Hiatal hernia repair patch and method for using the same

• US 6,436,030 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Om P. Rehil
• Original Assignee: Om P. Rehil
• Inventors: Rehil, Om P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/752,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 600/37, 606/151, 623/11, 623/12
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/902 Method of implanting

Abstract

This invention relates to a surgical prosthesis and method of use. The hiatal hernia repair patch is a ring with an integral mesh attached to and surrounding the ring. The ring and the mesh have a slit therein extending radially so that the ring may be placed about the esophagus. The ring may be hollow or solid and is flexible so that it may be inserted through a small incision or a laparoscopic port into the abdominal cavity. The patch, including the ring and mesh, is made as a one-piece unit and is made from polypropylene or other biocompatible material. In use, the ring is placed around the esophagus, between the stomach and the diaphragm. Next, the mesh is stapled or sutured to the undersurface of the diaphragm, bridging the hiatal hernia defect.

Claims

1. A hiatal hernia repair patch, comprising:

a ring defining an opening, the opening being sized and dimensioned for encircling a patient'"'"'s distal esophagus, the ring having a slit extending radially through the ring; and

at least one section of biocompatible mesh, said mesh extending radially from said ring.

2. The hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 1, wherein said at least one section of biocompatible mesh is a single section of mesh extending radially from said ring substantially 360°

about the circumference of said ring, said mesh having a slit extending radially through said mesh in registry with the slit extending through said ring.

3. The hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 1, wherein said ring has the shape of a torus, said ring having a superior side and an inferior side.

4. The hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 3, wherein said mesh extends from the superior side of said ring tangential to the ring.

5. The hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 3, wherein said ring is solid.

6. The hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 3, wherein said ring is hollow.

7. The hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 1, further comprising a radiopaque marker incorporated into said ring and disposed about the circumference of said ring.

8. The hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 1, wherein said patch is made from a flexible biocompatible material.

9. The hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 1, wherein said patch is made from polypropylene.

10. A method for implanting the hiatal hernia repair patch of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

(a) dissecting a hiatal hernia, including mobilizing a patient'"'"'s stomach and lower esophagus out of the hiatal hernia sac using blunt and sharp dissection;

(b) dissecting the patient'"'"'s esophago-gastric junction circumferentially;

(c) placing the patch around the patient'"'"'s esophagus; and

(d) attaching the mesh to an edge of the hiatal hernia defect and to an undersurface of the patient'"'"'s diaphragm, bridging the hiatal hernia defect.

11. The method of implanting a hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 10, further comprising the step of verifying that the ring is generally larger than the diameter of a specific patient'"'"'s distal esophagus before placing the patch around the patient'"'"'s esophagus.

12. The method of implanting a hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 10, further comprising the step of inserting an esophageal bougie through the patient'"'"'s mouth into the esophageal lumen after mobilization of the distal esophagus and the stomach out of the hiatal hernia sac in order to ensure that the ring fits snugly outside the esophagus.

13. The method of implanting a hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 10, further comprising the step of trimming the mesh so that said mesh conforms generally to the shape and size of the patient'"'"'s diaphragm.

14. The method of implanting a hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 13, wherein the step of trimming the mesh is performed during the manufacturing of the prosthesis, and wherein said method further comprises the step of selecting the prosthesis of a proper size from a plurality of prostheses with variously sized mesh.

15. The method of implanting a hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 10, wherein the steps of dissecting the hiatal hernia and placing the patch about the patient'"'"'s esophagus are performed using an open technique.

16. The method of implanting a hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 10, wherein the steps of dissecting the hiatal hernia and placing the patch about the patient'"'"'s esophagus are performed using a laparoscopic technique.

17. The method of implanting a hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a laparoscopic port through the patient'"'"'s abdomen;

(b) folding the patch into an elongated tubular shape;

(c) inserting the folded patch through the laparoscopic port; and

d) unfolding the patch in order to place the patch about the patient'"'"'s distal esophagus.

18. The method of implanting a hiatal hernia repair patch according to claim 10, further comprising the step of verifying proper placement of the patch about the patient'"'"'s distal esophagus by radiographic imaging.