Patents by Inventor Gary Weller
Gary Weller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20120083657Abstract: A medical device for managing tissue in an organ, such as the stomach, for retracting or positioning tissue and related organs to allow certain regions of the stomach to be acquired for a gastroplasty procedure. The medical device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tissue treatment device attached to the distal end of the elongated body. The tissue treatment device includes a first jaw opposite a second jaw, and each jaw is adapted to acquire tissue. A retractor is disposed along the tissue treatment device and adapted to be moveable from a delivery position to a retraction position to move or manage the tissue of the stomach. The medical device also includes a collapsible barrier disposed between the first and second jaws of the tissue treatment device to direct tissue into the first and second jaws separately.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Alex T. Roth, Craig Gerbi, Andrew H. Hancock, Gary Weller, Christopher Julian, James Gannoe
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Patent number: 8147441Abstract: Methods and devices for use in tissue approximation and fixation are described herein. The present invention provides, in part, methods and devices for acquiring tissue folds in a circumferential configuration within a hollow body organ, e.g., a stomach, positioning the tissue folds for affixing within a fixation zone of the stomach, preferably to create a pouch or partition below the esophagus, and fastening the tissue folds such that a tissue ring, or stomas, forms excluding the pouch from the greater stomach cavity. The present invention further provides for a liner or bypass conduit which is affixed at a proximal end either to the tissue ring or through some other fastening mechanism. The distal end of the conduit is left either unanchored or anchored within the intestinal tract. This bypass conduit also includes a fluid bypass conduit which allows the stomach and a portion of the intestinal tract to communicate.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2007Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Jamy Gannoe, Craig Gerbi, Gary Weller, Matthew J. Collier
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Publication number: 20120065653Abstract: Intra-gastric fastening devices are disclosed herein. Expandable devices that are inserted into the stomach of the patient are maintained within by anchoring or otherwise fixing the expandable devices to the stomach walls. Such expandable devices, like inflatable balloons, have tethering regions for attachment to the one or more fasteners which can be configured to extend at least partially through one or several folds of the patient's stomach wall. The fasteners are thus affixed to the stomach walls by deploying the fasteners and manipulating the tissue walls entirely from the inside of the organ. Such fasteners can be formed in a variety of configurations, e.g., helical, elongate, ring, clamp, and they can be configured to be non-piercing. Alternatively, sutures can be used to wrap around or through a tissue fold for tethering the expandable devices. Non-piercing biased clamps can also be used to tether the device within the stomach.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: ETHICON ENDO-SURGERY, INC.Inventors: Jamy Gannoe, Gary Weller, Craig Gerbi, Douglas S. Sutton
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Patent number: 8092378Abstract: A medical device for managing tissue in an organ, such as the stomach, for retracting or positioning tissue and related organs to allow certain regions of the stomach to be acquired for a gastroplasty procedure. The medical device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tissue treatment device attached to the distal end of the elongated body. The tissue treatment device includes a first jaw opposite a second jaw, and each jaw is adapted to acquire tissue. A retractor is disposed along the tissue treatment device and adapted to be moveable from a delivery position to a retraction position to move or manage the tissue of the stomach. The medical device also includes a collapsible barrier disposed between the first and second jaws of the tissue treatment device to direct tissue into the first and second jaws separately.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Alex T. Roth, Craig Gerbi, Andrew H. Hancock, Gary Weller, Christopher Julian, James Gannoe
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Patent number: 8062207Abstract: Intra-gastric fastening devices are disclosed herein. Expandable devices that are inserted into the stomach of the patient are maintained within by anchoring or otherwise fixing the expandable devices to the stomach walls. Such expandable devices, like inflatable balloons, have tethering regions for attachment to the one or more fasteners which can be configured to extend at least partially through one or several folds of the patient's stomach wall. The fasteners are thus affixed to the stomach walls by deploying the fasteners and manipulating the tissue walls entirely from the inside organ. Such fasteners can be formed in a variety of configurations, e.g., helical, elongate, ring, clamp, and they can be configured to be non-piercing. Alternatively, sutures can be used to wrap around or through a tissue fold for tethering the expandable devices. Non-piercing biased clamps can also be used to tether the device within the stomach.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2005Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Jamy Gannoe, Gary Weller, Craig Gerbi, Douglas S. Sutton
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Patent number: 8007505Abstract: A system for tissue approximation and fixation is described herein. The devices are advanced in a minimally invasive manner within a patient's body to create one or several divisions or plications within a hollow body organ. The system comprises a tissue acquisition and folding device and a tissue stapling or fixation device, each of which is used together as a system. The acquisition device is used to approximate tissue regions from within the hollow body organ and the stapling device is advanced through a main lumen defined through the acquisition device and is used to affix the approximated tissue. The stapling device is keyed to maintain its rotational orientation relative to the acquisition device as well as to provide the user positional information of the stapling device. The acquisition device is also configured to provide lateral stability to the stapling device prior to the stapling device being clamped onto tissue.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Ethicon Eado-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Gary Weller, Jamy Gannoe, Craig Gerbi, Douglas S. Sutton, Andrew H. Hancock, Gilbert Mata, Jr.
