Method for treating morbid obesity

• US 6,540,789 B1
• Filed: 11/10/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stein, Alan, Silverman, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US09/709,236
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 623/23.65, 623/23.68, 604/77, 604/270, 600/29, 600/593, 600/37, 601/153, 607/40
• US Class Current: 623/23.65
• 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 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• 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: A61B 17/12099 characterised by the location of the occluder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12186 liquid materials adapted to be injected
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0036 implantable A61F2/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/044 Oesophagi or esophagi or gullets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0069 in the wall of the stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0079 Pyloric or esophageal obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0083 Reducing the size of the stomach, e.g. gastroplasty surgical interventions A61B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0086 using clamps, folding means or the like

Abstract

A method for treating morbid obesity in a body of a mammal having a gastrointestinal tract extending through a stomach and a pyloric sphincter and a wall forming the stomach and pyloric sphincter. At least one implant is formed in the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter to inhibit emptying of the stomach.

Claims

1. A method for treating morbid obesity in a body of a mammal having a gastrointestinal tract extending through a stomach and a pyloric sphincter formed by a wall comprising the step of forming at least one implant in the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter to inhibit emptying of the stomach.

2. The method claim 1 wherein the forming step includes the step of forming a plurality of implants in the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the forming step includes the step of forming a plurality of circumferentially-disposed implants in the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wall has a muscle layer, the at least one implant being formed in the muscle layer of the wall.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the implant is arcuate shaped.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of inhibiting the ability of the stomach to expand so as to prolong satiety.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the inhibiting step includes the step of forming a wall across a portion of the stomach to exclude a portion of the stomach from use.

8. A method for treating morbid obesity in a body of a mammal having a gastrointestinal tract extending through a stomach formed by a wall comprising the step of introducing a solution into the wall of the stomach to form at least one implant in the wall so as to provoke longer periods of satiety.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the introducing step includes the step of forming a plurality of implants in the wall of the stomach.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of implants extend across a portion of the stomach.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of implants extend around the stomach.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the wall has a muscle layer, the at least one implant being formed in the muscle layer of the wall.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the introducing step includes the step of forming at least one implant in the wall of the stomach to decrease the contractility of the wall.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the introducing step includes the step of forming at least one implant in the wall of the stomach to modify the sensory motor nervous feedback and control in the wall.

15. A method for treating morbid obesity in a body of a mammal having a gastrointestinal tract extending through a lower esophageal sphincter and a stomach formed by a wall comprising the step of forming an antireflux barrier in the stomach that is secondary to the lower esophageal sphincter for inhibiting reflux from the stomach.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the forming step includes the step of making a secondary sphincter in the stomach.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the forming step includes the step of creating first and second spaced-apart artificial walls extending through the stomach from the lower esophageal sphincter to at least the secondary sphincter.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the creating step includes the step of creating the first artificial wall across a portion of the stomach to exclude a portion of the stomach from use.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the making step includes the step of forming at least one implant in the wall between the first and second artificial walls.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the making step includes the step of forming a plurality of circumferentially-disposed implants in the wall between the first and second artificial walls.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the wall has a muscle layer, the at least one implant being formed in the muscle layer of the wall.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of forming at least one implant in the wall in the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter to enhance the lower esophageal sphincter.

23. A method for treating morbid obesity in a body of a mammal having a gastrointestinal tract extending through a lower esophageal sphincter and a stomach formed by a wall, the stomach having a volume, comprising the steps of partitioning the stomach to reduce the volume of the stomach and forming at least one implant in the wall in the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter to enhance the lower esophageal sphincter.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the gastrointestinal tract extends through a pyloric sphincter formed by the wall further comprising the step of forming at least one implant in the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter to inhibit emptying of the stomach.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of forming at least on implant in the wall of the stomach to decrease the contractility of the wall and thus provoke longer periods of satiety.

26. A method for treating morbid obesity in a body of a mammal having a gastrointestinal tract extending through a stomach formed by a wall comprising the step of forming a plurality of implants in the wall of the stomach to provoke longer periods of satiety.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the plurality of implants extend across a portion of the stomach.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the plurality of implants extend around the stomach.