Patent ID: 7803195
Filing Date: 2010-09-28
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for treating obesity of a patient having a normal flow path in series through gastrointestinal organs of the patient including a stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon, said method comprising: 1) identifying an obese patient for treatment of obesity; 2) positioning an implant, wherein said implant comprises: a) a first inflatable chamber, b) a second inflatable chamber, c) an internal lumen that defines an artificial passageway having an inlet end adjacent the first expandable chamber and an outlet end adjacent the second expandable chamber, and having one or more inflation lumens in fluid connection with the first inflatable chamber and the second inflatable chamber; and d) a valve member for controlling a flow of contents through said passageway from said inlet end to said outlet end; wherein said positioning comprises placing said implant through an artificial opening formed in a wall of said stomach of the obese patient and through an artificial opening formed in a wall of at least a selected one of said duodenum, said jejunum, said ileum and said colon of the patient, with said inlet end disposed within an interior of said stomach and with said outlet end disposed within an interior of said selected one of said duodenum, said jejunum, said ileum and said colon, wherein said artificial passageway of said implant is completely outside of a pylorus of the patient; and 3) securing said inlet end within the interior of the stomach by inflating the first expandable chamber, and securing said outlet end within the interior of said selected one of said duodenum, said jejunum, said ileum and said colon by inflating the second expandable chamber such that said artificial passageway is completely outside of the pylorus of the patient.