Bariatric device and method

• US 8,529,431 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BFKW, LLC
• Original Assignee: BFKW, LLC
• Inventors: Baker, Randal S., Foote, James A., Kemmeter, Paul R., Walburn, Frederick J., Wilson, Peter M., Lehman, Adam I., Smith, Barry J., Chappolini, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorna, Carrie R
• Application Number:
  US12/539,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20100030017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 600/37, 128897-898, 604/909, 606/151, 606/153, 623/23.64, 623/23.65, 623/23.67, 623/FOR.108
• US Class Current: 600/37
• 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 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00818 Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/045 Stomach, intestines
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0076 preventing normal digestion, e.g. Bariatric or gastric sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0079 Pyloric or esophageal obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0083 Reducing the size of the stomach, e.g. gastroplasty surgical interventions A61B17/00

Abstract

A bariatric device and method of causing weight loss in a recipient includes providing a bariatric device having an esophageal member, a cardiac member and a connector connected with the esophageal member and the cardiac member. The esophageal member has an esophageal surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the esophagus. The cardiac member has a cardiac surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach. The esophageal surface is positioned at the esophagus. The cardiac surface is positioned at the cardiac portion of the stomach. The bariatric device stimulates receptors in order to influence a neurohormonal mechanism in the recipient.

Claims

1. A bariatric device that is adapted to be deployed in a recipient having an esophagus, a stomach, a gastroesophageal junction of the esophagus and the stomach and a cardiac portion of said stomach, said bariatric device comprising:

an esophageal member having a wall defining an esophageal surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the esophagus;

a cardiac member having a wall defining a cardiac surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach; and

a connector connected with said esophageal member and said cardiac member, wherein at least one chosen from (i) said esophageal member and (ii) said cardiac member is adapted to stimulate receptors in order to influence a neurohormonal mechanism in the recipient sufficient to cause at least partial satiety by augmenting fullness caused by food and simulating fullness in the absence of food;

wherein said connector comprises a first elongated member that is adapted to extend through the gastroesphageal junction and a second elongated member that is adapted to bypass the gastroesphageal junction through the esophageal and gastric walls wherein said second elongated member comprises a tether configured to penetrate through the wall of the esophageal member, through the wall of the esophagus, through the wall of the stomach at the cardiac region and through the wall of the cardiac member.

2. The bariatric device as claimed in claim 1 including a coating over said first elongated member.

3. The bariatric device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first elongated member is made substantially of Nitinol.

4. The bariatric device as claimed in claim 3 including a coating over said first elongated member.

5. The bariatric device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first elongated member is connected with said esophageal member and said cardiac member external the recipient and said second elongated member is adapted to be connected with said esophageal member and said cardiac member in situ.

6. The bariatric device as claimed in claim 5 including a plurality of said second elongated members that are spaced apart from each other.

7. The bariatric device as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of said tethers that are spaced apart from each other.

8. The bariatric device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tether comprises an elongated filament.

9. The bariatric device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tether comprises at least one chosen from (i) ePTFE, (ii) an elastic material, and (iii) substantially non-coated silk.

10. A method of causing at least partial satiety in a recipient having an esophagus, a stomach, a gastroesophageal junction of the esophagus and the stomach and a cardiac portion of said stomach, said method comprising:

positioning a bariatric device in the recipient, said bariatric device comprising an esophageal member having an esophageal surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the esophagus, a cardiac member having a cardiac surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach, and a connector connected with said esophageal member and said cardiac member, wherein said connector comprises a first elongated member and a second elongated member;

said positioning including extending said first elongated member through the gastroesphageal junction and said second elongated member outside of the gastroesphageal junction through the esophageal and gastric walls; and

stimulating receptors with at least one chosen from said esophageal surface and said cardiac surface in order to influence a neurohormonal mechanism in the recipient sufficient to cause at least partial satiety by augmenting fullness caused by food and simulating fullness in the absence of food; and

wherein said second elongated member comprises a tether penetrating through the wall of the esophageal member, through the wall of the esophagus, through the wall of the stomach at the cardiac region and through the wall of the cardiac member.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first elongated member is made substantially of Nitinol.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 including a coating over said first elongated member.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10 including a coating over said first elongated member.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10 including connecting said second elongated member with said esophageal member and said cardiac member in situ.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 including extending a plurality of said second elongated members that are spaced apart from each other.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10 including extending a plurality of said tethers that are spaced apart.

17. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said tether comprises an elongated filament.

18. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said tether comprises at least one chosen from (i) ePTFE, (ii) an elastic material, and (iii) substantially non-coated silk.