Devices and methods for retaining a gastro-esophageal implant

Abstract

Various methods and devices are described for retaining a medical implant within a body cavity. According to one aspect, one or more plications are formed and the medical device is coupled to or seated against the plication(s). A patch may be positioned between tissue layers forming the plication so as to reinforce the tissue adhesion forming between the tissue layers.

1 . A medical implant system, comprising: 
 an instrument insertable into a body for attaching regions of body tissue on the wall of a body cavity to form a plication; and    patch positionable between the regions of body tissue; and    retaining means for retaining the plication at least until an adhesion forms between the regions of body tissue.    
     
     
         2 . The medical implant system of  claim 1 , further including 
 a medical implant positionable within the body cavity and configured to be retained within the body cavity by the plication.    
     
     
         3 . The implant system according to  claim 2 , wherein the medical implant is a drug delivery device.  
     
     
         4 . The implant system according to  claim 2 , wherein the medical implant is a diagnostic device.  
     
     
         5 . The implant system according to  claim 2 , wherein the medical implant is an anti-reflux device.  
     
     
         6 . The implant system according to  claim 2 , wherein the medical implant is positionable within a stomach for inducing weight loss.  
     
     
         7 . The implant system according to  claim 2 , wherein the medical implant is an expandable space-occupier positionable within a stomach to decrease the effective volume of the stomach.  
     
     
         8 . The implant system according to  claim 2 , wherein the medical implant is a flow-restrictive device positionable within a stomach to restrict the rate of flow of food into the stomach.  
     
     
         9 . The implant system according to  claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a suturing instrument.  
     
     
         10 . The implant system according to  claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a stapling instrument.  
     
     
         11 . The implant system according to  claim 1 , wherein the instrument is a clip-applier.  
     
     
         12 . The implant system according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining means is selected from the group consisting of sutures, staples, clips, fasteners, t-bars, pledgets, adhesives and studs.