Implant system and method for bulking tissue

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an implant and a system and method for placing the implant in the body to bulk body tissue. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for placing the implant at or near the gastro-esophageal junction to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

#2. Description of Related Art

#The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,

#FIG. 1 is partial cross sectional view of an implant placement system according to a first embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 with an implant of the system partially pushed through a distal end opening of an elongated member shown in FIG. 1;

#Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts, and similar reference numerals are used to refer to similar elements.

#FIGS. 1 and 2 show an implant placement system 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the system 10 includes an elongated member 20 having an inner lumen 22, one or more implants 30 in the inner lumen 22, and a pushing member 40 for pushing the implants 30 through both the lumen 22 and an opening 24 in a distal end portion of the elongated member 20.

#The elongated member 20 is preferably a hollow needle, cannula, or tubular member having a sharpened distal end 26 configured to pierce though layers of body tissue so that the opening 24 can be positioned between the tissue layers. When the opening 24 is located in this position, one or more of the implants 30 are ejected from the opening 24 and become implanted between the tissue layers. As described below, the elongated member 20 is preferably long enough to be passed transorally through the esophagus during a GERD treatment procedure to position the distal end portion of the elongated member 20 between layers of tissue at or near the gastro-esophageal junction. To allow for such passage through the esophagus without significant trauma, the elongated member 20 preferably has a sufficient amount of flexibility, and is optionally precurved or bent in a shape facilitating placement of the distal end 26 at a desired location in the body. For example, FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of an elongated member 20A having a curved distal end portion.