generally cylindrical portion and a generally conical portion.

14. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 8 wherein at least part of said generally cylindrical portion and said generally conical portion are expandable.

15. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said agent dispensing member is adapted to dispense the agent at said generally conical portion.

27. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said agent dispensing member is adapted to dispense an agent to the stomach cavity.

28. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said diffusion member comprises a semi-permeable membrane.

29. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said agent dispensing member comprises a time-release polymer.

30. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said agent dispensing member and said support are made from bioabsorbable materials.

16. A medical agent delivery system, comprising:

a medical agent dispensing member; and

a support supporting said agent dispensing member, said support adapted to position said agent dispensing member at the gastro-esophageal region of a patient;

wherein said agent dispensing member comprises a tissue interface, said tissue interface adapted to dispense an agent to at least one chosen from the muscularis, the mucosa and the sub-mucosa; and

wherein said agent dispensing member further comprises an agent reservoir and a port, said port adapted to provide access to said reservoir from external the patient.

17. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 16 wherein said tissue interface comprises a diffusion member adapted to engage the at least one chosen from the muscularis, the mucosa, and the sub-mucosa.

18. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 17 wherein said diffusion member comprises a semi-permeable membrane at least partially enclosing an agent reservoir.

19. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 16 including a control, said control controlling a rate at which said dispensing member dispenses an agent.

20. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said control includes a sensor, said control controlling the rate at which said dispensing member dispenses an agent as a function of an output of said sensor.

21. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said support includes a wall having a conical portion that is configured to conform to the size and shape of the cardiac portion of the stomach and wherein said sensor senses at said generally conical portion.

22. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said sensor comprises a tissue contact, said tissue contact adapted to sense at least one parameter at a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach, said portion chosen from the muscularis, the mucosa and the sub-mucosa.

23. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said sensor senses at least one chosen from a chemical level and a physical parameter of the patient.

24. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said control transfers the agent from a reservoir to a diffusion member as a function of an output of said sensor.

25. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 19 including a remote controller and a wireless communication link between said remote controller and said control whereby said remote controller is adapted to adjust said control.

26. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said control comprises a microchip.

31. A medical agent delivery system, comprising:

a medical agent dispensing member; and

a support supporting said agent dispensing member, said support adapted to position said agent dispensing member at the gastro-esophageal region of a patient;

wherein said agent dispensing member comprises a tissue interface, said tissue interface adapted to dispense an agent to at least one chosen from the muscularis, the mucosa and the sub-mucosa; and

wherein said tissue interface includes at least one tissue ingrowth surface portion.

32. The medical agent delivery system as claimed in claim 31 wherein said tissue interface comprises a combination of said at least one tissue ingrowth surface portion and at least one semi-permeable membrane portion.

33. A method of dispensing a medical agent, comprising:

providing a medical agent dispensing member and a support; and

supporting said medical agent dispensing member with said support at the region of a patient defined by at least one chosen from (i) the abdominal portion of the esophagus, (ii) the esophageal-gastric junction, and (iii) the cardiac portion of the stomach.

34. A method of dispensing a medical agent, comprising:

providing a medical agent dispensing member and a support;

supporting said medical agent dispensing member with said support at the gastro-esophageal region of a patient;

wherein said agent dispensing member comprises an agent reservoir, a tissue interface and a port;

dispensing an agent from said agent reservoir with said tissue interface to at least one chosen from the muscularis, the mucosa and the sub-mucosa; and

accessing said agent reservoir with said port from external the patient.

35. A method of dispensing a medical agent, comprising:

providing a medical agent dispensing member and a support;

supporting said medical agent dispensing member with said support at the gastro-esophageal region of a patient;

wherein said agent dispensing member comprises a tissue interface wherein said tissue interface includes at least one tissue ingrowth surface portion; and

dispensing an agent from said agent reservoir with said tissue interface to at least one chosen from the muscularis, the mucosa and the sub-mucosa.