Magnetic enteral gastrostomy

• US 5,595,562 A
• Filed: 11/10/1994
• Issued: 01/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jonathan F. Grier
• Original Assignee: Research Corporation Technologies
• Inventors: Grier, Jonathan F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US08/337,103
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 600/12, 600/15, 600/29, 600/30, 600/32, 604/48, 604/49, 604/54, 128/898
• US Class Current: 600/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis

Abstract

A method of performing a gastrostomy by ischemia-induced tissue remodeling. To accomplish this, a small intragastric disk is magnetically coupled to a larger disk on the outside of the abdominal wall. The attractive magnetic force acting on the two disks occludes blood flow to the intervening tissue. The ensuing local ischemia results in infarction and resorption of that tissue. As the tissue is resorbed, the smaller intragastric disk is drawn toward the larger disk on the outside of the abdominal wall creating a stoma in its path and leaving the stomach adherent to the abdominal wall around the perimeter of the smaller disk.

Claims

1. A method for performing a gastrostomy, said gastrostomy producing an opening from the interior of a patient'"'"'s stomach through the patient'"'"'s stomach wall and abdominal wall, comprising the steps of:

introducing a first magnet into the stomach;

placing said first magnet on the stomach wall adjacent to the abdominal wall;

placing a second magnet on the outside of the abdominal wall opposite, and relative to, said first magnet whereby said first magnet and said second magnet are drawn together compressing a portion of the stomach wall and a portion of the abdominal wall to produce local ischemia between said first magnet and said second magnet; and

allowing said first magnet and said second magnet to remain in place for a time sufficient to form a tract substantially through the stomach wall and the abdominal wall thereby forming a gastrostoma adherent to the abdominal wall.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of neodymium.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first magnet is cylindrical in shape, having a diameter and a longitudinal axis, and said second magnet has a flat surface, which is larger than the diameter of said first magnet, for placing against the abdominal wall.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said first magnet and said second magnet have magnetic orientations and strengths which tend to align said axis of said first magnet perpendicular to said flat surface of said second magnet.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of neodymium.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of rare earth alloy.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of introducing said first magnet into the stomach is accomplished by swallowing said first magnet.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of placing said first magnet on the stomach wall adjacent to the abdominal wall is accomplished with the aid of gravity.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of introducing said first magnet into the stomach and placing said first magnet on the stomach wall adjacent to the abdominal wall are accomplished by use of endoscopy.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of introducing said first magnet into the stomach and placing said first magnet on the stomach wall adjacent to the abdominal wall are accomplished by use of a nasogastric tube.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of rare earth alloy.

12. Apparatus for performing a gastrostomy, said gastrostomy producing an opening from the interior of a patient'"'"'s stomach through the patient'"'"'s stomach wall and abdominal wall, comprising:

a first magnet adapted to be placed inside the stomach on the stomach wall adjacent to the abdominal wall;

a second magnet adapted to be placed on the outside of the abdominal wall opposite, and relative to, said first magnet whereby said first magnet and said second magnet are drawn together compressing a portion of the stomach wall and a portion of the abdominal wall to produce local ischemia of tissue between said first magnet and said second magnet; and

external means, adapted to be placed outside the abdominal wall, for keeping said second magnet in place for a time sufficient to form a tract substantially through said stomach wall and said abdominal wall thereby forming a gastrostoma adherent to said abdominal wall.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said external means for keeping said second magnet in place is a dressing applied to prevent inadvertent removal of said second magnet.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of neodymium.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of rare earth alloy.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said first magnet is cylindrical in shape, having a longitudinal axis, and said second magnet has a flat surface, which is larger than the diameter of said first magnet, for placing against the abdominal wall.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first magnet and said second magnet have magnetic orientations and strengths which tend to align said axis of said first magnet perpendicular to said flat surface of said second magnet.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of neodymium.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of rare earth alloy.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said first and second magnets are in the form of magnetic disks.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first magnetic disk and said second magnetic disk have magnetic orientations and strengths which attract a flat surface of said first magnetic disk to a flat surface of said second magnetic disk.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein at least one of said first and second magnetic disks is made of neodymium.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of rare earth alloy.

24. A kit for performing a gastrostomy, said gastrostomy producing an opening from the interior of a patient'"'"'s stomach through the patient'"'"'s stomach wall and abdominal wall, comprising:

a first magnet, adapted to be placed in the patient'"'"'s stomach;

a second magnet, said magnets having sufficient attractive force to engage one another when said first magnet is in the stomach and said second magnet is placed on the outside of the abdominal wall, opposite and relative to said first magnet; and

external means, adapted to be placed outside the abdominal wall, for keeping said second magnet in place.

25. The kit of claim 24 wherein said external means for keeping said second magnet in place is a dressing applied to prevent inadvertent removal of said second magnet.

26. The kit of claim 24 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of neodymium.

27. The kit of claim 24 wherein at least one of said first and second magnets is made of rare earth alloy.