Abstract: Apparatus, tools, device and methods provided for treating a patient including: making an incision or puncture though the patient's skin; establishing an initial tract through an opening formed by the incision or puncture; inserting a guide member having a flexible distal portion and a distal tip into the initial tract and extending the initial tract to form a delivery tract leading to a target location within the patient's body; wherein said distal tip and at least a portion of a remainder of said guide member are transparent and delivering an obturator and conduit assembly over said guide member to place a distal end of the conduit of said obturator and conduit assembly in a location at or near the target location, said obturator having been inserted into said conduit prior to delivering said assembly over said guide member such that a distal end of said obturator extends distally out of a distal opening of said conduit wherein said obturator comprises a central lumen adapted to closely follow said guide me

Abstract: Apparatus, tools, device and methods provided for treating a patient, including: making an incision or puncture though the patient's skin; establishing an initial tract through an opening formed by the incision or puncture; inserting a guide member having a flexible distal portion and a distal tip into the initial tract and extending the initial tract to form a delivery tract leading to a target location within the patient's body; wherein said distal tip and at least a portion of a remainder of said guide member are transparent; and delivering an obturator and conduit assembly over said guide member to place a distal end of the conduit of said obturator and conduit assembly in a location at or near the target location, said obturator having been inserted into said conduit prior to delivering said assembly over said guide member such that a distal end of said obturator extends distally out of a distal opening of said conduit; wherein said obturator comprises a central lumen adapted to closely follow said guide

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and assemblies are provided for treating a patient by: making an incision or puncture though the patient's skin over the abdominal cavity; establishing an initial tract through an opening formed by the incision or puncture; advancing an instrument through the tract; contacting a distal end portion of the instrument against an inner surface of the abdominal cavity; driving at least one stitching needle through the inner surface of the abdominal cavity, continuing the driving until the at least one stitching needle exits the inner surface of the abdominal cavity, anchoring a suture carried by each of the at least one stitching needle to a suture anchor at an exit location, respectively; and applying tension to each of the sutures.

Abstract: Apparatus, tools, device and methods provided for treating a patient including: making an incision or puncture though the patient's skin; establishing an initial tract through an opening formed by the incision or puncture; inserting a guide member having a flexible distal portion and a distal tip into the initial tract and extending the initial tract to form a delivery tract leading to a target location within the patient's body; wherein said distal tip and at least a portion of a remainder of said guide member are transparent and delivering an obturator and conduit assembly over said guide member to place a distal end of the conduit of said obturator and conduit assembly in a location at or near the target location, said obturator having been inserted into said conduit prior to delivering said assembly over said guide member such that a distal end of said obturator extends distally out of a distal opening of said conduit wherein said obturator comprises a central lumen adapted to closely follow said guide me

Abstract: Apparatus, tools, device and methods provided for treating a patient including: making an incision or puncture though the patient's skin; establishing an initial tract through an opening formed by the incision or puncture; inserting a guide member having a flexible distal portion and a distal tip into the initial tract and extending the initial tract to form a delivery tract leading to a target location within the patient's body; wherein said distal tip and at least a portion of a remainder of said guide member are transparent and delivering an obturator and conduit assembly over said guide member to place a distal end of the conduit of said obturator and conduit assembly in a location at or near the target location, said obturator having been inserted into said conduit prior to delivering said assembly over said guide member such that a distal end of said obturator extends distally out of a distal opening of said conduit; wherein said obturator comprises a central lumen adapted to closely follow said guide m

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices and assemblies are provided for treating a patient by: making an incision or puncture though the patient's skin over the abdominal cavity; establishing an initial tract through an opening formed by the incision or puncture; advancing an instrument through the tract; contacting a distal end portion of the instrument against an inner surface of the abdominal cavity; driving at least one stitching needle through the inner surface of the abdominal cavity; continuing the driving until the at least one stitching needle exits the inner surface of the abdominal cavity; anchoring a suture carried by each of the at least one stitching needle to a suture anchor at an exit location, respectively; and applying tension to each of the sutures.

Abstract: Tools, devices and methods for treating a patient. An incision or puncture is made though the patient's skin and a delivery tract is made through an opening formed by the incision or puncture, subcutaneous fat and fascia, far into the patient's abdominal cavity. A guide member is inserted through the delivery tract and a distal end portion of the guide member is positioned at a target location within the abdominal cavity. An implantable device is delivered with the aid of the guide member, and the implantable device is attached to at least one internal body structure. A fillable member of the implantable device is at least partially filled with fluid. The guide member is removed and an adjustment member is attached to a conduit in fluid communication with the fillable member. The attachment member is anchored to an internal body structure and the incision or puncture is closed.

