Gastric Filler Devices for Obesity Therapy

• US 20120053613A1
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: WEITZNER, Barry, MORECI, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 8,992,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• 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 5/0036 Intragastrical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0089 Instruments for placement or removal

Abstract

An obesity treatment device comprises a filament filler material movable between a substantially straight insertion/removal configuration and an operative configuration in which the filament extends along a predetermined curve to occupy a selected volume within the stomach and a retrieval device connected to a proximal end of the filler material facilitating grasping and withdrawal of the filler material. A method of treating obesity, comprises inserting to a desired position within the GI tract a filament filler in a substantially straight configuration and moving the filler into an operative configuration in which the filler curves along a predetermined path to define a desired volume in combination with, after a predetermined treatment period has elapsed, collapsing the filler into the substantially straight configuration for trans-oral removal.

Claims

1. -9. (canceled)

10. An obesity treatment device, comprising:

a hollow bubble having a shape that is one of substantially spherical and substantially ovoid, in an insertion/removal configuration, the bubble being sized to be slidably inserted through the esophagus and, in an operative configuration, the bubble being inflated to a desired volume within a stomach, the bubble including a flexible outer wall and a failure zone formed in the wall so that, when the bubble is subject to a predetermined stress, the wall fails along the failure zone; and

a handle being operatively connected to a proximal end of the polymer wall facilitating grasping and retrieval of the wall to draw the wall proximally.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the failure zone is formed as a spiral groove weakened with respect to other portions of the wall and directs tearing of the wall into an elongated tape.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the handle is aligned with the failure zone so that proximally directed force applied to the handle causes the wall to unwind along the failure zone.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the failure zone is configured so that, after being torn therealong, the wall is sized for trans-oral withdrawal.

14. -20. (canceled)

21. A gastric fill method, comprising steps of:

inserting into the stomach a bubble including a failure zone formed in a wall thereof such that, upon application of a proximally directed retrieving force, the wall to tears along the failure zone;

inflating the bubble to a desired volume;

after a desired treatment period has elapsed, applying the retrieving force to the filler, tearing the wall; and

retrieving the torn wall trans-orally.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein inserting and removing the bubble is performed using one of a flexible and a shape lock overtube.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the failure zone is formed as a spiral groove weaker than other portions of the wall, such that when torn along the failure zone, the wall unravels to form an elongated strip.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the retrieval force is applied to the filler via an endoscopically inserted grasping device.