Obesity treatment tools and methods

• US 7,510,559 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• 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 THAO
• Application Number:
  US10/729,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 606/153, 606/219, 606/151, 606/157, 606/139, 606/142, 606/144, 606/148, 606/232, 227/902, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/151
• 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 atraumatic 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 reducing the volume of a stomach cavity, comprising:

positioning a device trans-orally to a position within the stomach cavity;

acquiring tissue from the interior of the stomach cavity with the device; and

forming a pouch by securing the acquired tissue within the stomach cavity, the stomach cavity having a main volume, and the pouch having a pouch volume separate from and in communication with the main volume, wherein the pouch volume is substantially less than the main volume, and wherein the pouch accepts food from the esophagus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the pouch with the pouch volume being less than about 1 ounce (less than about 30 cc).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the pouch by placing a longitudinal partition within the stomach cavity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein placing the longitudinal partition with a plurality of fasteners.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of fasteners include biocompatible mechanical fasteners selected from the group consisting of staples, tags, clips, sutures, screws, and adhesives.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the pouch having a proximal end and a distal end, and having a taper such that the distal end is larger than the proximal end.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the pouch having a proximal end and a distal end, and having a taper such that the proximal end is larger than the distal end.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the pouch coaxially within the stomach cavity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the pouch from an internally approximated portion of an interior surface of the stomach cavity and at least a portion of an exterior surface of the stomach cavity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the pouch from an internally approximated portion of an interior surface of the stomach cavity including at least two layers of gastric tissue.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising inserting an endoscope into the stomach cavity for guidance when forming the pouch.

12. A method for reducing the volume of a stomach cavity, comprising:

positioning a device trans-orally to a position within the stomach cavity;

acquiring tissue from at least two areas of the interior of the stomach cavity using the device, the stomach cavity defining a main volume; and

fastening the at least two areas of the interior of the stomach cavity together using the device to form a pouch having a proximal end and a distal end within the stomach cavity, the pouch having a pouch volume separate from and in communication with the main volume;

wherein the pouch volume is substantially less than the main volume; and

wherein the pouch is in communication with the esophagus.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the pouch volume being less than about 1 ounce (less than about 30 cc).

14. The method of claim 12, wherein fastening the at least two areas of the interior of the stomach cavity together with a plurality of fasteners.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of fasteners include biocompatible mechanical fasteners selected from the group consisting of staples, tags, clips, sutures, screws, and adhesives.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein fastening the at least two areas of the interior of the stomach cavity together including at least a portion of an exterior surface of the stomach cavity.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein fastening the at least two areas of the interior of the stomach cavity together including at least two layers of gastric tissue.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising inserting an endoscope into the stomach cavity for guidance when fastening the at least two areas of the interior of the stomach cavity together.

19. A method for reducing the volume of a stomach cavity, comprising:

positioning a device trans-orally to a position within the stomach cavity;

acquiring tissue from the interior of the stomach cavity with the device; and

forming a pouch by securing the acquired tissue within the stomach cavity, the stomach cavity having a main volume and the pouch having a pouch volume separate from and in communication with the main volume, wherein the pouch volume is less than about 1 ounce (less than about 30 cc).

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising inserting an endoscope into the stomach cavity.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the pouch accepts food from the esophagus.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein forming the pouch from two layers of gastric tissue.