Obesity treatment tools and methods

• US 7,503,922 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Satiety, Inc.
• Inventors: French, Ronald G., Sutton, Douglas S., Gifford, Hanson S. III, Andreas, Bernard H., Deem, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong; Kevin T
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VI X
• Application Number:
  US10/402,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,182 Days
• Field of Search: 606/140, 606/141, 606/144, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/153
• 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 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• 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

Various obesity treatment tools and methods are described herein, as well as treatments for other gastric-related diseases, e.g., GERD. Treatment includes reducing the size of the stomach pouch to limit the caloric intake as well as to provide an earlier feeling of satiety. This may be done by creating a smaller gastric pouch within the stomach directly from the interior of the stomach itself. The smaller pouches may be made through the use of individual anchoring devices, rotating probes, or volume reduction devices. A pyloroplasty procedure may also be performed to render the pyloric sphincter incompetent. A gastric bypass procedure may additionally be performed using a traumatic magnetic anastomoses devices so that sugars and fats are passed directly to the bowel while bypassing the stomach. Many of these procedures may be done in a variety of combinations. Treatment may create enforced behavioral modifications by discouraging the ingestion of high-caloric foods.

Claims

1. A method for organ volume reduction, comprising:

positioning a device within an interior of an organ adjacent to at least one portion of tissue having at least two tissue layers to be drawn up;

adhering the portion of tissue with the device from within the interior such that at least two tissue layers are drawn up;

approximating the portion of tissue from a first position to a second approximated position from within the interior;

fastening the portion of tissue from the first position to the second approximated position from within the interior, wherein the fastened portion of tissue includes the at least two tissue layers;

fastening the portion of tissue from within the interior with a pressure sufficient to cause the portion of tissue to self-maintain a fastened configuration; and

wherein fastening the portion of tissue includes ligating the portion of tissue by urging an elastic ring over the portion of tissue including the at least two tissue layers while adhering the portion of tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adhering the portion of tissue with the device includes drawing a vacuum to approximate the portion of tissue from the first position to the second approximated position from within the interior.

3. A system for organ volume reduction, comprising:

a grasping device having a flexible shaft and manipulatable grasping members at a distal end of the flexible shaft, the grasping device adapted for insertion into an organ having at least two tissue layers defining an interior, and the grasping members adapted to draw up a portion of the at least two tissue layers of the interior of the organ; and

a fastening device adapted to fasten the portion of interior with at least one discrete fastener such that the portion of interior is sustained at a pressure sufficient to cause the at least two tissue layers to self-maintain a fastened configuration.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the grasping device is an endoscope.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the grasping members are adapted to cinch the portion of the at least two tissue layers of the interior of the organ.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the discrete fastener is a ring member.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein discrete fastener is a ring stapler.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the discrete fastener is a zip tie.

9. A system for organ volume reduction, comprising:

a grasping device having a flexible shaft and forceps at a distal end of the flexible shaft, the grasping device adapted for insertion into an organ having at least two tissue layers defining an interior, and the forceps adapted to draw up and remove a portion of the at least two tissue layers of the interior of the organ; and

a fastening device adapted to fasten the portion of interior with at least one discrete fastener such that the portion of interior is sustained at a pressure sufficient to cause the at least two tissue layers to self-maintain a fastened configuration.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the grasping device is an endoscope.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the discrete fastener is a ring member.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the discrete fastener is a ring stapler.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the discrete fastener is a zip tie.