APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE OBESITY TREATMENT

• US 20110213448A1
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GEP Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GEP Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Daniel H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,868,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0003 Apparatus for the treatment of obesity; Anti-eating devices surgical instruments or methods for treatment of obesity, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/00; hollow or tubular parts of organs A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0026 Anti-eating devices using electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0069 in the wall of the stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0073 in the abdominal cavity, e.g. not attached to the stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1072 having balloons with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0517 Esophageal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for the effective and minimally invasive treatment of obesity. In one embodiment, a device for providing therapy to a patient includes an inflatable structure adapted and configured for positioning at least partially within a gastroesophageal (GE) space formed between an inner wall of a phrenoesophageal ligament (POL) and outer walls of the esophagus and cardiac orifice and an electrode structure adapted and configured for positioning at least partially within the GE space. In another embodiment, a method for treating a patient includes introducing an electrode at least partially into a gastroesophageal (GE) space formed between an inner wall of a phrenoesophageal ligament (POL) and outer walls of the esophagus and cardiac orifice and modulating tissue using the electrode.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

introducing an electrode at least partially into a gastroesophageal (GE) space formed between an inner wall of a phrenoesophageal ligament (POL) and outer walls of the esophagus and cardiac orifice; and

modulating tissue using the electrode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is introduced substantially or wholly within the GE space.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing the electrode to the POL.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the electrode is secured to an interior portion of the POL.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the electrode is secured to an exterior portion of the POL.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising promoting a feeling of satiety in the patient during or after modulation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue comprises a portion of the diaphragm.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the tissue further comprises a portion of a nerve that innervates the diaphragm portion.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing the electrode within the GE space into a position adjacent a ventral aspect of a portion of the tissue.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising passing a least a portion of the electrode out of the GE space towards a portion of the tissue.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising passing at least a portion of the electrode in a dorsal direction out of the GE space towards a portion of the tissue.

9-13. -13. (canceled)

17-86. -86. (canceled)

87. A catheter assembly for insertion into a patient, comprising:

a working catheter;

a balloon catheter disposed in the working catheter; and

a balloon connected to the balloon catheter, inflatable by injection of fluid through the balloon catheter, and comprising a first wall having a first stiffness, a second wall having a second stiffness, and a partition,

wherein the first wall and the partition enclose a first chamber and the second wall and the partition enclose a second chamber.

88. The catheter assembly of claim 87, wherein at least a portion of the inflated shape of the balloon is an ellipsoid, an egg, a cylinder, or a polyhedron.

89. The catheter assembly of claim 87, wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness.

90-97. -97. (canceled)

98. A device for providing therapy to a patient, comprising:

an inflatable structure adapted and configured for positioning at least partially within a gastroesophageal (GE) space formed between an inner wall of a phrenoesophageal ligament (POL) and outer walls of the esophagus and cardiac orifice; and

an electrode structure adapted and configured for positioning at least partially within the GE space.

99. The device of claim 98, wherein when the inflatable structure is inflated at least a portion of the inflatable structure is shaped like an ellipsoid, an ovoid, a cylinder, a polyhedron or a portion of a curve.

100. The device of claim 98, wherein the electrode structure comprises flexible base that is sufficiently flexible to follow at least a portion of the interior shape of the GE space.

101. The device of claim 98, wherein at least a portion of the electrode structure is attached to the inflatable structure.

102. The device of claim 98, wherein the inflatable structure has a length selected to be less than the perimeter of the esophageal wall within the GE space.

103. The device of claim 98, wherein the inflatable structure has a length selected such that in use within the GE space, the inflatable structure circumscribes less than half the perimeter of the esophageal wall within the gastroesophageal (GE) space.

104-119. -119. (canceled)