Endoscope & tools for applying sealants and adhesives and intestinal lining for reducing food absorption

#This invention relates to medical appliances and more particularly to linings and coatings to reduce food absorption in the small intestine, without surgery.

#Reduction of food chemicals for weight loss may be accomplished in a number of ways. The inventive instrument aims to accomplish weight loss, without surgery, by implanting a removable lining. The lining is anchored in position by means of medical-grade adhesives that are contained on or applied to a mesh sleeve attached to one end of the lining. The lining covers the intestinal villi and reduces the amount of food chemicals absorbed. When the partially digested food chemicals enter the implant, they are squeezed through the lining by the normal peristaltic movements and contractions, in the patient's body. The lining retains a collapsed state when empty of food and expands outwardly as food chemicals enter. Thus, when the intestinal walls feel a change in diameter, they commence peristaltic movements and contractions, which squeeze the liquefied chyme through the lining and then out its open end.

#The lining is inserted and removed, without an operation, by an endoscope, which contains two extendable tools running coaxially within its lumen. One extendable tool has a ballon on its end that may be inflated and deflated. The other extendable tool contains optical fibers to photopolymerize adhesives and sealants once application is complete.

#The nature of the preferred embodiments may be understood best from a study of the attached drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the inventive lining being implanted in the small intestine, and the endoscope in a position where it is about to be used to glue the mesh sleeve in position;

#FIG. 2 schematically shows, somewhat in perspective, a tubular lining, which may be implanted in the small intestine;

#In the description that follows, any suitable medical grade material may be used for the lining, mesh sleeve, endoscope and endoscopic tools. The endoscope and endoscopic tools must be coated with Teflon, silicone or another non-stick material so the adhesives won't bond to them.

#The lining is, preferably, manufactured of silicone rubber. The mesh sleeve may be manufactured of any material, which the medical-grade adhesives will securely bond with. In operation, the only portion of the inventive instrument that adhesives are to bond with is the mesh sleeve, which is glued to the walls of the alimentary canal.

#Presently the adhesives and sealants of choice include gelatin-based glues which are called hydrogels, marine adhesive proteins, polymeric sealants, fibrin glues, cyanoacrylates, laser solder adhesives, elastromers, collagen-thrombin fleece, bone dust sealants, albumin solutions, and tissue adhesives based on protein engineering.