Compressive Device for Percutaneous Treatment of Obesity

Abstract

An apparatus and method for treating morbid obesity in mammals using a gastric reduction assembly that reduces the gastric volume of a stomach and induces early satiety. The gastric reduction assembly comprises at least two or more expandable devices, each able to be adjustably inflated with a fluid (e.g., a liquid or a gas) using a filling tube. In a preferred embodiment, the gastric reduction assembly is inserted through the abdominal wall and placed at a location exterior to the stomach body, avoiding an abdominal incision. Once positioned near the stomach body, the gastric reduction assembly allows for the external compression of the stomach body to limit food intake. The gastric reduction assembly also minimizes the potential for shifting of the expandable devices after insertion to the stomach body to revert to its pre-compressed state.

1 - 105 . (canceled) 
     
     
         106 . A method of fastening a device to one wall of a gastrointestinal organ comprising:
 passing said device through a patient's abdominal skin, wherein the device is in an undeployed configuration; passing an anchor through a patient's abdominal skin wherein said anchor is in an undeployed configuration;   deploying said device;   connecting said device and said anchor by a connector such that said anchor and device are fastened to a wall of said gastrointestinal organ by said connector, wherein said connector prevents said device and said anchor from moving apart; and   deploying said anchor to its deployed configuration;   wherein said device induces satiety in said patient.   
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein said connector is a suture. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the stomach, and said device is located outside the stomach. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 108 , wherein said anchor is located at least partially inside the stomach, said device comprises an inflatable balloon and said connector is a suture. 
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein said device comprises an inflatable balloon. 
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein said anchor is covered with a mesh and said connector is a suture. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the stomach, said device comprises an inflatable balloon, and said anchor is located outside of the stomach. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 112 , wherein said device is located outside of the stomach. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the stomach, said device is located outside of the stomach, said connector is a suture and said anchor is covered with a mesh. 
     
     
         115 . A method of treating an obese patient comprising:
 penetrating through the abdominal wall of a patient with a balloon adapted to track over a connector, wherein the balloon is expandable from a first undeployed configuration to a second deployed configuration, and wherein the balloon is fixed to a least two points inside the abdomen and wherein the balloon is further contoured to maintain contact with the gastrointestinal organ.   
     
     
         116 . A method of placing a device to restrict flow of food in to the stomach of a patient comprising:
 penetrating the abdominal wall of a patient;   contacting the stomach of the patient with a connector;   pushing an extragastric balloon through the abdominal wall while the extragastric balloon is in contact with the connector and while the extragastric balloon is undeployed and thence contacting the stomach of the patient with the balloon; and   fixing the extragastric balloon to an outer portion of the stomach.   
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 116 , further comprising cutting the connector so that the residual of the connector remains in the abdominal cavity. 
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 116 , further comprising cutting the connector so that the residual of the connector traverses at least a part of the abdominal wall. 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 118 , further comprising attaching an access port to the connector operable to inflate or deflate the extragastric balloon. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 116 , further comprising visualizing the connector under fluoroscopy. 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 116  wherein said method is performed laparoscopically.