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Publication number: 20110166585Abstract: A system for tissue approximation and fixation is described herein. A device is advanced in a minimally invasive manner within a patient's body to create one or several divisions or plications within a hollow body organ. The system comprises a stapler assembly having a tissue acquisition member and a tissue fixation member. The stapler assembly approximates tissue from within the hollow body organ with the acquisition member and then affixes the approximated tissue with the fixation member. In one method, the system can be used as a secondary procedure to reduce the size of a stoma within the hollow body organ.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: SATIETY, INC.Inventors: Alex T. Roth, Andrew H. Hancock, Gary Weller, Gilbert Mata, JR., Craig Gerbi, James Gannoe, Christopher Julian
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Publication number: 20110092777Abstract: A medical device for managing tissue in an organ, such as the stomach, for retracting or positioning tissue and related organs to allow certain regions of the stomach to be acquired for a gastroplasty procedure. The medical device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tissue treatment device attached to the distal end of the elongated body. The tissue treatment device includes a first jaw opposite a second jaw, and each jaw is adapted to acquire tissue. A retractor is disposed along the tissue treatment device and adapted to be moveable from a delivery position to a retraction position to move or manage the tissue of the stomach. The medical device also includes a collapsible barrier disposed between the first and second jaws of the tissue treatment device to direct tissue into the first and second jaws separately.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: SATIETY, INC.Inventors: Alex T. Roth, Craig Gerbi, Andrew H. Hancock, Gary Weller, Christopher Julian, James Gannoe
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Patent number: 7914543Abstract: A system for tissue approximation and fixation is described herein. A device is advanced in a minimally invasive manner within a patient's body to create one or several divisions or plications within a hollow body organ. The system comprises a stapler assembly having a tissue acquisition member and a tissue fixation member. The stapler assembly approximates tissue from within the hollow body organ with the acquisition member and then affixes the approximated tissue with the fixation member. In one method, the system can be used as a secondary procedure to reduce the size of a stoma within the hollow body organ.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2005Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Satiety, Inc.Inventors: Alex T. Roth, Andrew H. Hancock, Gary Weller, Gilbert Mata, Jr., Craig Gerbi, James Gannoe, Christopher Julian
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Patent number: 7789848Abstract: Methods and devices for use in tissue approximation and fixation are described herein. The present invention provides, in part, methods and devices for acquiring tissue folds in a circumferential configuration within a hollow body organ, e.g., a stomach, positioning the tissue folds for affixing within a fixation zone of the stomach, preferably to create a pouch or partition below the esophagus, and fastening the tissue folds such that a tissue ring, or stomas, forms excluding the pouch from the greater stomach cavity. The present invention further provides for a liner or bypass conduit which is affixed at a proximal end either to the tissue ring or through some other fastening mechanism. The distal end of the conduit is left either unanchored or anchored within the intestinal tract. This bypass conduit also includes a fluid bypass conduit which allows the stomach and a portion of the intestinal tract to communicate.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Satiety, Inc.Inventors: Jamy Gannoe, Craig Gerbi, Gary Weller, Matthew J. Collier
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Patent number: 7757924Abstract: A single fold system for tissue approximation and fixation is described herein. The devices are advanced in a minimally invasive manner within a patient's body to create at least one fold within a hollow body organ. The system comprises a tissue acquisition and folding device and a tissue stapling or fixation device, each of which is used together as a system. The acquisition device is used to approximate a single fold of tissue from within the hollow body organ and the stapling device is advanced through a main lumen defined through the acquisition device and is used to affix the tissue. The stapling device is keyed to maintain its rotational orientation relative to the acquisition device and to provide the user positional information of the stapling device. The acquisition device is also configured to provide lateral stability to the stapling device prior to the stapling device being clamped onto tissue.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2006Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Satiety, Inc.Inventors: Craig Gerbi, Gary Weller, Jamy Gannoe, Douglas S. Sutton, Andrew H. Hancock, Gilbert Mata, Jr.
