Non-Inflatable Gastric Implants and Systems

Abstract

A variety of passive intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. Such passive devices do not autonomously change shape, but instead react within the stomach to induce satiety. The devices may take up volume within the stomach, thus reducing the intake capacity. Additionally, the devices may contact areas within the stomach, such as the cardia surrounding the esophageal sphincter, or the greater and lesser curvatures in the middle of the stomach, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Some devices may combine two or more of these satiety-inducing features. Methods of implant are disclosed including compressing the devices within a delivery tube and transorally advancing the devices through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the devices occurs in the reverse.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A passive intragastric obesity treatment implant, comprising:
 a non-inflatable, elongated member having a relaxed configuration that forms a coil, opposite free ends of the coil being adapted to connect together to form a continuous loop, the coil assuming a three-dimensional shape upon implant in the stomach having a size that generally fits within the stomach of an adult patient so as to contact the interior stomach walls upon contraction thereof, the elongated member being formed of a material which permits it to be deformed into a substantially linear delivery configuration and that will resist degradation over a period of at least six months within the stomach.   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of necked-down sections along the length of the elongated member providing areas for cutting the elongated member. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated member has a distal end connector with a hollow lumen, and a proximal end connector with a hollow lumen and a side aperture spaced from the proximal end connector, the implant further including a tether that extends through the hollow lumen on the distal end connector and is secured therein, and passes in through the proximal end connector lumen and outward through the side aperture, the proximal and distal end connectors being brought together upon pulling the tether taut. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member is tubular. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the solid member is solid. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member in the relaxed configuration forms a flat spiral. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the coil is formed of a series of shorter members connected at connection structure. 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 7 , wherein the connection structure comprises reduced diameter neck regions between the shorter members. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the elongated member includes a tapered tip and a proximal end of the elongated member includes a cavity shaped to receive the tapered tip and lock it therein. 
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 9 , wherein the tip defines a barb. 
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 9 , wherein the tip and cavity are each conical-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one spring located inside the elongated member. 
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member is adapted to assume a volume of at least 400 cc when inserted into the patient's stomach. 
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated member comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         15 . A passive intragastric obesity treatment implant, comprising:
 a non-inflatable, elongated member having a relaxed configuration that forms a non-linear configuration, opposite free ends of the elongated member being adapted to connect together to form a continuous three dimensional shape, the elongated member adapted to assume the three-dimensional shape upon implantation within the stomach and having a size that generally fits within the stomach of an adult patient so as to contact the interior stomach walls upon contraction thereof, the opposite free ends including a first free end with a tapered tip and a second free end with a cavity shaped and adapted to receive the tapered tip and lock it therein, the elongated member being formed of a material which permits the elongated member to be deformed into a substantially linear delivery configuration and that will resist degradation over a period of at least six months within the stomach, and   a tether fixed to the tapered tip, extending outside the elongated member and through the cavity, and displaceable relative to the cavity to draw the tapered tip into the cavity and lock it therein.   
     
     
         16 . The implant according to  claim 15 , wherein the tether has a length sufficient to extend from the stomach, through the esophagus, and outside of the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The implant according to  claim 15 , wherein the elongated member includes a plurality of necked-down sections along the length of the elongated member.