Endoscopic Tools for the Removal of Balloon-Like Intragastric Devices

A method for retrieving an intragastric balloon from a stomach of a patient, comprising:

• a) providing an intragastric balloon retrieval tool having an elongated shaft terminating at a coiled body having a pointed end configured to puncture the intragastric balloon;
• b) advancing the retrieval tool through a gastrointestinal tract of the patient to the stomach of the patient;
• c) contacting the coiled body of the retrieval tool against the intragastric balloon within the stomach;
• d) puncturing the intragastric balloon to deflate the intragastric balloon;
• and
• e) withdrawing the deflated intragastric balloon from the stomach with the retrieval tool.

A method for retrieving an intragastric balloon from a stomach of a patient, comprising:

• a) providing a system including,
• i) an elongated delivery tube having a lumen, and
• ii) a balloon retrieval tool disposed and able to be longitudinally displaced within the delivery tube lumen, the retrieval tool having an elongated shaft terminating at a helically advanceable element and having a pointed end configured to puncture the intragastric balloon;
• b) advancing the system into a gastrointestinal tract to the stomach;
• c) puncturing the intragastric balloon within the stomach;
• and
• d) withdrawing the intragastric balloon from the stomach of the patient.