Abstract: Tools, devices and methods for treating a patient. An incision or puncture is made though the patient's skin and a delivery tract is made through an opening formed by the incision or puncture, subcutaneous fat and fascia, far into the patient's abdominal cavity. A guide member is inserted through the delivery tract and a distal end portion of the guide member is positioned at a target location within the abdominal cavity. An implantable device is delivered with the aid of the guide member, and the implantable device is attached to at least one internal body structure. A fillable member of the implantable device is at least partially filled with fluid. The guide member is removed and an adjustment member is attached to a conduit in fluid communication with the fillable member. The attachment member is anchored to an internal body structure and the incision or puncture is closed.

Abstract: Implantable devices, methods of implantation and tools for performing the implantations. A device includes a volume occupying member having a working configuration such that, when the device is implanted into the abdominal cavity of the patient, the device performs at least one of: prevention of expansion of the stomach of the patient into a space occupied by the volume occupying member in the abdominal cavity; and compression of a portion of the stomach. A device is configured to have substantially neutral buoyancy or a slightly positive buoyancy when implanted in the abdominal cavity external of the stomach. An attachment member is connected to the volume occupying member, and at least a portion of the attachment member is configured to encourage tissue ingrowth from at least one internal abdominal structure when held in contact therewith.

Abstract: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and anchoring at least a portion of the expandable member, relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity. Devices including at least one expandable member and at least one buoyancy member are provided.

Abstract: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and anchoring at least a portion of the expandable member, relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity. Devices including at least one expandable member and at least one buoyancy member are provided.

Abstract: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and anchoring at least a portion of the expandable member, relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity. Devices including at least one expandable member and at least one buoyancy member are provided.

Abstract: Methods, devices, tools, instruments and systems for treating a patient to induce weight loss. In one method embodiment, a device, including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration, is passed through an opening in the skin of the patient, and into the abdominal cavity of the patient. At least a portion of the expandable member is anchored relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity, without piercing the stomach. The expandable member is expanded to an expanded configuration in a space in the abdominal cavity to perform at least one of: prevention of expansion of the stomach of the patient into the space; and compression of a portion of the stomach.

Abstract: Methods, devices, tools, instruments and systems for treating a patient to induce weight loss. In one method embodiment, a device, including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration, is passed through an opening in the skin of the patient, and into the abdominal cavity of the patient. At least a portion of the expandable member is anchored relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity, without piercing the stomach. The expandable member is expanded to an expanded configuration in a space in the abdominal cavity to perform at least one of: prevention of expansion of the stomach of the patient into the space; and compression of a portion of the stomach.

Abstract: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and anchoring at least a portion of the expandable member, relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity. Devices including at least one expandable member and at least one buoyancy member are provided.

Abstract: Methods, devices, tools, instruments and systems for treating a patient to induce weight loss. In one method embodiment, a device, including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration, is passed through an opening in the skin of the patient, and into the abdominal cavity of the patient. At least a portion of the expandable member is anchored relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity, without piercing the stomach. The expandable member is expanded to an expanded configuration in a space in the abdominal cavity to perform at least one of: prevention of expansion of the stomach of the patient into the space; and compression of a portion of the stomach.

Abstract: Methods, devices, tools, instruments and systems for treating a patient to induce weight loss. In one method embodiment, a device, including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration, is passed through an opening in the skin of the patient, and into the abdominal cavity of the patient. At least a portion of the expandable member is anchored relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity, without piercing the stomach. The expandable member is expanded to an expanded configuration in a space in the abdominal cavity to perform at least one of: prevention of expansion of the stomach of the patient into the space; and compression of a portion of the stomach.

Abstract: Methods, devices, tools, instruments and systems for treating a patient to induce weight loss. In one method embodiment, a device, including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration, is passed through an opening in the skin of the patient, and into the abdominal cavity of the patient. At least a portion of the expandable member is anchored relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity, without piercing the stomach. The expandable member is expanded to an expanded configuration in a space in the abdominal cavity to perform at least one of: prevention of expansion of the stomach of the patient into the space; and compression of a portion of the stomach.

Abstract: Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and anchoring at least a portion of the expandable member, relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity. Devices including at least one expandable member and at least one buoyancy member are provided.