# US 2014/0194805 A1 · Anti-Obesity Devices

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- Number: US 2014/0194805 A1
- Document ID: US20140194805A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/203,064
- Filed: 2014-03-10
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2003-10-17
- Assignees: GI Dynamics, Inc.
- Applicants: GI Dynamics, Inc.
- Inventors: Andy H. Levine; David A. Melanson; John C. Meade
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194805A1

## CPC

- A61F 5/0076: {preventing normal digestion, e.g. Bariatric or gastric sleeves}
- A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)}
- A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery}
- A61B 17/1114: {of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus}
- A61F 2/04: Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts (A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95)
- A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts
- A61F 5/0089: {Instruments for placement or removal}
- A61B 17/0482: {Needle or suture guides (guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; guides for puncturing needles A61B17/3403)}
- A61B 2017/00238: {Type of minimally invasive operation (A61B2017/00805 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect}
- A61B 2017/0419: {H-fasteners}
- A61B 2017/061: {hollow or tubular}
- A61F 2/848: having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
- A61F 2/90: characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
- A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
- A61F 2002/044: {Oesophagi or esophagi or gullets}
- A61F 2002/045: {Stomach, intestines}
- A61F 2002/075: {the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching}
- A61F 2002/8483: {Barbs}
- A61F 2002/8486: {provided on at least one of the ends}
- A61F 2002/9528: {for retrieval of stents}
- A61F 2220/0016: with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
- A61F 2250/0039: differing in diameter
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Method and apparatus for limiting absorption of food products in specific parts of the digestive system is presented. A gastrointestinal implant device is anchored in the pyloric portion of the gastrointestinal system and extends beyond the ligament of Treitz. All food exiting the stomach is funneled through the device. The gastrointestinal device includes an anchor for anchoring the device in the pyloric portion and a flexible sleeve that extents into the duodenum. The anchor is collapsible for endoscopic delivery and removal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A delivery apparatus for delivering a gastrointestinal device, the apparatus comprising:
a flexible inner shaft having a distal tip for passage through at least a foot length of the intestines and for delivering a gastrointestinal device, the shaft having a minimum bend radius of less than 0.5 inches without kinking;
a semi-rigid outer tube to receive the inner shaft and to guide movement of the shaft through the stomach; and
an atraumatic element coupled to the distal tip of the inner shaft and configured to lead the shaft through the intestines.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further including the gastrointestinal device coupled to the inner shaft, the gastrointestinal device being shaped and configured for providing a barrier in the digestive tract.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the gastrointestinal device is a flexible, floppy sleeve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner shaft is a catheter and further including a moveable element extending along a length of the catheter, and being longitudinally moveable within the catheter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the atraumatic element is releasably coupled to the distal tip of the catheter and the moveable element, and wherein the atraumatic element is released from the distal tip of the catheter and the moveable element by moving the moveable element away from the atraumatic element.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the gastrointestinal device is releasably coupled to the catheter and the moveable element, and wherein the gastrointestinal device is released from the catheter and the moveable element by moving the moveable element.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gastrointestinal device is a flexible, floppy sleeve.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atraumatic element is remotely releasable from the distal tip of the shaft.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atraumatic element comprises a ball.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atraumatic element is inflatable.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atraumatic element is larger in diameter than the shaft.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the atraumatic element is 0.25 inches to 0.75 inches in diameter.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner shaft is a catheter defining a first lumen.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further including a guidewire extending through the first lumen.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further including a stiffening wire extending through the first lumen to increase the rigidity of the catheter during introduction of the catheter into the intestines.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the catheter defines a second lumen and further including a retention wire extending through the second lumen to hold a distal end of the gastrointestinal device to the catheter.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the catheter defines a third lumen to pass fluid into the intestines.

### Claim 18

A method of delivering a gastrointestinal device comprising:
passing a semi-rigid outer tube through the stomach; and
passing a flexible inner shaft having a distal tip through the outer tube and through a length of the intestines to deliver a gastrointestinal device, the shaft extending at least a foot beyond the outer tube, the shaft having a minimum bend radius of less than 0.5 inches without kinking, the shaft having an atraumatic element coupled to the distal tip of the shaft.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the inner shaft is a catheter defining a first lumen, and wherein passing the catheter includes increasing the rigidity of the catheter with a wire extending through the first lumen.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein a moveable element extends along the length of the catheter via a second lumen in the catheter.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the atraumatic element is releasably coupled to the distal tip of the catheter and the moveable element, and further including releasing the atraumatic element from the distal tip of the catheter and the moveable element by moving the moveable element away from the atraumatic element.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the gastrointestinal device is releasably coupled to the catheter and the moveable element, and further including releasing the gastrointestinal device from the catheter and the moveable element by moving the moveable element.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, further including delivering fluid to the distal tip of the catheter via a third lumen.

### Claim 24 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the gastrointestinal device is releasably coupled to the inner shaft, and further including releasing the gastrointestinal device from the shaft.