Bariatric device and method

A bariatric device for use with a recipient having an esophagus, a stomach with a cardiac portion and a gastroesophageal junction between the esophagus and the stomach, said bariatric device comprising:

• an esophageal member having an esophageal surface that is configured to conform to the shape and size of a portion of the esophagus of the recipient, said esophageal member having a surface configured to cause tissue attachment with a wall of the esophagus to resist distal migration of said esophageal member with respect to the portion of the esophagus of the recipient;
• a cardiac member having a cardiac surface that is configured to conform to the shape and size of at least a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient;
• and
• a connector connected with said esophageal member and said cardiac member that transmits force between the esophageal member and the cardiac member when implanted to cause strain to be applied by the cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach in the absence of food, said connector comprising a plurality of elongated members.

A bariatric device for use with a recipient having an esophagus, a stomach with a cardiac portion and a gastroesophageal junction between the esophagus and the stomach, said bariatric device comprising:

• an esophageal member having an esophageal surface that is configured to conform to the shape and size of a portion of the esophagus of the recipient, wherein said esophageal member comprises a wire cage and a flexible material over said cage;
• a cardiac member having a cardiac surface that is configured to conform to the shape and size of at least a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient, wherein said cardiac member comprises a generally planar member, wherein said planar member is defined by a stiffening mesh and a flexible material over said mesh;
• a connector connected with said esophageal member and said cardiac member that transmits force between the esophageal member and the cardiac member when implanted, said connector comprises at least two elongated members that are configured to be positioned in the gastroesophageal junction of the recipient, said connector causing strain to be applied by the cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient in the absence of food;
• and
• an anchor system resisting distal migration of said cardiac member with respect to the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient.

A method of causing satiety in a recipient having an esophagus, a stomach with a cardiac portion and a gastroesophageal junction between the esophagus and the stomach, said method comprising:

• positioning an esophageal member in a portion of the esophagus of the recipient, said esophageal member having an esophageal surface that is configured to conform to the shape and size of the portion of the esophagus of the recipient;
• positioning a cardiac member at the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient, said cardiac member having a cardiac surface that is configured to conform to the shape and size of at least a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient;
• said esophageal member connected with said cardiac member with a connector;
• and
• causing strain to be applied by said cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach in the absence of food including anchoring said esophageal member to the portion of the esophagus of the recipient to resist distal migration of said esophageal member with respect to the portion of the esophagus wherein said connector transmits force between the esophageal member and the cardiac member.

A method of causing satiety in a recipient having an esophagus, a stomach with a cardiac portion and a gastroesophageal junction between the esophagus and the stomach, said method comprising:

• positioning an esophageal member in a portion of the esophagus of the recipient, said esophageal member having an esophageal surface that is configured to conform to the shape and size of the portion of the esophagus of the recipient;
• positioning a cardiac member at the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient, the cardiac member having a cardiac surface that is configured to conform to the shape and size of at least a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient;
• said esophageal member and said cardiac member connected with a connector, said connector comprising a plurality of elongated members;
• and
• causing strain to be applied by said cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient in the absence of food including said esophageal member having a surface configured to cause tissue attachment with a wall of the esophagus of the recipient to resist distal migration of said esophageal member with respect to the portion of the esophagus wherein said connector transmits force between the esophageal member and the cardiac member.

A method of causing satiety in a recipient having an esophagus, a stomach with a cardiac portion and a gastroesophageal junction between the esophagus and the stomach, said method comprising:

• positioning an esophageal member in a portion of the esophagus of the recipient, said esophageal member having an esophageal surface that is configured to conform to the shape and size of the portion of the esophagus of the recipient, wherein said esophageal member comprises a wire cage and a generally flexible material over said cage;
• positioning a cardiac member at the cardiac portion of the recipient, said cardiac member having a cardiac surface that is configured to conform to the shape and size of at least a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient, wherein said cardiac member comprises a generally planar member, wherein said planar member is defined by a stiffening mesh and a flexible material over said mesh;
• said esophageal member and said cardiac member connected with a connector, said connector comprises at least two elongated members;
• and
• causing strain to be applied by the cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach of the recipient in the absence of food including positioning the connector in the gastroesophageal junction of the recipient and anchoring at least one chosen from said esophageal member, said cardiac member and said connector to the recipient to resist distal migration of said cardiac member from the cardiac portion of the recipient.