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AssigneeBoehringer Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsChristopher L. Radl, Trevor Smith, Helmut Laenger
Estimating the term…
Systems and methods for effecting bariatric procedures are disclosed. Each system includes an instrument, a control valve and, optionally, a suction controller. The instrument is in the form of an elongated, flexible member having a distal end portion arranged for anchoring the instrument in the patient's stomach and for enabling fluids to be removed from the patient's stomach. Suction is applied to the patient's stomach by the distal end portion of the instrument to drain gastric fluids and to bring adjacent portions of the patient's stomach into engagement with the instrument to provide a visually perceptible delineation line along which a portion of the stomach may be resected, sealed and tested.
A device for use in a system including a suction controller for sizing the stomach of a patient for a bariatric procedure, said device comprising an elongated member having a first portion, a distal end, a proximal end, an anchoring portion and a first passageway extending from said proximal end towards said distal end, said proximal end being arranged to be coupled to the suction controller for applying controlled suction to the interior of the patient's stomach and removing fluids from the interior of the patient's stomach, said anchoring portion being operable for anchoring said elongated member within the patient's stomach so that said first portion of said elongated member is held at a predetermined location within the patient's stomach, said first portion having a periphery of a predetermined size, whereupon when suction is applied to said first passageway said elongated member removes fluid from the interior of the patient's stomach and brings adjacent portions of the patient's stomach into close engagement with said first portion of said elongated member to enable the patient's stomach to be sized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.