DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GASTRIC REDUCTION
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.
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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 INVENTIONThe present invention relates to methods and apparatus for reducing the effective cross-sectional area of a gastro-intestinal (“GI”) lumen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMorbid 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.
Several surgical techniques have been developed to treat morbid obesity, e.g., bypassing an absorptive surface of the small intestine, or reducing the stomach size. 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.
In view of the aforementioned limitations, it would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for achieving gastric reduction by reconfiguring the GI lumen of a patient.
It also would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for gastric reduction including various end effectors that facilitate gastric reduction.
It further would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for gastric reduction using a delivery catheter having an obturator that facilitates delivery of biocompatible anchors.
It further would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus for gastric reduction using a delivery catheter having an ejection needle capable of housing and placing a plurality of anchors sequentially.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for gastric reduction having various end effectors that facilitate gastric reduction.
It is another object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for gastric reduction using anchors that can be reconfigured from a reduced delivery profile to an expanded deployed profile.
It is an additional object of this invention to provide methods and apparatus for gastric reduction using a delivery catheter having an obturator that facilitates delivery of biocompatible anchors.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for gastric reduction using a delivery catheter having an ejection needle capable of housing and placing a plurality of anchors sequentially.
These and other aspects of the present invention are accomplished by providing a gastric reduction system including methods and apparatus for delivering a plurality of anchors on opposing sides of a gastro-intestinal lumen and then moving the anchors to approximate the opposing walls of the lumen.
One aspect of the present invention involves using a delivery catheter to narrow a cross-sectional area of a gastro-intestinal lumen. The delivery catheter comprises an elongate torqueable tube, a needle translatably disposed within the torqueable tube and an anchor translatably disposed within the needle. The delivery catheter may include a stabilization device such as a coil screw to facilitate anchor delivery. According to some embodiments, the coil screw is fixedly attached to a distal end of the torqueable tube and the individual coils form a central opening for the passage of the needle. In another embodiment, the coil screw is translatably disposed within a delivery catheter lumen.
In a further embodiment, the stabilization device comprises a shaft coupled to a plurality of resilient fingers and disposed within a delivery catheter lumen. The resilient fingers are adapted to automatically expand into a deployed configuration upon exiting the delivery catheter. Alternatively, the stabilization device comprises a plurality of resilient wires disposed within lumens spaced apart around the periphery of the torqueable tube. The resilient wires preferably are curved such that they extend radially outward from the distal tip of the torqueable tube when in a deployed configuration.
In still further embodiments, the needle is curved such that initial deployment of the needle through the coil screw causes the needle to penetrate the tissue wall such that a distal tip of the needle moves from a first side of the tissue wall to a second side of the tissue wall. Further deployment of the needle through the coil screw causes the needle to penetrate the tissue wall for a second time such that the distal tip of the needle moves from the second side of the tissue wall back to the first side of the tissue wall. The anchor then is ejected through the needle after the distal tip of the needle penetrates the tissue wall for the second time.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the delivery catheter includes an obturator comprising an elongate shaft translatably disposed within the torqueable tube. Advantageously, a plurality of anchors may be disposed about the shaft of the obturator. The obturator includes a sharpened distal tip adapted to be extended beyond the distal end of the torqueable tube to facilitate the penetration of tissue wall. Alternatively, the obturator may have a blunt, spring-loaded tip extending distally from a sharpened distal tip so that the blunt, spring-loaded tip extends beyond the sharpened distal tip after the tip penetrates within a cavity.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, the delivery catheter comprises an ejection needle having an actuator cable, a first lumen housing a plurality of anchors, a second lumen and a spring-loaded shifting element for shifting the anchors from the first lumen to the second lumen. Pulling the actuator cable in a proximal direction causes an anchor to be shifted from the first lumen to the second lumen. The delivery catheter further comprises a push rod for ejecting the anchor from the ejection lumen.
