Systems and methods for removing ingested material from a stomach

• US 8,414,561 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspire Bariatrics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aspire Bariatrics, LLC
• Inventors: Kamen, Dean, Grant, Kevin L., Soederberg, Eric M., Altobelli, David E., Flynn, David M., Solovay, Kenneth S., Klein, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): SU, SUSAN SHAN
• Application Number:
  US11/675,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,245 Days
• Field of Search: 604/35, 604/36, 604/27, 604/37, 604/264, 604/540, 623/23.64, 623/23.68
• US Class Current: 604/540
• 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 orally ingested food 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) siphoning a portion of the orally ingested food out of the patient'"'"'s stomach via the gastrostomy tube without the use of a mechanical pump;

(b) infusing liquid through the patient'"'"'s abdominal wall into the patient'"'"'s stomach via the gastrostomy tube; and

(c) siphoning at least some of the liquid that was infused through the patient'"'"'s abdominal wall out of the patient'"'"'s stomach via the gastrostomy tube, together with a further portion of the orally ingested food, without the use of a mechanical pump.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (b) and (c) are performed a plurality of times.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the siphoning comprises passive draining.

4. A method of removing orally ingested material from the stomach of an upright patient fitted with an external gastrostomy connection to the stomach, the method comprising:

pumping a fluid through the upright patient'"'"'s abdominal wall into the stomach via the connection to increase fluid in the stomach without oral ingestion of fluid; and

draining through the external gastrostomy connection at least some of the fluid that was pumped through the upright patient'"'"'s abdominal wall into the stomach together with orally ingested material from the stomach, without the use of a mechanical pump.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid includes water.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid includes at least one of (a) a nutrient and (b) a medication.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid includes returned gastric juices.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the pumping step is implemented by a hand-operated pump.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of repeating the pumping and draining steps.