Devices and methods to treat a patient

• US 7,255,675 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Gertner, Neil J. Sheehan, Robert Brommer
• Original Assignee: Michael Gertner, Neil J. Sheehan, Robert Brommer
• Inventors: Gertner, Michael, Brommer, Robert, Sheehan, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert; Samuel G.
• Application Number:
  US10/974,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 31, 600/37, 128/DIG.25, 128/898, 607/40
• 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 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0076 preventing normal digestion, e.g. Bariatric or gastric sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0086 : using clamps, folding means or the like

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for implantation into the walls of an organ such as the stomach. Deformable or inflatable anchors with a connector between are used to pull the walls of the organ together, or to implant devices in the wall of the organ. Also disclosed are surgical instruments useful in practicing the disclosed methods.

Claims

1. A method of fastening a device to one wall of a gastrointestinal organ comprising:

passing said device through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin, wherein the device is in an undeployed configuration;

passing an anchor through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin wherein said anchor is in an undeployed configuration;

deploying said device;

connecting said device and said anchor by means of a connector such that said anchor and device are fastened to a wall of said gastrointestinal organ by means of said connector, wherein said connector prevents said device and said anchor from moving apart;

deploying said anchor to its deployed configuration;

wherein said device induces satiety in said patient and is selected from the group consisting of a neurostimulator, a neuromodulator, a direct muscle stimulator, a gastric muscle stimulator, and an inflatable balloon; and

wherein said anchor is a mesh.

2. A method of fastening a device to one wall of a gastrointestinal organ comprising:

passing said device through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin, wherein the device is in an undeployed configuration;

passing an anchor through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin wherein said anchor is in an undeployed configuration;

deploying said device;

connecting said device and said anchor by means of a connector such that said anchor and device are fastened to a wall of said gastrointestinal organ by means of said connector, wherein said connector prevents said device and said anchor from moving apart;

deploying said anchor to its deployed configuration;

wherein said device induces satiety in said patient and is selected from the group consisting of a neurostimulator, a neuromodulator, a direct muscle stimulator, a gastric muscle stimulator, and an inflatable balloon;

wherein said gastrointestinal organ is the stomach, and said anchor and said device are located outside the stomach; and

wherein said connector is a suture.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said connector is a suture and said anchor is a mesh.

4. A method of fastening a device to one wall of a gastrointestinal organ comprising:

passing said device through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin, wherein the device is in an undeployed configuration;

passing an anchor through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin wherein said anchor is in an undeployed configuration;

deploying said device;

connecting said device and said anchor by means of a connector such that said anchor and device are fastened to a wall of said gastrointestinal organ by means of said connector, wherein said connector prevents said device and said anchor from moving apart;

deploying said anchor to its deployed configuration;

wherein said device induces satiety in said patient and is selected from the group consisting of a neurostimulator, a neuromodulator, a direct muscle stimulator, a gastric muscle stimulator, and an inflatable balloon;

wherein said gastrointestinal organ is the stomach, and said anchor and said device are located outside the stomach; and

wherein said anchor is a mesh.

5. A method of fastening a device to one wall of a gastrointestinal organ comprising:

passing said device though a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin, wherein the device is in an undeployed configuration;

passing an anchor through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin wherein said anchor is in an undeployed configuration;

deploying said device and said anchor to their deployed configuration;

connecting said device and said anchor by means of a connector such that said anchor and device are fastened to a wall of said gastrointestinal organ by means of said connector, wherein said connector prevents said device and anchor from moving apart;

wherein said gastrointestinal organ is the stomach, and said anchor is located inside the stomach, said device is located outside the stomach; and

wherein said device is an inflatable balloon, said connector is a suture and said anchor is a mesh.

6. A method of fastening a device to one wall of a gastrointestinal organ comprising:

passing said device through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin, wherein the device is in an undeployed configuration;

passing an anchor through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin wherein said anchor is in an undeployed configuration;

deploying said device;

connecting said device and said anchor by means of a connector such that said anchor and device are fastened to a wall of said gastrointestinal organ by means of said connector, wherein said connector prevents said device and said anchor from moving apart;

deploying said anchor to its deployed configuration;

wherein said device induces satiety in said patient and said device is an inflatable balloon; and

wherein said anchor is a mesh.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said anchor is a mesh and said connector is a suture.

8. A method of fastening a device to one wall of a gastrointestinal organ comprising:

passing said device through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin, wherein the device is in an undeployed configuration;

passing an anchor through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin wherein said anchor is in an undeployed configuration;

deploying said device;

connecting said device and said anchor by means of a connector such that said anchor and said device are fastened to a wall of said gastrointestinal organ by means of said connector, wherein said connector prevents said device and said anchor from moving apart;

deploying said anchor to its deployed configuration;

wherein said device induces satiety in said patient and said device is an inflatable balloon; and

wherein said gastrointestinal organ is the stomach, and said anchor is located outside the stomach.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said device is located outside the stomach.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said device is located proximate to the pylorus region of the stomach.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said device is located proximate to the GE junction of the stomach.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said device is located proximate to the body of the stomach.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said connector is a suture and said anchor is a mesh.

14. A method of fastening a device to one wall of a gastrointestinal organ comprising:

passing said device through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin, wherein the device is in an undeployed configuration;

passing an anchor through a patient'"'"'s abdominal skin wherein said anchor is in an undeployed configuration;

deploying said device;

connecting said device and said anchor by means of a connector such that said anchor and device are fastened to a wall of said gastrointestinal organ by means of said connector, wherein said connector prevents said device and said anchor from moving apart;

deploying said anchor to its deployed configuration;

wherein said device induces satiety in said patient and is selected from the group consisting of a neurostimulator, a neuromodulator, a direct muscle stimulator, or a gastric muscle stimulator, said gastrointestinal organ is the stomach, and said device is located outside the stomach; and

wherein said connector is a suture and said anchor is a mesh.