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Publication number: 20080091076Abstract: A medical device for managing tissue in an organ, such as the stomach, for retracting or positioning tissue and related organs to allow certain regions of the stomach to be acquired for a gastroplasty procedure. The medical device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tissue treatment device attached to the distal end of the elongated body. The tissue treatment device includes a first jaw opposite a second jaw, and each jaw is adapted to acquire tissue. A retractor is disposed along the tissue treatment device and adapted to be moveable from a delivery position to a retraction position to move or manage the tissue of the stomach. The medical device also includes a collapsible barrier disposed between the first and second jaws of the tissue treatment device to direct tissue into the first and second jaws separately.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Applicant: SATIETY, INC.Inventors: ALEX ROTH, CRAIG GERBI, ANDREW HANCOCK, GARY WELLER, CHRISTOPHER JULIAN, JAMES GANNOE
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Publication number: 20080091077Abstract: A medical device for managing tissue in an organ, such as the stomach, for retracting or positioning tissue and related organs to allow certain regions of the stomach to be acquired for a gastroplasty procedure. The medical device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tissue treatment device attached to the distal end of the elongated body. The tissue treatment device includes a first jaw opposite a second jaw, and each jaw is adapted to acquire tissue. A retractor is disposed along the tissue treatment device and adapted to be moveable from a delivery position to a retraction position to move or manage the tissue of the stomach. The medical device also includes a collapsible barrier disposed between the first and second jaws of the tissue treatment device to direct tissue into the first and second jaws separately.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Applicant: SATIETY, INC.Inventors: ALEX ROTH, CRAIG GERBI, ANDREW HANCOCK, GARY WELLER, CHRISTOPHER JULIAN, JAMES GANNOE
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Publication number: 20080091079Abstract: A medical device for managing tissue in an organ, such as the stomach, for retracting or positioning tissue and related organs to allow certain regions of the stomach to be acquired for a gastroplasty procedure. The medical device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tissue treatment device attached to the distal end of the elongated body. The tissue treatment device includes a first jaw opposite a second jaw, and each jaw is adapted to acquire tissue. A retractor is disposed along the tissue treatment device and adapted to be moveable from a delivery position to a retraction position to move or manage the tissue of the stomach. The medical device also includes a collapsible barrier disposed between the first and second jaws of the tissue treatment device to direct tissue into the first and second jaws separately.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Applicant: SATIETY, INC.Inventors: ALEX ROTH, CRAIG GERBI, ANDREW HANCOCK, GARY WELLER, CHRISTOPHER JULIAN, JAMES GANNOE
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Publication number: 20080091078Abstract: A medical device for managing tissue in an organ, such as the stomach, for retracting or positioning tissue and related organs to allow certain regions of the stomach to be acquired for a gastroplasty procedure. The medical device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tissue treatment device attached to the distal end of the elongated body. The tissue treatment device includes a first jaw opposite a second jaw, and each jaw is adapted to acquire tissue. A retractor is disposed along the tissue treatment device and adapted to be moveable from a delivery position to a retraction position to move or manage the tissue of the stomach. The medical device also includes a collapsible barrier disposed between the first and second jaws of the tissue treatment device to direct tissue into the first and second jaws separately.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2007Publication date: April 17, 2008Applicant: SATIETY, INC.Inventors: ALEX ROTH, CRAIG GERBI, ANDREW HANCOCK, GARY WELLER, CHRISTOPHER JULIAN, JAMES GANNOE
