Intragastric device

Abstract

Devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. More particularly, intragastric devices and devices for inflating and methods of fabricating, deploying, inflating, monitoring, and retrieving the same are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for assisting a patient in swallowing an intragastric balloon, comprising:
 an elongate tube comprising a body and an elongate slit, the body having a through-bore extending from a first orifice of the elongate tube to a second orifice of the elongate tube, and an elongate slit extending through the body from the first orifice to the second orifice; and   a gastric balloon assembly reversibly attached to the second orifice, the gastric balloon assembly comprising an inflation catheter engaged with a gastric balloon and extending out of the first orifice, wherein the elongate slit is sized and shaped for the inflation catheter to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a biocompatible polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is flexible. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the gastric balloon assembly comprises a capsule attached to the first orifice by a press-fit. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a release mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . A method for assisting a patient in swallowing a gastric balloon assembly, comprising:
 providing a gastric balloon assembly reversibly attached to first end of a push-assist catheter;   holding the push-assist catheter by a second end;   placing a capsule of a gastric balloon assembly at a back of a patient's throat;   detaching the capsule from the first end;   withdrawing the push-assist catheter from a mouth of the patient; and   passing an inflation catheter of the gastric balloon assembly through a slit of the push-assist catheter.