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
Overview of a Preferred Gastric Reduction System
Referring to
A. Delivery Catheter
Referring now to
Push rod 21 is disposed for translation within lumen 18, and is configured to eject anchor 22 (see
To facilitate penetration of needle 16 into tissue wall W, delivery catheter 11 preferably includes a stabilization device in the form of coil 24 that may be engaged to tissue wall W to stabilize distal end 23 of delivery catheter 11 against the tissue during actuation of needle 16. Coil 24 preferably is attached at one end to distal end 23 of catheter 11 and terminates at the other end in sharpened tip 25. According to some embodiments, coil 24 and needle are coaxial such that coil 24 defines a central passage that permits needle 16 to be reciprocated therethrough.
Referring to
In operation, after knob 35 has been rotated to engage coil 24 to tissue wall W, slider button 36 is actuated to urge needle 16 distally to pass through coil 24 and penetrate wall W. Once needle tip 19 has penetrated the tissue wall, slider button 37 is actuated urge push rod 21 distally, thus ejecting anchor 22 from needle 16 on the distal side of tissue wall W. After the anchor assembly has been deployed, slider buttons 36 and 37 are retracted in the proximal direction to retract the needle and push rod back within elongate tube 14. Knob 35 may then be rotated in the opposite direction to release its engagement with tissue wall W.
B. Anchor
Referring now to
Braided sleeve 40 preferably comprises a highly porous, compliant and high strength material composed of numerous individual monofilament elements. Suitable materials for the monofilament elements include polyester, nylon, TEFLON, polypropylene and combinations thereof. Braided sleeve 40 also may be formed from a shape memory metal, such as a Nickel-Titanium alloy. In addition, the porous braid structure may promote an easily and uniformly absorbable structure for use in applications in which anchor 22 is not intended for permanent implantation. Conversely, the porous braid structure may promote tissue growth to enhance anchoring in applications in which anchor 22 is designed for permanent implantation.
Anchor 22 may be made by thermo-forming two ends of a short length of braided sleeve to form proximal and distal bushings 41 and 42. Alternatively, separate bushings may be glued, over-molded, soldered or welded onto the ends of a length of braided sleeve. Suture(s) 43 may be attached to distal bushing 42 at a fixture point comprising, for example, one or more holes 46 formed in the distal bushing. Alternatively, the sutures may be attached using an eyelet, adhesive or other suitable fastener.
In
Alternatively, anchor 22 may be preformed to self-expand to disk-shaped profile to automatically upon ejection from lumen 18 of needle 16. Such a preset shape may be accomplished by coupling the anchor to a fixture (e.g., a mandrel) and heat setting the braided sleeve in the disk-shaped profile. For example, the bushings may be approximated and then retained in close proximity by a fixture, or the shape may be imposed by compressing the braid in a disk-shaped mold. The formed anchor and fixture then may be placed into an oven for a predetermined amount of time, and quenched or slowly cooled to room temperature.
C. Suture Tensioning Assembly
Referring now to
At this step in the procedure, fastener 54 is crimped to maintain the tension in sutures 43. The excess length of sutures 43 is cut and removed via the patient's mouth. Advantageously, narrowing of stomach S limits the amount of food the patient consumes by providing a feeling of satiety after only a small amount of food is ingested.
Alternatively or in addition, sutures 43 may comprise self-tightening materials that shrink over time, or materials such as nickel titanium or electroactive polymers that are pre-stretched so that the subsequent application of heat or electricity causes the sutures to shorten. By way of example, if pre-stretched nickel titanium or electroactive polymeric sutures are used, heat from a radiofrequency device or hot water may be used after the procedure to induce the sutures to tighten. Tension may be controlled by the ability of the sutures to tighten to a specific load. Tension also may be maintained by tying a knot or fusing the sutures to each other via application of heat.
Alternative Delivery Catheter Embodiments Suitable for Use with the Gastric Reduction System
As described above with respect to
Preferably, torqueable tube 76 is made from stainless steel with a laser-cut slot pattern. The slot pattern may be a sinusoidal repeating pattern of slots perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of torqueable tube 76. Alternatively, the slot density may be increased near the distal end of torqueable tube to provide a flexible distal tip capable of retroflexing, yet maintain a high degree of torqueability.
