Stomach clamp for and method of proximal gastric partitioning

• US 4,458,681 A
• Filed: 06/10/1982
• Issued: 07/10/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald A. Hopkins
• Original Assignee: Donald A. Hopkins
• Inventors: Hopkins, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US06/387,078
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 128/303 R, 128/334 R, 128/334 C, 128/346, 128/1 R, 285/419, 138/99
• US Class Current: 606/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0086 using clamps, folding means or the like

Abstract

A stomach clamp, having partially occluding arms that extend across a stomach, is operationally clamped in place by bolting together opposed arm ends that extend beyond the stomach periphery. The clamp divides the stomach and reduces space for food input while permitting drainage between the divided stomach parts through the non-occluding part of the clamp arms. The clamp is semi-permanently installed without penetration of stomach lumen or gastrointestinal tract and serves to reduce food intake ane obesity. Frictional engagement of the arms with the stomach is reinforced with sutures through outer layers of the stomach.

Claims

1. A stomach clamp for proximal gastric partitioning comprising:

(a) a pair of elongated clamping arms, having opposite and non-conforming parts, for positioning in generally parallel opposition to define a partially occluding clamp with oppositely disposed ends extending transversely beyond and across any stomach;

(b) fastening means for adjustably fastening together the oppositely disposed ends of the respective clamping arms, said fastening means being a plurality of equally sized and spaced holes transversely defined in the oppositely disposed ends of said respective clamping arms for sets of end pairs of said holes to register just beyond the limits of any size stomach, when said clamping arms are parallelly opposed, said holes of one of the clamping arms being threaded, and a pair of bolt means, one for each registering pair of holes at each clamp end, for passing through the unthreaded holes and engaging in the threaded holes;

(c) transverse passage means defined between said opposed clamping arms in combination by said opposite and non-conforming parts intermediate the respective oppositely disposed clamped arm ends for making said clamp partially occuded; and

d. spacing means mounted between said oppositely disposed ends of the respective clamping arms for making the clamp atraumatic in application.

2. Method of proximal gastric partitioning comprising the steps of:

(a) placing the arms of a two piece adjustable clamp across a stomach between the proximal and distil opening thereof;

(b) tightening the joined ends of said clamp arms to partition said stomach into proximal and distal pouches, respectively above and below said clamp;

(c) defining a transverse drain between said clamp arms and said proximal and distal pouches with non-occluding clamp arms'"'"' parts,

(d) retaining said clamp in place by a combination of frictional engagement between clamp and stomach, and sutures through outer layers of said stomach without puncturing the stomach lumen.