Artificial stomach

• US 8,696,761 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2009
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kirk Promotion Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kirk Promotion Ltd.
• Inventors: Forsell, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US13/122,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20110196506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 623 2364- 237
• US Class Current: 623/23.65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• 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 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0013 Implantable devices or invasive measures

Abstract

An artificial stomach for replacing the normal stomach of a patient comprises a food reservoir adapted to collect food, an inlet connected to a first opening of the food reservoir and further being adapted to upstream connect to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, and an outlet connected to a second opening of the food reservoir and further being adapted to downstream connect to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract.

Claims

1. An artificial stomach for replacing the normal stomach of a patient, comprising:

a food reservoir adapted to collect food,

an inlet connected to a first opening of the food reservoir and further being adapted to upstream connect to at least one of the patient'"'"'s esophagus and intestine, and

an outlet connected to a second opening of the food reservoir and further being adapted to downstream connect to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract,

wherein the artificial stomach comprises an inlet valve connected between at least one of the patient'"'"'s esophagus and intestine and the first opening of the food reservoir, and

wherein the artificial stomach is implantable in the patient'"'"'s abdomen.

2. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein the inlet is further adapted to upstream connect to the oesophagus.

3. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein the inlet is further adapted to upstream connect to the intestine.

4. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein the inlet valve is connected between the inlet and the first opening of the food reservoir.

5. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein the inlet valve is adapted to open correlated to when food in the gastrointestinal tract upstream is transported down.

6. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein the inlet valve is adapted to open correlated to when a contracting wave is propagating along the gastrointestinal tract upstream.

7. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein the inlet valve is adapted to open correlated to when food is reaching the inlet valve.

8. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein the artificial stomach comprises an inlet valve unit comprising an inlet valve connected between the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract and the first opening of the food reservoir.

9. The artificial stomach according to claim 8, wherein the inlet valve is adapted to open correlated to when food in the gastrointestinal tract upstream is transported down.

10. The artificial stomach according to claim 8, wherein the inlet valve is adapted to open correlated to when a contracting wave is propagating along the gastrointestinal tract upstream.

11. The artificial stomach according to claim 8, wherein the inlet valve is adapted to open correlated to when food is reaching the inlet valve.

12. The artificial stomach according to claim 8, the inlet valve unit comprising at least one connector adapted to upstream connect the inlet to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract.

13. The artificial stomach according to claim 12, wherein the connector comprises a sleeve adapted to cover a part of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract.

14. The artificial stomach according to claim 13, wherein the sleeve has a structure adapted to promote in-growth of human tissue into the sleeve.

15. The artificial stomach according to claim 8, the inlet valve unit further comprising a burp output.

16. The artificial stomach according to claim 15, wherein the burp output further comprises a burp valve connecting the food reservoir with the inlet valve proximal to said burp valve.

17. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein an outer wall encloses both the food reservoir and a servo reservoir for regulating the size of the food reservoir, the food reservoir and the servo reservoir being separated by a flexible inner wall, where further both the food reservoir wall and the wall of the servo reservoir comprise parts of the outer wall and the flexible inner wall.

18. The artificial stomach according to claim 17, wherein the servo reservoir is a bellow.

19. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein the emptying of the food reservoir is directly or indirectly regulated by a gear construction.

20. The artificial stomach according to claim 19, wherein the gear construction is driven by a motor, and wherein the artificial stomach comprises a servo system connected to said motor, to save force against longer stroke.

21. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein the food reservoir is adapted to empty step by step, small portions of food at a time, wherein the artificial stomach further comprises a servo reservoir adapted to have a variable size and to be filled with different amounts of fluid, wherein the servo reservoir is adapted to have a shape allowing variation in size without limitation from surrounded fibrosis, covering the implant when implanted.

22. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, comprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulically connected to a servo reservoir and a pump for fluid connecting the hydraulic fluid supply reservoir to the servo reservoir, wherein said pump for fluid connecting the hydraulic fluid reservoir to the servo reservoir is adapted to reversibly move fluid between the servo reservoir and the hydraulic fluid reservoir,

wherein said food reservoir is adapted to increase in volume when filled with food when the patient is eating, thereby causing a reduction in the volume of the servo reservoir, in turn moving fluid from said servo reservoir to said hydraulic fluid reservoir.

23. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein a stomach food part comprises the food reservoir and the servo reservoir, and

wherein the hydraulic fluid reservoir is separated from the stomach food part by a rigid outer wall and is further enclosed by a fluid reservoir wall.

24. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein the inlet is adapted to upstream connect to at least one of;

the oesophagus, and the intestine, and

wherein the outlet is adapted to downstream connect to the intestine,

wherein the inlet valve is adapted to at least one of;

open correlated to when food in the gastrointestinal tract upstream is transported down,

open correlated to when a contracting wave is propagating along the gastrointestinal tract upstream, and

open correlated to when food is reaching the inlet valve.

25. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, comprising an outlet valve connected between the second opening of the food reservoir and the outlet,

wherein the outlet valve is adapted to at least one of:

open when the food reservoir should be emptied,

open at a regulated rate, and

functioning passively and open related to a volume decrease in the food reservoir, and wherein

the food reservoir is adapted to empty step by step, small portions at a time.

26. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, comprising at least one connector adapted to upstream connect the inlet to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, and/or downstream connect the outlet to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, wherein the connector comprises at least one of:

a sleeve adapted to cover a part of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, wherein the sleeve has a structure adapted to promote in-growth of human tissue into the sleeve,

a conduit fixedly attached at a first, proximal end on the outside the artificial stomach and in fluid connection to the food passageway, where the proximal part of the conduit is formed like a tube, and distal to the tube a bulge is formed,

a blocking ring arranged to be pushed against the bulge, the ring having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said bulge but large enough to allow the intestinal/oesophageal wall to be placed between said ring and said tube, thereby adapted to stop said intestinal/oesophageal wall from slipping away from the tube, and wherein;

the flexible sleeve arranged to be rolled upon itself and then unrolled to cover part of the tube and the oesophagus or intestine, which is arranged to be pulled over the second end of the conduit sufficiently far so as to extend also over the bulge, and

the blocking ring is arranged to be pushed over the flexible sleeve against the bulge, the ring having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said bulge but large enough to allow the intestinal/oesophageal wall to be placed between said ring and said tube, thereby adapted to stop said intestinal/oesophageal wall from slipping away from the tube.

27. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of;

a food handling system, wherein the food handling is adapted to at least one of;

mechanically handling food in the food reservoir,

moving the food around in the food reservoir,

cut the food in the food reservoir

cut the food in the food reservoir comprising electrically driven rotating knifes

squeeze the food in the food reservoir,

chemically handling food in the food reservoir,

release at least one liquid in the food reservoir, the liquid being adapted to treat the food in the food reservoir, and

a cleaning system adapted to clean the surface of the food reservoir by releasing at least one liquid into the food reservoir.

28. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, further comprising a special container, wherein the special container is adapted to accumulate and distribute at least one of;

at least one liquid to the food handling system, and

at least one liquid to the cleaning system.

29. The artificial stomach according to claim 28, wherein the at least one liquid to the food handling system comprises at least one of;

an acid,

an enzyme, and

an anti-bacterial substance.

30. The artificial stomach according to claim 28, wherein the at least one liquid to the cleaning system comprises at least one of;

a cleaning substance, and

an anti-bacterial substance.

31. The artificial stomach according to claim 28, comprising at least one injection port placed subcutaneously and connected to the artificial stomach adapted to be injected with at least one liquid selected from a set of:

a liquid comprising an anti-bacterial substance, an acid, a liquid comprising a cleaning substance, and a liquid visible on x-ray.

32. The system according to claim 1, wherein a food sensor is arranged outside of the food reservoir on the inlet side of the same in order to register when food is to arrive to the artificial stomach,

wherein the food sensor is arranged at the oesophagus wall, and

wherein the registration that food is to arrive to the artificial stomach is made by registering change in volume of the oesophagus or change of the curvature or elongation of the oesophagus wall.

33. The system according to claim 1, comprising a return conduit arranged between a hydraulic fluid reservoir and a servo reservoir for moving fluid between said servo reservoir and said hydraulic fluid reservoir via said return conduit,

wherein moving of fluid from the servo reservoir to the hydraulic fluid reservoir is done by that at least one of;

the food entering the food reservoir from the inlet presses on the flexible wall of the servo reservoir thus emptying fluid from there to the hydraulic fluid reservoir via a return conduit, and

a food sensor sends signals to the pump when food is to enters the food reservoir, the pump thus pumping out to said food corresponding amount of fluid from the servo reservoir to the hydraulic fluid reservoir.

34. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, adapted to regulate the artificial stomach postoperatively to slowly empty food in the artificial stomach into the intestine or to adapt the stomach to receive food, adapted to fill the servo reservoir with fluid step by step in small steps so that the food reservoir is emptied or at least essentially emptied in small steps which results in food is received by the intestine in small subsequent portions.

35. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein a fastening device for the artificial stomach comprises a first unit adapted to be implanted at a first side of the abdominal wall in the patient, and where a second unit is adapted to be implanted in the abdominal cavity of the patient at a second side of the abdominal wall, and where the artificial stomach is fastened to the fastening device.

36. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said food reservoir, a servo reservoir for controlling the food reservoir and a hydraulic fluid reservoir for controlling the servo reservoir of said artificial stomach is provided with at least one layer, inner layer or outer layer comprises at least one of;

a Parylene layer,

a polytetrafluoroethylene layer,

a polyurethane layer,

a silicone layer,

a metal layer,

a metal layer comprising at least one of;

gold, silver, and titanium, or a combination thereof, and

a Teflon®

layer.

37. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, comprising an internal energy source adapted to power the artificial stomach,

wherein the internal energy source is adapted to receive energy from an external energy source transmitting energy in a wireless mode.

38. The artificial stomach according to claim 1, comprising a functional parameter sensor sensing a functional parameter.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the functional parameter is correlated to the transfer of energy for charging an internal energy source.

40. The system according to claim 38, comprising a feedback device for sending information from inside the patient'"'"'s body to the outside thereof to give feedback information related to the functional parameter.

41. The system according to claim 38, comprising an internal control unit acting in response to the functional parameter sensed by the functional parameter sensor.

42. The system according to claim 38, wherein the sensor is a physical parameter sensor sensing at least one of the following:

a physical parameter of the patient,

a functional parameter of the system correlated to the transfer of energy for charging an internal energy source, and

a functional parameter of the artificial stomach.

43. An artificial stomach for replacing the normal stomach of a patient, comprising:

a food reservoir adapted to collect food,

an inlet connected to a first opening of the food reservoir and further being adapted to upstream connect to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, and

an outlet connected to a second opening of the food reservoir and further being adapted to downstream connect to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract,

wherein the artificial stomach comprises an inlet valve unit comprising an inlet valve connected between the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract and the first opening of the food reservoir,

the inlet valve unit comprising at least one connector adapted to upstream connect the inlet to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract,

wherein the connector comprises a sleeve adapted to cover a part of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract.

44. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, wherein the sleeve has a structure adapted to promote in-growth of human tissue into the sleeve.

45. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, comprising a gear contruction for regulating the emptying of the food reservoir, wherein the gear construction is driven by a motor, and wherein the artificial stomach comprises a servo system connected to said motor, to save force against longer stroke.

46. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, wherein the food reservoir is adapted to empty step by step, small portions of food at a time, wherein the artificial stomach further comprises a servo reservoir adapted to have a variable size and to be filled with different amounts of fluid, wherein the servo reservoir is adapted to have a shape allowing variation in size without limitation from surrounded fibrosis, covering the implant when implanted.

47. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, comprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulically connected to a servo reservoir and a pump for fluid connecting the hydraulic fluid supply reservoir to the servo reservoir, wherein said pump for fluid connecting the hydraulic fluid reservoir to the servo reservoir is adapted to reversibly move fluid between the servo reservoir and the hydraulic fluid reservoir,

wherein said food reservoir is adapted to increase in volume when filled with food when the patient is eating, thereby causing a reduction in the volume of the servo reservoir, in turn moving fluid from said servo reservoir to said hydraulic fluid reservoir.

48. The artificial stomach according to claim 47, adapted to be implantable in the patient'"'"'s abdomen,

wherein a stomach food part comprises the food reservoir and the servo reservoir, and

wherein the hydraulic fluid reservoir is separated from the stomach food part by a rigid outer wall and is further enclosed by a fluid reservoir wall.

49. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, wherein the inlet is adapted to upstream connect to at least one of;

the oesophagus, and the intestine, and

wherein the outlet is adapted to downstream connect to the intestine,

wherein the inlet valve is adapted to at least one of;

open correlated to when food in the gastrointestinal tract upstream is transported down,

open correlated to when a contracting wave is propagating along the gastrointestinal tract upstream, and

open correlated to when food is reaching the inlet valve.

50. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, comprising an outlet valve connected between the second opening of the food reservoir and the outlet,

wherein the outlet valve is adapted to at least one of:

open when the food reservoir should be emptied,

open at a regulated rate, and

functioning passively and open related to a volume decrease in the food reservoir, and wherein

the food reservoir is adapted to empty step by step, small portions at a time.

51. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, wherein the sleeve has a structure adapted to promote in-growth of human tissue into the sleeve.

52. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, further comprising at least one of;

a food handling system, wherein the food handling is adapted to at least one of;

mechanically handling food in the food reservoir,

moving the food around in the food reservoir,

cut the food in the food reservoir

cut the food in the food reservoir comprising electrically driven rotating knifes

squeeze the food in the food reservoir,

chemically handling food in the food reservoir,

release at least one liquid in the food reservoir, the liquid being adapted to treat the food in the food reservoir, and

a cleaning system adapted to clean the surface of the food reservoir by releasing at least one liquid into the food reservoir.

53. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, further comprising a special container, wherein the special container is adapted to accumulate and distribute at least one of;

at least one liquid to the food handling system, and

at least one liquid to the cleaning system.

54. The artificial stomach according to claim 53, wherein the at least one liquid to the food handling system comprises at least one of;

an acid,

an enzyme,

an anti-bacterial substance.

55. The artificial stomach according to claim 53, wherein the at least one liquid to the cleaning system comprises at least one of;

a cleaning substance, and

an anti-bacterial substance.

56. The artificial stomach according to claim 53, comprising at least one injection port placed subcutaneously and connected to the artificial stomach adapted to be injected with at least one liquid selected from a set of:

a liquid comprising an anti-bacterial substance, an acid, a liquid comprising a cleaning substance, and a liquid visible on x-ray.

57. The system according to claim 43, wherein a food sensor is arranged outside of the food reservoir on the inlet side of the same in order to register when food is to arrive to the artificial stomach,

wherein the food sensor is arranged at the oesophagus wall,

wherein the registration that food is to arrive to the artificial stomach is made by registering change in volume of the oesophagus or change of the curvature or elongation of the oesophagus wall.

58. The system according to claim 43, wherein a return conduit is arranged between the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the servo reservoir for moving fluid between said servo reservoir and said hydraulic fluid reservoir via said return conduit,

wherein moving of fluid from the servo reservoir to the hydraulic fluid reservoir is done by that at least one of;

the food entering the food reservoir from the inlet presses on the flexible wall of the servo reservoir thus emptying fluid from there to the hydraulic fluid reservoir via a return conduit, and

a food sensor sends signals to the pump when food is to enters the food reservoir, the pump thus pumping out to said food corresponding amount of fluid from the servo reservoir to the hydraulic fluid reservoir.

59. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, adapted to regulate the artificial stomach postoperatively to slowly empty food in the artificial stomach into the intestine or adapt the stomach to receive food, adapted to fill the servo reservoir with fluid step by step in small steps so that the food reservoir is emptied or at least essentially emptied in small steps which results in food is received by the intestine in small subsequent portions.

60. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, wherein a fastening device for the artificial stomach comprises a first unit adapted to be implanted at a first side of the abdominal wall in the patient, and where a second unit is adapted to be implanted in the abdominal cavity of the patient at a second side of the abdominal wall, and where the artificial stomach is fastened to the fastening device.

61. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, wherein at least one of said food reservoir, a servo reservoir for controlling the food reservoir and a hydraulic fluid reservoir for controlling the servo reservoir, of said artificial stomach is provided with at least one layer, inner layer or outer layer comprising at least one of;

a Parylene layer,

a polytetrafluoroethylene layer,

a polyurethane layer,

a silicone layer,

a metal layer,

a metal layer comprising at least one of;

gold, silver, and titanium, or a combination thereof, and

a Teflon®

layer.

62. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, comprising an internal energy source adapted to power the artificial stomach,

wherein the energy source is adapted to receive energy from an external energy source transmitting energy in a wireless mode.

63. The artificial stomach according to claim 43, comprising a functional parameter sensor sensing a functional parameter.

64. The system according to claim 63, wherein the functional parameter is correlated to the transfer of energy for charging an internal energy source.

