Method for treating morbid obesity

• US 6,802,868 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stein, Alan, Silverman, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US10/386,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20030158601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 623/23.65, 623/23.68, 604/77, 604/270, 604/29, 604/40, 604/593, 600/29, 600/37, 600/593, 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 introducing a solution into the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter and forming from the solution a nonbiodegradable implant in the wall to inhibit emptying of the stomach.

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

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming step includes 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 and wherein the forming step includes forming the implant in the muscle layer of the wall.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the wall has a mucosal layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the solution into the wall beneath the mucosal layer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wall has a submucosal layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the solution into the wall beneath the submucosal layer.

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

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

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the solution includes a biocompatible polymer and a biocompatible solvent.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the solution includes a contrast agent.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the solution of the biocompatible polymer and the biocompatible solvent has a composition comprising from about 2.5 to about 8.0 weight percent of a biocompatible polymer, from about 10 to about 40 weight percent of a water insoluble biocompatible contrast agent and from about 52 to about 87.5 weight percent of a biocompatible solvent.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the solution includes a prepolymer and wherein the forming step includes polymerizing the prepolymer in situ to form a nonbiodegradable solid in the wall.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the introducing step includes extending a needle from the gastrointestinal tract into the wall and supplying the solution through the needle into the wall.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming step includes precipitating the nonbiodegradable implant from the solution.

15. 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 introducing a biocompatible prepolymer into the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter and polymerizing the biocompatible prepolymer in situ to form a nonbiodegradable implant in the wall to inhibit emptying of the stomach.

16. The method claim 15 wherein the polymerizing step includes polymerizing the biocompatible prepolymer in situ to form a plurality of implants in the wall in the vicinity of the pyloric sphincter.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the wall has a muscle layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the biocompatible prepolymer into the muscle layer of the wall.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the wall has a mucosal layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the biocompatible prepolymer into the wall beneath the mucosal layer.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the wall has a submucosal layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the biocompatible prepolymer into the wall beneath the submucosal layer.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising inhibiting the ability of the stomach to expand so as to prolong satiety.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the inhibiting step includes forming a wall across a portion of the stomach to exclude a portion of the stomach from use.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein the biocompatible prepolymer is part of a composition having a biocompatible solvent.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein the biocompatible prepolymer is part of a composition having a contrast agent for facilitating visualization of the implant in the wall.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein the introducing step includes extending a needle from the gastrointestinal tract into the wall and supplying the biocompatible prepolymer through the needle into the wall.

25. 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 steps of introducing a solution into the wall of the stomach and forming from the solution an implant in the wall to provoke longer periods of satiety.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the forming step includes forming a plurality of implants from the solution.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the forming step includes precipitating the implant from the solution.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the solution is a nonaqueous solution.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the solution is a solution of a biocompatible solvent and a biocompatible polymer.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the solution includes a contrast agent for facilitating visualization of the implant in the wall.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the wall has a muscle layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the solution into the muscle layer of the wall.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein the wall has a mucosal layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the solution into the wall beneath the mucosal layer.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the wall has a submucosal layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the solution into the wall beneath the submucosal layer.

34. 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 steps of introducing a biocompatible prepolymer into the wall of the stomach and polymerizing the biocompatible prepolymer in situ to form an implant in the wall so as to provoke longer periods of satiety.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the forming step includes forming a plurality of implants in the wall of the stomach.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the plurality of implants extend across a portion of the stomach.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the plurality of implants extend around the stomach.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the wall has a muscle layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the biocompatible prepolymer into the muscle layer of the wall.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the wall has a mucosal layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the biocompatible prepolymer into the wall beneath the mucosal layer.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein the wall has a submucosal layer and wherein the introducing step includes introducing the biocompatible prepolymer into the wall beneath the submucosal layer.

41. The method of claim 34 wherein the biocompatible prepolymer is part of a composition having a biocompatible solvent.

42. The method of claim 34 wherein the biocompatible prepolymer is part of a composition having a contrast agent for facilitating visualization of the implant in the wall.

43. The method of claim 34 wherein the introducing step includes extending a needle from the gastrointestinal tract into the wall and supplying the biocompatible prepolymer through the needle into the wall.