Apparatus for treating obesity by extracting food

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for treating obesity. A tube is positioned that passes through a patient's abdominal wall into the upper digestive system of the patient. The patient is allowed to carry out his/her everyday affairs including ingesting food. After the patient has ingested food, the food is extracted by pumping it out of the upper digestive system through the tube. The present invention is less invasive than current surgical procedures for reducing weight and allows patients to live a normal and active lifestyle without experiencing adverse side effects.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a. a tube comprising
 i. a distal end portion having a sidewall with a plurality of holes located therein, wherein said distal end portion is configured to be disposed in an upper digestive system of a patient; and 
 ii. a proximal end portion that is configured to pass through the patient's abdominal wall when the distal end portion of the tube is disposed in the upper digestive system of the patient; and 
   b. a first retention member that is disposed on the distal portion of the gastrostomy tube and attached to the tube to prevent dislodgement of the tube, wherein the first retention member is configured with respect to the tube so that the proximal end portion of the tube will lie substantially flush with the patient's abdominal surface when the distal end portion of the tube is disposed in the upper digestive system of the patient, and wherein the first retention member is configured with respect to the tube so that a position of the retention member is adjustable with respect to the tube to accommodate changes in thickness of the abdominal wall.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion of the tube is adapted to automatically assume to a curved configuration while it is positioned in an upper digestive system of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tube has a diameter that is greater than 9.3 mm (28 French) in size. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an inflatable balloon attached to the distal end portion of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising valve configured to permit removal of food from the upper digestive system through the tube and to prevent matter from entering the upper digestive system through the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump that is attachable or permanently attached to the tube for removing food from the upper digestive system of the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion of the tube is at least 10 cm long. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of any one of  claims 1 , wherein the holes are about 5×7 mm in size and are spaced about 1-1.5 cm apart. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first retention member is attached to the tube via friction. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first retention member is attached to the tube via interference. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end portion of the tube is configured to pass through the patient's abdominal wall via the patient's mouth and esophagus. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the balloon is inflatable to a volume of 100 mL to 850 mL. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the balloon is intermittently inflatable. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the holes are located on the sidewall in a spiral fashion. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the holes are spaced 1-1.5 cm apart. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion of the tube has a funnel shaped tip. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gastrostomy tube comprises silicone. 
     
     
         18 . A tube configured for being disposed into a patient's stomach via the patient's mouth and esophagus, comprising
 a. a distal end portion having a sidewall with a plurality of holes located therein, wherein said distal end portion is configured to be disposed in an upper digestive system of a patient; and   b. a proximal end portion that is configured to pass through the patient's abdominal wall when the distal end portion of the tube is disposed in the upper digestive system of the patient;   said proximal end having a coned tip to facilitate passage through the abdominal wall.   
     
     
         19 . The tube of  claim 18 , further comprising a wire at the tip of the cone to facilitate passage through the abdominal wall. 
     
     
         20 . The tube of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of holes is located on the sidewall in a spiral fashion. 
     
     
         21 . The tube of  claim 18 , wherein the holes are spaced 1-1.5 cm apart. 
     
     
         22 . The tube of  claim 18 , wherein the holes are about 5×7 mm in size. 
     
     
         23 . The tube of  claim 18 , wherein the tube comprises silicone. 
     
     
         24 . The tube of  claim 18 , wherein the distal end portion of the tube is adapted to automatically assume to a curved configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The tube of  claim 18 , wherein the tube has a diameter that is greater than 9.3 mm (28 French) in size. 
     
     
         26 . The tube of  claim 18 , wherein the tube further comprises a retention member attached to the tube to prevent dislodgement of the tube after insertion through the abdominal wall. 
     
     
         27 . The tube of  claim 26 , wherein the retention member is inflatable. 
     
     
         28 . The tube of  claim 18 , further comprising an inflatable balloon attached to the distal end portion of the tube. 
     
     
         29 . The tube of  claim 18  suitable for implantation in a human patient. 
     
     
         30 . A method for resizing a gastrostomy tube placed through a patient's abdominal wall to accommodate a reduction in an amount of tissue in the patient's abdominal wall comprising: moving a retention member attached to a proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube towards the patient's abdomen; and cutting off the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube. 
     
     
         31 . A method for placing a gastrostomy tube through a patient's abdominal wall, wherein the gastrostomy tube comprises a tubular sidewall, a distal end portion, and a proximal end portion, comprising:
 visualizing an insertion site on the patient's abdomen;   making an incision at the insertion site;   inserting a cannula through the incision;   inserting a guide wire comprising a proximal end and a distal end through the cannula, such that the distal end of the guide wire is inserted into the patient's stomach and the proximal end of the guide wire extends out of the patient's abdomen;   pulling the distal end of the guidewire from the patient's stomach and out of the patient's mouth; attaching the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube to the distal end of the guide wire;   pulling the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube through the incision by pulling the proximal end of the guide wire; cutting the gastrostomy tube so that the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube is substantially flush with the patient's abdomen; and   attaching a second retention member to the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube so that the second retention member lies substantially flush with the patient's abdomen.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of pulling the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube through the incision continues until the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube extends from the patient's abdomen and the distal end portion of the gastrostomy tube is placed in the patient's stomach. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the gastrostomy tube further comprises a first retention member attached to the distal end portion of the gastrostomy tube and wherein the step of pulling the proximal end of the guide wire is performed until the proximal end of the gastrostomy tube is pulled through the incision. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the gastrostomy tube further comprises a first retention member attached to the distal end portion of the gastrostomy tube and wherein the step of pulling the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube through the incision continues until the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube extends from the patient's abdomen and the first retention member is flush with a wall of the patient's stomach. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of visualizing an insertion site is performed endoscopically. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of visualizing an insertion site is performed radiologically. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of pulling the distal end of the guidewire is performed with an endoscope. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising insufflating the patient's stomach with air, wherein the step of insufflating the patient's stomach is performed before visualizing an insertion site. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube comprises a conical tip, the method further comprising cutting off the conical tip of the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube, wherein the step of cutting off the conical tip of the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube is performed after the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube is pulled through the incision. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising removing the cannula from the incision as the proximal end portion of the gastrostomy tube is pulled through the incision.