Balloon system and methods for treating obesity

Abstract

A medical system for the treatment of morbid obesity comprising an inflatable balloon implanted in a gastric cavity, a percutaneous fillant delivery tube and a control module connected to the tube for regulating the inflation and deflation of the balloon. The balloon may be individually contoured and inflated to occupy a large volume of the gastric cavity to provide a feeling of satiety. The balloon may also be deflated to give the gastric cavity lining a rest during less critical time.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method to treat obesity, said method comprising:
 connecting a distal end of a fillant delivery tube to a balloon, said fillant tube comprising a separate component with said distal end and proximal end;   connecting said proximal end of said fillant delivery tube to a control module, said control module including a pump for introducing a fillant to said balloon;   implanting said balloon in the patient's stomach;   using said control module and pump to automatically and fully inflate said balloon with said fillant, said fully inflated balloon providing ac contour occupying the majority of the volume of the stomach; and   said fully inflated balloon providing a balloon surface contacting a major portion of said stomach wall, wherein the inflated balloon is configured to elicit a signal to cause a feeling of satiety.   
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 8  wherein the balloon is made from a surgical grade material. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the balloon i made from rubber which expands upon introduction of said fillant. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the tube is made from a surgical grade material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the tube is constructed of a metal or plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said feeling of satiety is from the stomach itself. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said feeling of satiety is created by balancing physiological, neurohormonal and chemical factors of said patient. 
     
     
         15 . A system for treating obesity comprising:
 a. an inflatable elastomeric balloon having distal and proximal regions and adapted for implantation in a gastric space; a fillant delivery tube extending through the balloon and affixed to the distal and proximal regions of the balloon, the tube terminating at the distal region of the balloon; a control module connected to a proximal end of the tube and configured to cyclically inflate and deflate the balloon across a plurality of cycles throughout a predetermined period of time according to a program; wherein the tube imparts a reference shape to the deflated balloon; and wherein the balloon is configured to expand to a shape that is axially constrained by the fillant delivery tube; wherein the balloon is individually designed to meet specific morphologic features of a patient's stomach such that it is contoured to occupy the vast majority of a volume of the stomach in an inflated state.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein balloon is filled with at least one gas, liquid, or gel. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the uninflated balloon is a first size and configured to inflate with at least one gas, liquid and gel to a size at least three times the size of the uninflated balloon size.