Gastric vest for restriction of the stomach to treat obesity

Abstract

A gastric vest system for treating excessive weight or obesity in mammals. The gastric vest system may include a trapezoidal-shaped vest having a left edge, a right edge, an upper indentation, and a lower indentation, and the trapezoidal-shaped vest is configured to be wrapped around a stomach or a modified stomach of a mammal to cover a lesser curvature and a greater curvature of the stomach or the modified stomach.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A trapezoidal shaped gastric vest, comprising:
 a first edge and a second edge wherein the first edge is configured to be adjacent to the second edge when the trapezoidal-shaped vest is snugly positioned around a stomach or a modified stomach;   a plurality of tabs inset from the first edge and extending upward from a surface of the trapezoidal-shaped vest; and   a plurality of connectors extending outward from the second edge of the trapezoidal-shaped vest opposite the first edge, each of the plurality of connectors having a plurality of protrusions for securing to one of the plurality of tabs and configured to be inserted through an opening of the one of plurality of tabs.   
     
     
         22 . The vest of  claim 21 , wherein each of a plurality of protrusions of the plurality of connectors comprise a flat portion configured to rest against a contact portion of the plurality of tabs. 
     
     
         23 . The vest of  claim 22 , wherein a cross-sectional area of each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is larger than a cross-sectional area of one of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         24 . The vest of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of connectors has a flat side. 
     
     
         25 . The vest of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of tabs are configured to be aligned and positioned perpendicular to the first edge. 
     
     
         26 . The vest of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of protrusions comprises a bucket shape or a cone shape. 
     
     
         27 . The vest of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of connectors and the plurality of tabs are formed from a single molded material. 
     
     
         28 . A method for treating excessive weight or obesity in mammals, comprising:
 wrapping a trapezoidal-shaped vest around a stomach or a modified stomach of a mammal so that a first edge of the trapezoidal-shaped vest is adjacent to a second edge when the trapezoidal-shaped vest is snugly positioned around the stomach or the modified stomach; and   securing a plurality of connectors on the trapezoidal-shaped vest to a plurality of tabs on the trapezoidal-shaped vest, the plurality of tabs positioned inset from the first edge and extended upward from a surface of the trapezoidal-shaped vest.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 inserting one connector of the plurality of connectors through an opening of one of the plurality of tabs, the plurality of connectors extending outward from the second edge opposite the first edge.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 adjusting the plurality of connectors between a plurality of configurations when snugly positioned around the stomach or the modified stomach by passing one of a plurality of protrusions of the plurality of connectors through the opening of one tab of the plurality of tabs and being secured against a contact portion of one of the plurality of tabs.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , the step of wrapping further comprising an upper indentation of the trapezoidal-shaped vest goes around gastric arteries when the trapezoidal-shaped vest is wrapped around the stomach or the modified stomach. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , the step of wrapping further comprising the trapezoidal-shaped vest covering a lesser curvature and a greater curvature of the stomach or the modified stomach when the trapezoidal-shaped vest is wrapped around the stomach or the modified stomach. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: implanting the trapezoidal-shaped vest by accessing the stomach or modified stomach via laparoscopic entry. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the trapezoidal-shaped vest is made of a silicon elastomer material infused with radiopaque material to allow the trapezoidal-shaped vest to be seen under x-ray. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the trapezoidal-shaped vest includes a top cutout and a bottom cutout. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the top cutout is larger in surface area than the bottom cutout. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the top cutout is configured to accommodate gastric arteries. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the top cutout has a shape of a semi-circle or a U-shape. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein each of the plurality of connectors extends outward from the first edge or the second edge of the trapezoidal-shaped vest. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of connectors and the plurality of tabs are formed from a single molded material.