Anti-gastroesophageal reflux valvular prosthesis

• US 6,908,487 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transneuronix Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Transneuronix Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cigaina, Valerio
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B.
• Application Number:
  US10/259,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 607/40, 606/202, 623/23.65, 623/23.67, 623/23.64, 623/23.68, 600/37
• US Class Current: 623/23.67
• 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

Abstract

The anti-gastroesophageal reflux valvular prosthesis has a body presenting a seat of substantially semicircular shape engageable with the gastric wall of the stomach connected to the body through connectors and inflatable for the variation of this volume to accentuate the angle of His (cardiac incisure) and to improve the natural valvular anti-reflux system.

Claims

1. Anti-gastroesophageal reflux valvular prosthesis characterizing:

an inflatable body of substantially semicircular shape adapted to fit around the esophagus at a junction thereof with the stomach;

a pair of tubular connectors communicating with and extending from said body and adapted to pass through a stomach wall;

respective distal inflatable elements on said connectors and communicating therewith for anchoring to said wall upon inflation; and

a source of an inflating fluid connected to said body for inflating said body to vary the volume thereof and adjust the angle of His of a patient and improve natural valvular antiflux action between the stomach and the esophagus and for inflating said distal elements through said connectors.

2. The prosthesis defined in claim 1 wherein said connectors are tubes composed of a material which is axially elastically pliable.

3. The prosthesis defined in claim 2 wherein said source is a container of a fluid for the simultaneous inflation of said body and said distal elements.

4. The prosthesis defined in claim 3 wherein said distal elements and said connectors are dimensioned and positioned to enable said inflatable elements to be anchored in the distal antrum of the stomach.

5. The prosthesis defined in claim 4 wherein said body has a reinforcement core resistant to tractive forces.

6. The prosthesis defined in claim 5 wherein said body and said distal elements are dimensioned and constructed and arranged for insertion and removal by laparoscopy.