Referring to
With respect to
Although obturator 90 of
Referring now to
With respect to
When the trigger is actuated, the actuator cable is pulled proximally. This caused shifting element 116 to overcome the force exerted by compression spring 117 and move away from ejection lumen 110. Retraction of shifting element 116 against compression spring 117 permits anchor 22a to slide distally out of lumen 114 (under the urging of compression spring 115), so that anchor 22a is disposed substantially directly beneath shifting element 116 in the path of push rod 111 (
With respect to
Referring now to
Referring to
With respect to
Stabilization device 138 of
Illustratively, curved wires 144 of
(start here) With respect to
Further deployment of needle 150 through the coil screw causes the needle to penetrate the tissue wall for a second time (at W2) such that distal tip 152 moves from the second side of the tissue wall back to the first side of the tissue wall. Referring to
Although preferred illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described above, it will be evident to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A delivery catheter comprising:
- an elongate torqueable tube having a back end and a front end;
- a needle translatably disposed within the tube, with the needle having a penetrating tip;
- at least one anchor translatably disposed within the needle, and moveable out of the penetrating tip of the needle; and
- a coil on a front end of a shaft that is translatably disposed within a lumen in said tube, said coil being extendible out of the front end of the tube.
2. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the tube is formed of a braided wire.
3. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the tube contains a plurality of slots disposed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube.
4. The delivery catheter of claim 3, wherein the slots are formed in a sinusoidal pattern.
5. The delivery catheter of claim 3, wherein the slot density is increased near a distal end of the tube.
6. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the coil includes a sharpened distal tip to facilitate tissue penetration.
7. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the coil comprises a plurality of coils that form a central opening for the passage of the needle.
8. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the coil and needle are substantially coaxial.
9. The delivery catheter of claim 1, further comprising a push rod translatably disposed within the needle and adapted to push the anchor out of a distal end of the needle.
10. A catheter comprising:
- a tube having a front end and a back end;
- a needle within the tube and having a tip extendible out of the front end of the tube;
- at least one anchor positioned within the needle and moveable out of the needle during a surgical procedure;
- a suture connected to one or more of the anchors, and with the suture extending within the needle towards the back end of the needle; and
- a coil on a front end of a shaft that is translatably disposed within a lumen in said tube, said coil being extendible out of the front end of the tube.
11. The catheter of claim 10 wherein the tube is torqueable and is formed of braided wire.
12. The catheter of claim 10 wherein the tube contains a plurality of slots extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube, to increase the flexibility of the tube.
13. The catheter of claim 10, wherein said coil has a sharp tip.
14. The catheter of claim 13 with the needle having a penetrating tip adjacent to the front end of the tube.
15. The catheter of claim 13 with the needle positioned to extend out of the front end of the tube and through the coil.
16. The catheter of claim 10 further comprising a push rod longitudinally moveable within the needle for pushing one or more anchors out of the tip of the needle.
17. A catheter comprising:
- a torqueable tube having a front end and a back end;
- a handle attached adjacent to the back end of the tube;
- a hollow needle within the tube and having a piercing tip extendible out of the front end of the tube;
- one or more anchors within the needle, with the anchor moveable out of the piercing tip of the needle;
- an anchor ejector within the needle;
- a suture connected to the anchor and leading out towards the handle;
- a needle control on the handle linked to the needle, for moving the needle within the tube;
- an anchor ejector control on the handle linked to the anchor ejector; and
- a coil on a front end of a shaft that is translatably disposed within a lumen in said tube, said coil being extendible out of the front end of the tube.
Type: Application
Filed: May 16, 2011
Publication Date: Sep 1, 2011
Applicant: USGI MEDICAL, INC. (San Clemente, CA)
Inventors: Richard C. EWERS (Fullerton, CA), Vahid SAADAT (Atherton, CA), Eugene CHEN (Carlsbad, CA)
Application Number: 13/108,270
International Classification: A61B 17/04 (20060101);