Stomach reduction methods and apparatus

• US 7,497,822 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Torax Medical, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Torax Medical, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Grudem, Jerome Kent Jr., Kugler, Chad John
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk; John P
• Application Number:
  US10/802,992
• Time in Patent Office: 1,813 Days
• Field of Search: 600/37, 606151-157, 606/219, 606/139, 606/142, 128897-898, 227/175.1
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00278 Transorgan operations, e.g. transgastric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/044 Oesophagi or esophagi or gullets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30079 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0083 Reducing the size of the stomach, e.g. gastroplasty surgical interventions A61B17/00

Abstract

The effective volume of a patient'"'"'s stomach cavity can be reduced by implanting at least two magnetic devices in the stomach at different locations on the stomach wall. The magnets cooperate with one another magnetically to change the effective volume of the stomach. For example, the magnets may magnetically attract one another to pull in portions of opposite side walls of the stomach. The magnetic devices may be implanted non-surgically (e.g., via one or more catheters introduced into the stomach cavity via the patient'"'"'s mouth and esophagus). The magnets may be removable to reverse the treatment. Removal may be non-surgical.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the effective volume of a patient'"'"'s stomach cavity comprising:

implanting a first magnetic device on an inner surface of the stomach cavity at a first location; and

implanting a second magnetic device on an inner surface of the stomach cavity at a second location, the first and second locations being selected to be across the stomach cavity from one another but to be movable toward one another across the stomach cavity to allow the first and second magnetic devices to contact one another as a result of magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic devices.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein the implanting steps are performed from inside the stomach cavity.

3. The method defined in claim 2 wherein the implanting steps are performed trans-orally.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the implanting steps is reversible by removing at least one of the magnetic devices.

5. The method defined in claim 4 wherein the removing is performed from inside the stomach cavity.

6. The method defined in claim 5 wherein the removing is performed trans-orally.

7. Apparatus for reducing the effective volume of a patient'"'"'s stomach cavity comprising:

first and second magnetic implants at respective first and second stomach wall locations that are across the stomach cavity from one another but that are movable toward one another across the stomach cavity to allow the first and second magnetic implants to contact one another as a result of magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic implants, resulting in an application of force to the stomach wall locations.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the force is directed toward the interior of the stomach cavity.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the force tends to produce deflection of at least one of the stomach wall locations.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein the deflection is inwardly of the stomach cavity.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein each of the magnetic implants is configured for implanting from inside the stomach cavity.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein each of the magnetic implants is configured for implanting via catheter-like instrumentation inserted into the stomach cavity.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein the catheter-like instrumentation is trans-oral.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein at least one of the magnetic implants is configured for removal via catheter-like instrumentation inserted into the stomach cavity.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein the catheter-like instrumentation is trans-oral.