SURGICAL DEVICE

Abstract: A device (1) for banding of the stomach (11) of a patient, such as a patient suffering from obesity, which device comprises a band (2) arranged to be joined into a ring around the stomach and provided with a lumen (3) filled with a fluid, in which lumen the amount of fluid can be changed via an injection port (6) placed under the skin of the patient, thus that the cross-sectional area of the ring can be varied.

Description: Surgical device Technical field The present invention is related to a surgical device for banding of the stomach of a patient who benefits from such banding, preferably for decreasing food intake. A method of banding the stomach of a pa¬ tient and a method for treatment of obesity in a patient constitute further aspects of the invention. An object of the invention is to achieve banding of the stomach that can be modified without a renewed surgical incision. State of the art A method in use at present for treatment of obese patients comprises applying a stricture on the stomach by means of a band or similar, which at a surgical incision is fixed to a certain predetermined cir¬ cumference. However it has turned out that the stricture in many cases . is either too big or too small. This has led to renewed incisions in nearly half of the cases. Description of the invention According to the present invention it is provided a surgical device for banding of the stomach of a patient, comprising a band arranged to be joined with itself to a ring around the stomach. The device is characterized in that the band has a lumen filled with fluid and having a flexible wall, which on application is oriented in towards the stomach, in which lumen the amount of fluid can be increased or decreased via a conduit for the fluid connected to the lumen and debouching in an injection port intended to be placed under the skin of the patient. With the device a decrease or increase of the free cross-sectional area defined by said ring is achieved. With the device according to the invention the band can be placed around the stomach filled with a predetermined amount of fluid in the lumen which provides the intended stricture of the stomach. If later said stricture turns out to be too narrow or too wide, it can be widened or narrowed in a desired degree by insertion of a syringe needle through the skin of the patient into the injection port and withdrawal or injection of fluid. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the lumen extends along an intermediate portion of the band, whereby the band has free ends arranged to be joined to each other. The joining can preferably be done by overlapping the free band ends and suturing them together. For this purpose the band can have a reinforcement, for example a net reinforcement which prevents the suture from tearing up the band. It is preferred to provide the band with a number of attachment ears for suturing the band to body tissues, preferably to the outer wall of the stomach. The fluid in the device can be a gas but is preferably a liquid. In the choice of liquid- it should be taken into account that it should not to a substantial degree be able to penetrate the wall material forming the lumen, the conduit and the injection port. Furthermore it should be taken into account that the liquid should be physiologi- cally innocuous for the event that it still could leak out into the organism, for example due to damage to the device, inappropriate hand¬ ling or defects in material. Osmolarly active or inactive liquids can be used. A preferred liquid is oil such as peanut oil, soy oil, another vegetabilic oil or paraffin oil. Other preferred liquids are water, dextrane solution or sodium chloride solution, preferably isoto- nic sodium chloride solution. The liquid can, in case of need, contain bacteriostatically acting compounds. The injection port can be designed in a manner known per se, but con- sists preferably of a beaker-shaped body in the interior of which the conduit for the fluid debouches, which body is moulded into a soft material, penetrable by an injection needle. The invention is further described with reference to the enclosed drawings wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a device according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a view from a low angle of the band.comprised in the device of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an overview which schematically shows a device according to the invention in position around the stomach. According to the invention 1 denotes a band 2, which on one side has a lumen 3 filled with a liquid, said lumen having a flexible wall 4. The lumen is in liquid communication with a conduit 5 for the li- quid which debouches in an injection port 6. The conduit can be cut by the surgeon and joined to a length suitable for the individual patient, and can for this purpose be provided with a connector pipe (not shown). The band 2 comprises a support strap 7 of material of sufficient flexi¬ bility to be joined -to a ring and not to cause trauma on parts of tissue brought in contact therewith. In the support strap a net rein¬ forcement 8 is included. The lumen 3 consists according to figs. 1 and 2 of a section of tubing closed at its ends and glued to the sup- port strap. Alternatively the support strap can constitute one of the walls of the lumen. The other wall 4 of the lumen is intended to be oriented in towards the stomach on application and is made up of soft flexible material to have the ability to expand on filling with liquid. Said wall 4 can optionally be made up of elastic mate- rial. The injection port 5 contains a beaker-shaped body 9 suggested with interrupted lines in fig. 1 and moulded into a cover 10 of soft mate¬ rial. In fig. 2 an arrow shows how liquid can be introduced via the conduit 5 for the fluid into the lumen which therein is shown in partially expanded condition. In fig. 3 the stomach is denoted 11 and the band joined into a ring is denoted 12. Preferably the length of the band can be between 60 and 200 mm, where- by the lumen occupies between 40 and 170 mm, and the width between 5 and 20 mm. The volume of liquid in the lumen in completely expanded condition can suitably be between 2 and 20 ml. By choosing said para¬ meters, material and thickness of goods the free cross-sectional area defined by the band in ring-shape can be made to decrease by about 2 80% from a largest area which is between 150 and 2500 mm . The material in the device should be physiologically innocuous and non-irritating to tissues in all parts thereof brought in contact with body tissues. The band, the walls of the lumen, the conduit and the outer part of the injection port can suitably be made up by sili¬ con rubber while the beaker-shaped body of the injection port suitably can be made up by HD-polyethylene or polyamide.

Claims: Cl aims 1. A surgical device for banding of the stomaςh of a patient, com¬ prising a band arranged to be joined with itself into a ring around the stomach, characterized in that the band has a lumen filled with fluid, said lumen having a flexible wall whic on application is ori¬ ented in towards the stomach, in which lumen the amount of fluid can be increased or decreased via a conduit for the fluid connected to the lumen and debouching in an injection port intended to be placed under the skin of the patient, whereby is achieved an increase or a decrease respectively of the free cross-sectional area defined by said ring. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lumen extends along an intermediate part of the band and the band has free ends arranged to be joined to each other. 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the band has a number of attachment ears for suturing of the same to body tis- sues. 4. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that the fluid is a liquid. 5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the liquid is an oil . 6. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the liquid is an isotonic sodium chloride solution. 7. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, charac¬ terized in that the injection port consists of a beaker-shaped body in the interior of which a conduit for the fluid debouches, which body is moulded into a soft material penetrable for an injection needle. 8. A method of banding the stomach of a patient, characterized in that the stomach is banded with employment of a device according to one or more of the preceding claims. 9. A method of treatment of obesity in a patient, characterized in that the stomach of the patient is banded at a surgical incision using a device according to one or more of claims 1-6, whereupon in case of need the banding is modified by injection or withdrawal of fluid through the injection port.

Inventors: HALLBERG DAG, HALLBERG, DAG
Applicants: ASTRA MEDITEC AB, ASTRA MEDITEC AKTIEBOLAG
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17, A61F5