Delivery systems and methods for gastric reduction

Abstract

A delivery catheter for a gastric reduction system includes an elongate torqueable tube, a needle translatably disposed within the torqueable tube, an anchor translatably disposed within the needle and a stabilization device for holding a distal tip of the torqueable tube against a tissue wall.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 612,109, filed on Jul. 1, 2003 which claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 433,065 filed Dec. 11, 2002, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for reducing the effective cross-sectional area of a gastro-intestinal (“GI”) lumen.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Morbid obesity is a serious medical condition pervasive in the United States and other countries. Its complications include hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, multiple orthopedic problems and pulmonary insufficiency with markedly decreased life expectancy.[0004]Several surgical techniques have been developed to treat morbid obesity, e.g., bypassing an absorptive surface of the small intestine, or reducing the stomach siz...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides methods and apparatus for gastric reduction using anchors that can be reconfigured from a reduced delivery profile to an expanded deployed profile. The delivery catheter has an obturator or an ejection needle with an actuator cable and a spring-loaded shifting element for shifting the anchors from one lumen to another. The methods and apparatus facilitate gastric reduction by narrowing the cross-sectional area of a gastro-intestinal lumen and then delivering a plurality of anchors to approximate the opposing walls of the lumen. The delivery catheter may also include a stabilization device to facilitate anchor delivery. The technical effects of the invention include improved gastric reduction and facilitation of the delivery of anchors to the gastro-intestinal lumen."

Problems solved by technology

These procedures are difficult to perform in morbidly obese patients because it is often difficult to gain access to the digestive organs.

In particular, the layers of fat encountered in morbidly obese patients make difficult direct exposure of the digestive organs with a wound retractor, and standard laparoscopic trocars may be of inadequate length.

In addition, previously known open surgical procedures may present numerous life-threatening postoperative complications, and may cause a typical diarrhea, electrolytic imbalance, unpredictable weight loss and reflux of nutritious chyme proximal to the site of the anastamosis.

Further, the sutures or staples that are often used in these surgical procedures may require extensive training by the clinician to achieve competent use, and may concentrate significant force over a small surface area of the tissue, thereby potentially causing the suture or staple to tear through the tissue.

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