GASTRIC BYPASS BAND AND SURGICAL METHOD

• US 20110208216A1
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bariatec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bariatec Corporation
• Inventors: FIELDS, Jean E., FOBI, Mathias Asongwe Lawrence, FIELDS, C. Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• 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 17/12009 Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0066 Closing devices for gastric bands

Abstract

An inventive method for performing gastric bypass surgery and a gastric bypass band that is used in conjunction with the surgical method is disclosed. The inventive method involves separating a top portion of the stomach along with the esophagus from the remainder of the stomach, and re-connecting the separated portion to the small intestine to form a gastric pouch of about 20-30 cc in size. The inventive gastric band is placed midway along the gastric pouch to act as a restrictor valve to limit the amount of food passing through the valve. The band also retains food within the gastric pouch to give the patient a feeling of satiety. The band is comprised of an expansion-resistant section combined with a one-way latch mechanism. The latch has a curved orientation so that the band is formed into a radial profile when placed around the gastric pouch.

Claims

1. A surgical band device that is laparoscopically implantable within a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

a flexible expansion-resistant section having first and second ends, the expansion-resistant section having a flat face extending along its length between the first and second ends, the expansion-resistant section being of uniform-cross section between the first and second ends; and

a lockable latch having first and second latch parts coupled to the first and second ends of the expansion-resistant section;

wherein the first and second latch parts have a fixed longitudinal curvature when the first and second latch parts are unlocked; and

wherein the expansion-resistant section having a longitudinally extending configuration along its length when the first and second latch parts are unlocked and the surgical band device is fed laparoscopically through tissue within the patient'"'"'s body and a radial shape configuration along its length when the first and second latch parts are locked and the surgical band device is positioned around tissue within the patient'"'"'s body.

2. The band device as recited in claim 1, wherein the expansion-resistant section comprises a length of silicone having a monofilament core.

3. The band device as recited in claim 2, wherein the monofilament core is a polypropylene suture.

4. The band device as recited in claim 3, wherein the device is radiopaque.

5. The band device as recited in claim 1, wherein the two parts of said lockable latch are engaged by a male-female type engagement.

6. The band device as recited in claim 1, wherein the latch locks in a one-way engagement.

7. The band device as recited in claim 5, wherein the female part of the two part lockable latch including an exterior body having an interior lumen, said exterior body having side through-openings communicating with said lumen, said lumen including a front opening, wherein said opening is lined with an inwardly-beveled face.

8. The band device as recited in claim 7, wherein the male part of the two part lockable latch including two lateral prongs extending from a prong body, said prong body having an outwardly-beveled face, said lateral prongs extending forward of said prong body and ending in two corresponding lateral catches, said lateral catches including angled side faces for engaging with said lumen of said female part, said lateral catches further engaging in a lockable one-way engagement with said side openings of said female part when said male and female parts are fully engaged and wherein upon full engagement, said outwardly-beveled face of said male part mates with said inwardly beveled face of said female part.

9. A surgical kit, comprising:

the gastric bypass band device of claim 1; and

a radiopaque marker band.

10. The surgical kit as recited in claim 9, further comprising a disposable positioner cover fitted over the second latch part and having a blunt forward profile for guiding the gastric band device into position about tissue in a patient'"'"'s body.

11. The surgical kit as recited in claim 10, wherein the band device, and the disposable cover are radiopaque.

12. The surgical kit as recited in claim 10, wherein the positioner cover further comprises a lumen for receiving the second latch part, the lumen of the positioner cover being lined with longitudinal ridges.

13. The cover as recited in claim 12, wherein the lumen forms a rear opening in the positioner cover, the lumen portion extending forward and mating with an elongate portion of the positioner cover, the elongate portion terminating in a blunt forward end.

14. A method for laparoscopically implanting a surgical band within a patient'"'"'s body comprising the steps of laparoscopically feeding a surgical band through and around tissue within the patient'"'"'s body, the surgical band comprising a flexible expansion-resistant section having first and second ends and a lockable latch having first and second latch parts coupled to the first and second ends of the expansion-resistant section;

wherein the first and second latch part having a fixed longitudinal curvature when unlocked and the expansion-resistant section having a longitudinally extending configuration along its length when the first and second latch parts are unlocked; and

coupling the first and second latch parts together to lock the lockable latch and form the flexible expansion-resistant section in a radial shape configuration along its length and around tissue within the patient'"'"'s body.