Devices and Methods for Treatment of Obesity

Abstract

Devices, methods for treatment of obesity, as well as instruments and tools used in placing, adjusting and maintaining devices for treatment of obesity. Various embodiments of devices that are implanted extra-gastrically are provided. Various embodiments of devices that are implanted intra-gastrically are provided. Methods include laparoscopic, percutaneous and/or trans-oral methods. Alternatively, devices describe can generally also be implanted by open surgical procedures.

1 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A method of treating obesity in a patient, said method comprising:
 pushing on the outer wall surface of the stomach with an instrument to deform the stomach wall inwardly, so that portions of the outer surface of the stomach wall fold inwardly upon one another;   fixing the outer wall portions together to maintain an orientation wherein the folded wall portions face toward one another;   expanding an expandable member mounted on a distal end portion of the instrument to expand against the folded wall portions; and   removing the instrument, while leaving the expanded expandable member in place.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein said fixing comprises passing at least one connecting member through a portion of the walls on opposite folds to join the opposite folds together. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein said connecting member does not pierce the wall of the stomach. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein said connecting member comprises a suture. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein an amount of deformation of the stomach wall inwardly by the instrument is confirmed visually. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising:
 passing an intra-gastric sizing device trans-orally into the patient and into the cavity of the stomach, prior to said pushing, wherein the stomach wall is deformed by said pushing until contacting the intra-gastric sizing device.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising:
 passing an intra-gastric sizing device trans-orally into the patient and into the cavity of the stomach, prior to said pushing, wherein the stomach wall is deformed by said pushing until a signal from said intra-gastric device indicates that sufficient deformation has been accomplished.   
     
     
         70 - 239 . (canceled) 
     
     
         240 . A method of treating obesity in a patient, said method comprising:
 passing an intra-gastric, elongated implement trans-orally into the patient and into the cavity of the stomach of the patient;   deforming the stomach wall inwardly, so that portions of the outer surface of the stomach wall fold inwardly upon one another, wherein deformation of the stomach wall is prevented from moving inwardly past a location of the implement in the stomach; and   fixing the portions of the outer surface of the stomach wall together to maintain an orientation wherein the portions of the outer surface of the stomach wall face toward one another.   
     
     
         241 . The method of  claim 241 , further comprising removing the intra-gastric, elongated implement from the patient. 
     
     
         242 . The method of  claim 240 , further comprising implanting an expandable member between the folded portions of the outer surface of the stomach wall. 
     
     
         243 . The method of  claim 242 , further comprising expanding the expandable member to expand against the folded portions of the outer surface of the stomach wall. 
     
     
         244 . The method of  claim 240 , wherein said deforming comprises pushing on the outer wall surface of the stomach. 
     
     
         245 . The method of  claim 244 , wherein said pushing comprises pushing with an instrument.