Gastric constriction device

• US 7,758,493 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proxy Biomedical Limited
• Original Assignee: Proxy Biomedical Limited
• Inventors: Gingras, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II; Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hopkins; Christine D
• Application Number:
  US10/972,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 32, 600/37, 606/139, 606/151, 606/153, 606/154
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0003 Apparatus for the treatment of obesity; Anti-eating devices surgical instruments or methods for treatment of obesity, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/00; hollow or tubular parts of organs A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0026 Anti-eating devices using electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0063 wrapping the stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0086 using clamps, folding means or the like

Abstract

A gastric constriction device (160) comprises a sheet (131) extending over part of the wall of the stomach (24). Five bands (151) extend around the stomach (24) to fix the sheet (131) in position relative to the stomach (24). The lower two bands (151) extend from the first side (152) of the sheet (131) around the stomach (24) only partially towards the second side (153). These lower two bands (151) are not fixed to the second side (153). This arrangement results in an unconstricted portion of the stomach (161). In this manner, the device (160) restricts expansion of the majority of the stomach wall while facilitating expansion of this unconstricted portion (161). The unconstricted portion (161) is therefore free to expand or bulge outwardly upon ingestion. This expansion may trigger the feeling of satiation due to the presence of the vagal nerves in this portion (161) of the stomach (24).

Claims

1. A method of constricting the volume of a stomach, the method comprising the steps of:

sealing an entry to the stomach at the oesophagus, wherein the sealing is effected by inflating a sealing member;

applying a suction to the interior of the stomach to at least partially collapse the stomach from a normal volume to a reduced volume;

positioning a gastric constriction device relative to the stomach; and

releasing the suction;

wherein the gastric constriction device then applies a constricting force to the stomach to constrict the volume of the stomach.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises a step of inserting a collapsing device at least partially into the interior of the stomach before sealing an entry to the stomach at the oesophagus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises a step of sealing an exit from the stomach at the pylorus before applying suction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending at least partially around the stomach.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending at least partially around the stomach in a loop.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending at least partially around the stomach in a spiral.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending over at least part of the wall of the stomach.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending over only part of the wall of the stomach.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gastric constriction device is positioned extending over substantially the entire wall of the stomach to enclose the stomach.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a first part of the gastric constriction device is positioned extending at least partially around the stomach, and a second part of the gastric constriction device is positioned extending over at least part of the wall of the stomach.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first part is positioned between the second part and the wall of the stomach.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the step of fixing the gastric constriction device in position relative to the stomach.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises the step of adjusting the constricting force applied to the stomach.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the gastric constriction device restricts expansion of a first region of the stomach wall and facilitates expansion of a second region of the stomach wall.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the method comprises the step of stimulating gastric nerves.