Obesity treatment devices, systems, and methods

Abstract

Various devices, systems, and methods that can be used in the treatment of obesity and related illnesses are disclosed. In some instances, a portion of the bowel of an obese patient is distended for a therapeutically effective period. The distention may be achieved by introduction of an object that is of foreign origin relative to the body of the patient into the bowel of the patient. In some instances, the distention is achieved by a medical device that transitions from an undeployed state, in which the medical device is introduced into the bowel of the patient, to an expanded state in which the medical device distends the bowel by an amount sufficient to trigger an intestinal-gastric brake in the patient.

1 - 413 . (canceled) 
     
     
         414 . A kit comprising:
 a medical device for treating obesity; and   instructions for using the medical device, the instructions comprising directions to:
 introduce the medical device into the cecum of an obese patient; 
 distend the cecum via the medical device; 
 leave the medical device within the cecum while the medical device maintains the cecum in distention for a therapeutically effective period for the treatment of obesity. 
   
     
     
         415 . The kit of  claim 414 , wherein the therapeutically effective period for the treatment of obesity comprises an amount of time sufficient to achieve a total weight loss of the patient of no less than 5 percent. 
     
     
         416 . The kit of  claim 414 , wherein the therapeutically effective period for the treatment of obesity comprises an amount of time sufficient to achieve an excess weight loss of the patient of no less than 10 percent. 
     
     
         417 . The kit of  claim 414 , wherein the therapeutically effective period for the treatment of obesity comprises no less than one month. 
     
     
         418 . The kit of  claim 414 , wherein the medical device is configured to distend the cecum so as to reduce an appetite of the patient. 
     
     
         419 . The kit of  claim 414 , wherein the medical device is configured to distend the cecum so as to trigger an intestinal-gastric brake in the patient. 
     
     
         420 . The kit of  claim 414 , wherein the medical device is configured to distend the cecum to an expanded configuration that is larger than a relaxed configuration of the cecum. 
     
     
         421 . The kit of  claim 420 , wherein the instructions further comprise directions to place the medical device in contact with an inner surface of the cecum to achieve distention. 
     
     
         422 . The kit of  claim 414 , wherein the instructions further comprise directions to place the medical device in contact with an inner surface of the cecum to achieve distention. 
     
     
         423 . The kit of  claim 414 , wherein the instructions further provide directions to secure the medical device to an inner wall of the cecum. 
     
     
         424 . The kit of  claim 423 , wherein the directions to secure the medical device to the inner wall of the cecum comprise directions to tension the medical device against the inner wall of the cecum. 
     
     
         425 . The kit of  claim 414 , wherein the medical device is configured to transition from an undeployed state to an expanded state, wherein the directions to introduce the medical device into the cecum of the obese patient comprise directions to pass the medical device through a portion of the bowel of the patient while the medical device is in the undeployed state. 
     
     
         426 . The kit of  claim 425 , wherein the directions to introduce the medical device into the cecum of the obese patient further comprise directions to introduce the medical device into the patient through the rectum of the patient while the medical device is in the undeployed state. 
     
     
         427 . The kit of  claim 425 , wherein the instructions further provide directions to:
 advance an endoscope into the bowel of the patient toward the cecum; and   introduce the medical device into the cecum via the endoscope.   
     
     
         428 . A kit comprising:
 a medical device configured for placement within a cecum; and   instructions for using the medical device, the instructions comprising directions to:
 introduce the medical device into the cecum of a patient; 
 distend the cecum via the medical device; and 
 leave the medical device within the cecum while the medical device maintains the cecum in distention to reduce a total weight of the patient. 
   
     
     
         429 . The kit of  claim 428 , wherein the directions to leave the medical device within the cecum comprise directions to leave the medical device within the cecum for a period of time sufficient to reduce the total weight of the patient by no less than 5 percent. 
     
     
         430 . A kit comprising:
 a medical device configured to transition from an undeployed configuration to an expanded configuration; and   instructions for using the medical device, the instructions comprising directions to:
 introduce the medical device into the cecum of a patient while the medical device is in the undeployed configuration; and 
 transition the medical device to the expanded configuration within the cecum to distend the cecum by an amount sufficient to trigger an intestinal-gastric brake in the patient. 
   
     
     
         431 . The kit of  claim 430 , wherein the instructions further comprise directions to leave the medical device within the cecum for a therapeutically effective period for the treatment of obesity. 
     
     
         432 . The kit of  claim 431 , wherein leaving the medical device within the cecum comprises maintaining distention of the cecum via the medical device. 
     
     
         433 . The kit of  claim 430 , wherein the instructions further comprise directions to leave the medical device within the cecum for a period of time sufficient to reduce a total weight of the patient by no less than 5 percent.