Systems and methods for removing ingested material from a stomach

• US 7,648,479 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aspire Bariatrics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Kamen, Dean, Flynn, David, Grant, Kevin L., Altobelli, David E., Klein, Samuel, Solovay, Kenneth S., Soederberg, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON, LARRY ROSS
• Application Number:
  US11/675,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/28, 604/35, 604/43, 604/128, 604/910, 604/405, 604/508, 604/410, 623/23.65, 210/195.2, 210/258, 210/321.6, 210/335, 210/460, 210/645, 210/650, 210/651, 210/767
• US Class Current: 604/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0076 preventing normal digestion, e.g. Bariatric or gastric sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0089 Instruments for placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0015 Gastrostomy feeding-tubes insertion tools or methods A61B17/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/71 Suction drainage systems containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/772 operating alternately
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0255 for access to the gastric or digestive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1053 Stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0229 Devices operating in a closed circuit, i.e. recycling the irrigating fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0247 Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/223 Multiway valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/26 Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps

Abstract

When a patient is fitted with an external gastrostomy connection to the stomach, ingested food can be removed through the gastrostomy connection using a pump-based or siphon-based system to achieve weight loss. The process of removing ingested food can be improved by alternating the infusion of liquid into the stomach with the removal of material from the stomach. Optionally, stomach acid may be captured and returned to the stomach. Optionally, nutritional supplements or medicines may be added to the infused liquid. Optionally, a flush mount connectorized system with a built in valve may be used to simplify the interface with the gastrostomy hardware that remains installed in the patient. Optionally, the system may be configured to disable itself from further use after a triggering event (e.g., the passage of time or a predetermined number of uses) has occurred.

Claims

1. A method of removing ingested food and liquid matter from a patient'"'"'s stomach via a gastrostomy tube that passes through the patient'"'"'s abdominal wall into the patient'"'"'s stomach, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) extracting a portion of the ingested food and liquid matter contained in the patient'"'"'s stomach via the gastrostomy tube, wherein the extracted food and liquid matter contains at least some liquid;

(b) removing stomach acid from the liquid; and

(c) returning the stomach acid removed in the removing step to the patient'"'"'s stomach via the gastrostomy tube.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing step comprises the steps of:

(i) filtering out solid portions from the ingested food and liquid matter extracted in the extracting step; and

(ii) filtering a liquid resulting from step (i) using a semi-permeable membrane or an anionic exchange membrane.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracting step is implemented by siphoning.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the extracting step is implemented by pumping.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of infusing liquid into the patient'"'"'s stomach via the gastrostomy tube.

6. An apparatus for removing ingested food and liquid matter from a patient'"'"'s stomach via a gastrostomy tube that passes through the patient'"'"'s abdominal wall into the patient'"'"'s stomach, the apparatus comprising:

a connector configured to connect to a proximal end of the gastrostomy tube with a fluid-tight connection;

a filter configured to separate stomach acid from the ingested food and liquid matter;

a first path from the connector to the filter, configured to route ingested food and liquid matter extracted from the patient'"'"'s stomach into the filter;

a pump configured to pump stomach acid that has been separated by the filter back into the patient'"'"'s stomach; and

a second path configured to route the filtered-out food and liquid matter to a waste outlet.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the filter comprises:

a pre-filter that permits liquids to pass therethrough but blocks particles that are larger than a predetermined size; and

a membrane-based filter that permits hydrochloric acid to pass therethrough and at least partially blocks other liquids.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ingested food and liquid matter extracted from the patient'"'"'s stomach is routed into the filter by a pump.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ingested food and liquid matter extracted from the patient'"'"'s stomach is routed into the filter by siphoning.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a reservoir configured to hold liquid; and

a pump configured to pump the liquid from the reservoir into the patient'"'"'s stomach via the connector.