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Patent number: 7306614Abstract: An overtube apparatus for insertion into a body is described herein. The assembly includes an overtube having a lumen defined throughout. The distal end of the overtube member has two or more windows in apposition configured to draw in tissue via a vacuum. A drive tube, which also defines a lumen, is inserted and is freely adjustable within the overtube. A spiral or helical fastener, which is temporarily attached to the drive tube distal end, is positioned within the overtube lumen. Endoscopic devices can be inserted within the drive tube lumen and advanced past the distal ends of both the drive tube and overtube. A pump provides the vacuum to draw apposed regions of tissue from within a hollow body organ into the windows of the overtube. Once the tissue has been invaginated, the drive tube is rotated to advance the fastener into the tissue to fasten them together.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2006Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: Satiety, Inc.Inventors: Gary Weller, Craig Gerbi, James Gannoe, Mark E. Deem, Douglas S. Sutton, Hanson S. Gifford, III, Bernard H. Andreas, Ronald G. French
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Publication number: 20070233162Abstract: Methods and devices for use in tissue approximation and fixation are described herein. The present invention provides, in part, methods and devices for acquiring tissue folds in a circumferential configuration within a hollow body organ, e.g., a stomach, positioning the tissue folds for affixing within a fixation zone of the stomach, preferably to create a pouch or partition below the esophagus, and fastening the tissue folds such that a tissue ring, or stomas, forms excluding the pouch from the greater stomach cavity. The present invention further provides for a liner or bypass conduit which is affixed at a proximal end either to the tissue ring or through some other fastening mechanism. The distal end of the conduit is left either unanchored or anchored within the intestinal tract. This bypass conduit also includes a fluid bypass conduit which allows the stomach and a portion of the intestinal tract to communicate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Inventors: Jamy Gannoe, Craig Gerbi, Gary Weller, Matthew Collier
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Publication number: 20070233161Abstract: Devices and methods for tissue acquisition and fixation, or gastroplasty, are described. Generally, the devices of the system may be advanced in a minimally invasive manner within a patient's body to create one or more plications within the hollow body organ. A tissue treatment device attached to a distal end of a flexible elongated member and has a cartridge member opposite an anvil member. The cartridge member and the anvil member are movable between a closed position and an open position relative to one another, and the cartridge member is re-loadable with a removable staple cartridge to form multiple plications within the organ with the same tissue treatment device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: SATIETY, INC.Inventors: Gary Weller, Alex Roth, Christopher Julian, James Gannoe, Andrew Hancock, Craig Gerbi, Crystine Lee
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Publication number: 20070181138Abstract: Methods and devices for partitioning or plicating a region of a hollow body organ are described herein. These methods and devices relate generally to medical apparatus and methods and more particularly to devices and methods for affecting a change in the function of a hollow body organ, particularly a stomach, intestine or gastrointestinal tract. These changes can include reducing the volume capacity of the hollow body organ, disrupting or altering the normal function of the organ, functionally excluding certain sections of the organ either by affixing adjacent tissue or excising certain regions, or affecting or correcting the response of the organ to naturally occurring stimuli, such as ingestion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2007Publication date: August 9, 2007Inventors: Jamy Gannoe, Gary Weller, Douglas Sutton, Craig Gerbi
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Publication number: 20070167960Abstract: Devices and methods for tissue acquisition and fixation, or gastroplasty, are described. Generally, the devices of the system may be advanced in a minimally invasive manner within a patient's body to create one or more plications within the hollow body organ. A tissue treatment device attached to a distal end of a flexible elongated member and has a cartridge member opposite an anvil member. The cartridge member and the anvil member are movable between a closed position and an open position, and a moveable barrier is disposed between the cartridge and anvil members to help acquire a dual fold of tissue. The tissue treatment device can be repositioned to form multiple plications within the organ.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventors: Alex Roth, Andrew Hancock, Chris Pamichev, John Gaiser, Gary Weller, Christopher Julian, James Gannoe, Craig Gerbi, Crystine Lee