Catheter and intestine tube and method of using the same
First Claim
1. An instrument comprising an open-ended, thin-walled, balloon-like tube shaped to extend through at least a portion of an alimentary canal, the diameter and length of said tube being selected to treat an absorption-related disease, means for implanting said tube through a patient'"'"'s mouth and throat, means for securing said tube entirely within the alimentary canal of an animal body for the purpose of passing digesting food solids and thereby treating absorption-related diseases, whereby a patient may consume whole food through the mouth, said whole food becoming partially digested in the stomach before coming into contact with said implanted instrument;
- and means for controlling a transfer of food chemicals from said digesting food solids through the walls of said implanted instrument to the alimentary canal by preventing or altering the transfer of said food chemicals between said implanted instrument and the walls of the alimentary canal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A first part of the inventive instrument comprises an insertion and removal device in the form of a catheter which may be inserted through the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus into the stomach. The catheter includes an outer sheath which protects the human body while a tool extending coaxially through an inner sheath is being manipulated. The tool includes a remotely operated pair of tweezers for holding or releasing a loop on insertion or seizing and holding the loop on removal of the second part of the inventive instrument. The second part of the instrument comprises a tube for implantation in the small intestine. While it is so implanted, the tube prevents food from being there absorbed by the body. The tube may be used to treat obesity or alcoholism, or to cover an ulcer and give it an opportunity to heal without exposure to digesting food.
471 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An instrument comprising an open-ended, thin-walled, balloon-like tube shaped to extend through at least a portion of an alimentary canal, the diameter and length of said tube being selected to treat an absorption-related disease, means for implanting said tube through a patient'"'"'s mouth and throat, means for securing said tube entirely within the alimentary canal of an animal body for the purpose of passing digesting food solids and thereby treating absorption-related diseases, whereby a patient may consume whole food through the mouth, said whole food becoming partially digested in the stomach before coming into contact with said implanted instrument;
- and means for controlling a transfer of food chemicals from said digesting food solids through the walls of said implanted instrument to the alimentary canal by preventing or altering the transfer of said food chemicals between said implanted instrument and the walls of the alimentary canal.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- 12. An instrument for controlling absorption through the walls of a passageway within an animal body, said instrument comprising an open-ended tube implant means having physical characteristics which fit entirely within the passageway and being shaped to extend through a selected portion of said body passageway, the walls of said tube means being impervious to chemicals of adjacent substances likely to be transported through said body passageway, said implant tube being open on both ends for enabling passage of said adjacent substance as it travels through said passageway, means comprising holes periodically piercing said tube for enabling the passage of controlled amounts of body fluids between the substance in said tube and said body passageway, semiflexible means in said tube to provide a rigid mode of operation to facilitate insertion of said tube into said body passageway and a flexible mode of operation to enable said tube to be inserted without twisting, said anchoring means comprises a semiflexible ring which has a rigid mode when pulled by the body in a direction which is away from the implanted position and a flexible mode for collapsing when pulled in the opposite direction to remove the implant, said anchor ring being attached to the end of said tube which may enter the body last during the implantation, means for inserting and removing said implant means in said body, said insert means comprising a catheter having means for capturing and holding said implant means while it is being inserted or removed and for releasing said implant means after it is implanted, said capturing and holding means being a pair of tweezers and said catheter including a confining portion into which said tweezers may be drawn to close and confine the said tweezers opening automatically when pushed out of said confining portion.
- 16. An instrument for controlling absorption through the walls of a passageway within an animal body, said instrument comprising an open-ended tube implant means having physical characteristics which fit entirely within the passageway shaped to extend through a selected portion of said body passageway, the walls of said tube means being impervious to chemicals of adjacent substances likely to be transported through said body passageway, means for inserting and removing said implant means in said body, said insert means comprising a catheter having means for capturing and holding said implant means while it is being inserted or removed and for releasing said implant means after it is implanted, whereby said catheter may be removed while the implant is in place, said catheter having three coaxial parts, a first of said three parts being a sheath for preventing irritation of the body when the inner parts are manipulated therein, other of parts including an inner tube and a flexible stiffening means with tool control means extending down the center of said coaxial parts, said tool being a pair of tweezers and said control means comprising means for pushing said tweezers out or pulling them into said catheter.
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18. A process for controlling the transfer of chemicals between foods in the intestine and body fluids, said process comprising:
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(a) implanting a thin-walled open-ended tube totally within the gastrointestinal tract for passing digesting food solids which are eaten by the person with the implant, said implant controlling the transfer of said chemicals between said solid food and the walls of said gastrointestinal tract, said implant being contained in its entirety within the gastrointestinal tract while it is implanted; and (b) using the implant while it is totally contained within said gastrointestinal tract for controlling an amount of such chemical transfer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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- 21. The process of transporting digesting food solids which are eaten in a normal manner by an animal, said food solids passing from the stomach through the animal'"'"'s digestive tract, said process comprising the step of partially lining said gastrointestinal tract with a tube which is shaped and proportioned to fit against the interior of said gastrointestinal area, the walls of said tube being thin enough to transport food by normal peristaltic contractions of the animal'"'"'s stomach and intestine and controlling chemical transfer between food solids while in said tube and said digestive tract, by forming a multiplicity of holes in said tube to enable controlled amounts of said food chemicals to escape from said tube through said holes and into the digestive tract.
Specification