Self-deflating intragastric balloon

• US 6,733,512 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jim J. Mcghan
• Original Assignee: Jim J. Mcghan
• Inventors: McGhan, Jim J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US10/094,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20030171768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 606/192-198, 606/191, 606/199, 606/151, 606/157, 604/96.01, 604/97.01, 604/99.01, 604/99.02, 604/99.03
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0036 Intragastrical devices

Abstract

An intragastric balloon device adapted to be inserted into the stomach for treating obesity in humans by reducing the stomach volume. The intragastric balloon device includes a flexible, inflatable balloon having an interior chamber defining a volume. A portion of the balloon has a self-sealing valve thereon to facilitate the introduction of an insufflation catheter into the interior chamber and to facilitate sealing of the catheter track upon removal of the insufflation catheter. The volume of the interior chamber, and the volume occupied by the balloon within the stomach of a patient, is adjusted by injecting an inflation fluid into the balloon'"'"'s interior chamber. The balloon further includes a deflation valve in a portion thereof. The deflation valve is a patch that has a bioabsorbable or biodegradable portion. The patch forms a portion of the wall of the balloon and is in leakproof engagement therewith. After the balloon has resided within the stomach for a predetermined period of time, the deflation valve becomes leaky due to disintegration of the bioabsorbable or biodegradable material and the balloon deflates within the stomach, thereafter to be passed through the patient'"'"'s digestive tract and excreted. The residence time of the balloon within the stomach depends upon the choice of biodegradable material incorporated into the patch and the construction of the deflation valve.

Claims

1. An implantable device comprising an inflatable elastomeric shell enclosing an interior chamber, said shell having a deflation hole therein, and a deflation valve affixed to said shell to occlude said deflation hole, the deflation valve comprising a biodegradable plug.

2. The implantable device of claim 1 wherein said device is an intragastric balloon.

3. The implantable device of claim 1 further comprising an insufflation valve affixed to said shell, said insufflation valve being operable for providing a leakproof seal between an insufflation catheter and said interior chamber.

4. The implantable device of claim 2 further comprising an insufflation valve affixed to said shell, said insufflation valve being operable for providing a leakproof seal between an insufflation catheter and said interior chamber.