Balloon System and Methods for Treating Obesity

• US 20100130998A1
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Reshape Medical, Inc. (ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alverdy, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,845,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/004 remotely adjustable

Abstract

A medical system for the treatment of morbid obesity comprising an inflatable balloon implanted in a gastric cavity, a percutaneous fillant delivery tube and a control module connected to the tube for regulating the inflation and deflation of the balloon. The balloon may be individually contoured and inflated to occupy a large volume of the gastric cavity to provide a feeling of satiety. The balloon may also be deflated to give the gastric cavity lining a rest during less critical time.

Claims

1. A method to elicit signals directly from an entire stomach wall of an obese patient in order to cause a feeling of satiety with less food and avoid the problem of pressure inducer injury, said method comprising:

connecting a distal end of a fillant delivery tube to a balloon, said fillant tube comprising a separate component with said distal end and proximal end;

connecting said proximal end of said fillant delivery tube to a control module, said control module including a pump for introducing a fillant to said balloon;

implanting said balloon in the patient'"'"'s stomach;

using said control module and pump to automatically and fully inflate said balloon with said fillant,

said fully inflated balloon providing ac contour occupying the vas majority of the volume of the stomach; and

said fully inflated balloon providing a balloon surface contacting a major portion of said stomach wall.

2. A method of claim 1 wherein the balloon is made from a surgical grade material.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the balloon i made from rubber which expands upon introduction of said fillant.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the tube is made from a surgical grade material.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the tube is constructed of a metal or plastic material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said feeling of satiety is from the stomach itself.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said feeling of satiety is created by balancing physiological, neurohormonal and chemical factors of said patient.