65. The system according to claim 63, comprising a feedback device for sending information from inside the patient'"'"'s body to the outside thereof to give feedback information related to a functional parameter.

66. The system according to claim 63, comprising an internal control unit acting in response to a functional parameter sensed by the sensor.

67. The system according to claim 63, wherein the sensor is a physical parameter sensor sensing at least one of the following:

a physical parameter of the patient,

a functional parameter of the system correlated to the transfer of energy for charging an internal energy source, and

a functional parameter of the artificial stomach.

68. An artificial stomach for replacing the normal stomach of a patient, comprising:

a food reservoir adapted to collect food,

an inlet connected to a first opening of the food reservoir and further being adapted to upstream connect to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, and

an outlet connected to a second opening of the food reservoir and further being adapted to downstream connect to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract,

wherein the artificial stomach comprises an inlet valve unit comprising an inlet valve connected between the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract and the first opening of the food reservoir,

the inlet valve unit further comprising a burp output.

69. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, wherein the burp output further comprises a burp valve connecting the food reservoir with the inlet valve proximal to said burp valve.

70. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, comprising a gear construction for regulating the emptying of the food reservoir, wherein the gear construction is driven by a motor, and wherein the artificial stomach comprises a servo system connected to said motor, to save force against longer stroke.

71. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, wherein the food reservoir is adapted to empty step by step, small portions of food at a time, wherein the artificial stomach further comprises a servo reservoir adapted to have a variable size and to be filled with different amounts of fluid, wherein the servo reservoir is adapted to have a shape allowing variation in size without limitation from surrounded fibrosis, covering the implant when implanted.

72. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, comprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulically connected to a servo reservoir and a pump for fluid connecting the hydraulic fluid supply reservoir to the servo reservoir, wherein said pump for fluid connecting the hydraulic fluid reservoir to the servo reservoir is adapted to reversibly move fluid between the servo reservoir and the hydraulic fluid reservoir,

wherein said food reservoir is adapted to increase in volume when filled with food when the patient is eating, thereby causing a reduction in the volume of the servo reservoir, in turn moving fluid from said servo reservoir to said hydraulic fluid reservoir.

73. The artificial stomach according to claim 72, adapted to be implantable in the patient'"'"'s abdomen,

wherein a stomach food part comprises the food reservoir and the servo reservoir, and

wherein the hydraulic fluid reservoir is separated from the stomach food part by a rigid outer wall and is further enclosed by a fluid reservoir wall.

74. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, wherein the inlet is adapted to upstream connect to at least one of;

the oesophagus, and the intestine, and

wherein the outlet is adapted to downstream connect to the intestine,

wherein the inlet valve is adapted to at least one of;

open correlated to when food in the gastrointestinal tract upstream is transported down,

open correlated to when a contracting wave is propagating along the gastrointestinal tract upstream, and

open correlated to when food is reaching the inlet valve.

75. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, comprising an outlet valve connected between the second opening of the food reservoir and the outlet,

wherein the outlet valve is adapted to at least one of:

open when the food reservoir should be emptied,

open at a regulated rate, and

functioning passively and open related to a volume decrease in the food reservoir, and wherein

the food reservoir is adapted to empty step by step, small portions at a time.

76. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, comprising at least one connector adapted to upstream connect the inlet to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, and/or downstream connect the outlet to the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, wherein the connector comprises at least one of:

a sleeve adapted to cover a part of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, wherein the sleeve has a structure adapted to promote in-growth of human tissue into the sleeve,

a conduit fixedly attached at a first, proximal end on the outside the artificial stomach and in fluid connection to the food passageway, where the proximal part of the conduit is formed like a tube, and distal to the tube a bulge is formed,

a blocking ring arranged to be pushed against the bulge, the ring having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said bulge but large enough to allow the intestinal/oesophageal wall to be placed between said ring and said tube, thereby adapted to stop said intestinal/oesophageal wall from slipping away from the tube, and wherein;

the flexible sleeve arranged to be rolled upon itself and then unrolled to cover part of the tube and the oesophagus or intestine, which is arranged to be pulled over the second end of the conduit sufficiently far so as to extend also over the bulge, and

the blocking ring is arranged to be pushed over the flexible sleeve against the bulge, the ring having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said bulge but large enough to allow the intestinal/oesophageal wall to be placed between said ring and said tube, thereby adapted to stop said intestinal/oesophageal wall from slipping away from the tube.

77. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, further comprising at least one of;

a food handling system, wherein the food handling is adapted to at least one of;

mechanically handling food in the food reservoir,

moving the food around in the food reservoir,

cut the food in the food reservoir

cut the food in the food reservoir comprising electrically driven rotating knifes

squeeze the food in the food reservoir,

chemically handling food in the food reservoir,

release at least one liquid in the food reservoir, the liquid being adapted to treat the food in the food reservoir, and

a cleaning system adapted to clean the surface of the food reservoir by releasing at least one liquid into the food reservoir.

78. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, further comprising a special container, wherein the special container is adapted to accumulate and distribute at least one of;

at least one liquid to the food handling system, and

at least one liquid to the cleaning system.

79. The artificial stomach according to claim 78, wherein the at least one liquid to the food handling system comprises at least one of;

an acid,

an enzyme,

an anti-bacterial substance.

80. The artificial stomach according to claim 78, wherein the at least one liquid to the cleaning system comprises at least one of;

a cleaning substance, and

an anti-bacterial substance.

81. The artificial stomach according to claim 78, comprising at least one injection port placed subcutaneously and connected to the artificial stomach adapted to be injected with at least one liquid selected from a set of:

a liquid comprising an anti-bacterial substance, an acid, a liquid comprising a cleaning substance, and a liquid visible on x-ray.

82. The system according to claim 68, wherein a food sensor is arranged outside of the food reservoir on the inlet side of the same in order to register when food is to arrive to the artificial stomach,

wherein the food sensor is arranged at the oesophagus wall,

wherein the registration that food is to arrive to the artificial stomach is made by registering change in volume of the oesophagus or change of the curvature or elongation of the oesophagus wall.

83. The system according to claim 68, wherein a return conduit is arranged between the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the servo reservoir for moving fluid between said servo reservoir and said hydraulic fluid reservoir via said return conduit,

wherein moving of fluid from the servo reservoir to the hydraulic fluid reservoir is done by that at least one of;

the food entering the food reservoir from the inlet presses on the flexible wall of the servo reservoir thus emptying fluid from there to the hydraulic fluid reservoir via a return conduit, and

a food sensor sends signals to the pump when food is to enters the food reservoir, the pump thus pumping out to said food corresponding amount of fluid from the servo reservoir to the hydraulic fluid reservoir.

84. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, adapted to regulate the artificial stomach postoperatively to slowly empty food in the artificial stomach into the intestine or adapt the stomach to receive food, adapted to fill the servo reservoir with fluid step by step in small steps so that the food reservoir is emptied or at least essentially emptied in small steps which results in food is received by the intestine in small subsequent portions.

85. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, wherein a fastening device for the artificial stomach comprises a first unit adapted to be implanted at a first side of the abdominal wall in the patient, and where a second unit is adapted to be implanted in the abdominal cavity of the patient at a second side of the abdominal wall, and where the artificial stomach is fastened to the fastening device.

86. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, wherein at least one of said food reservoir, a servo reservoir for controlling the food reservoir and a hydraulic fluid reservoir for controlling the servo reservoir, of said artificial stomach is provided with at least one layer, inner layer or outer layer comprising at least one of;

a Parylene layer,

a polytetrafluoroethylene layer,

a polyurethane layer,

a silicone layer,

a metal layer,

a metal layer comprising at least one of;

gold, silver, and titanium, or a combination thereof, and

a Teflon®

layer.

87. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, comprising an internal energy source adapted to power the artificial stomach,

wherein the energy source is adapted to receive energy from an external energy source transmitting energy in a wireless mode.

88. The artificial stomach according to claim 68, comprising a functional parameter sensor sensing a functional parameter.

89. The system according to claim 88, wherein the functional parameter is correlated to the transfer of energy for charging an internal energy source.

90. The system according to claim 88, comprising a feedback device for sending information from inside the patient'"'"'s body to the outside thereof to give feedback information related to a functional parameter.

91. The system according to claim 88, comprising an internal control unit acting in response to a functional parameter sensed by the sensor.

92. The system according to claim 88, wherein the sensor is a physical parameter sensor sensing at least one of the following:

a physical parameter of the patient,

a functional parameter of the system correlated to the transfer of energy for charging an internal energy source, and

a functional parameter of the artificial stomach.