Gastric band

Abstract

A gastric band of a belt type is presented for attaching around a circumference of a patient's stomach, so as to define the diameter of the stomach opening. The band comprises outer and inner surfaces, wherein the inner surface engages the stomach, and at least the outer surface is formed by an elongated member substantially non-extendable along a longitudinal axis thereof. A through-going opening is made in the elongated member and is located so as to define an end portion of the band having a predetermined length. An opposite end portion of the band is shaped so as to be insertable into the through-going opening for adjusting a desired inner diameter of the band in its closed operating position and fastening the opposite end portion to the outer surface of the band.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . A non-inflatable gastric band comprising:
 (a) an elongated strip made of soft material substantially non-extensible longitudinally having outer and inner surfaces, wherein the inner surface engages the stomach when in an operating opposition of the band mounted on the stomach;   (b) a through-going opening in said band at a location spaced from a butt-end of the band a predetermined distance to define an extended end portion of the band having a predetermined length such that when the band is closed, said end portion freely protrudes of the band;   (c) an opposite end portion of the band shaped so as to be insertable into said through-going opening for adjusting a desired inner diameter of the band in its closed operating position and fastening the opposite end portion to the outer surface of the band upon establishing the desired diameter,   wherein said extended end portion and the opposite portion serving for gripping the band while mounting it onto the stomach and adjusting the diameter of the band to bring it into its operating closed position, said extended free protruding and portion or the of the band enabling detection of the band while in the operative position thereof mounted on the stomach and enabling gripping the band for readjusting the diameter of the stomach opening after the band is brought into its operating position;   wherein the gastric band mounts on the outside of a patient's stomach so as to fix a desired diameter of the band in it operating closed position as defined by a separate calibrating device thereby to determine the diameter of the stomach opening and a volume the stomach above the band; and   wherein the two ends of the band are fastened together when the band is in the operating position around the stomach.   
   
   
       17 . The gastric band according to  claim 16 , further including a fastener comprising at least one projection located on the outer surface of the band, and at least one through-going hole for receiving said at least one projection, when the band is in the operating position around the stomach. 
   
   
       18 . The gastric band according to  claim 16 , wherein the two ends of the band are fastened together by two or more stitches when the band is in the operating position around the stomach. 
   
   
       19 . The gastric band according to  claim 16 , wherein the outer and inner surfaces are formed of different first and second materials, respectively. 
   
   
       20 . The gastric band according to  claim 19 , wherein said second material comprises silicone. 
   
   
       21 . The gastric band according to  claim 20 , wherein said first material comprises poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene. 
   
   
       22 . The gastric band according to  claim 16 , wherein said inner surface engaging the stomach has substantially circular shape when in the operating position of the band. 
   
   
       23 . The gastric band according to  claim 16 , wherein said predetermined length of the end portion is such as to enable the detection of the gastric band by a laparoscopic inspection tool. 
   
   
       24 . A system for laparoscopically attaching the gastric band of  claim 16  around a patient's stomach so as to define a certain diameter of the stomach opening, the system comprising:
 a calibration device which is insertable into the stomach at a predetermined depth and three articulated gripping devices,   wherein the calibration device comprises:   an upper portion having variable volume, and a lower projection-like portion having a diameter substantially equal to said certain diameter of the stomach opening to be defined by the band, and   further comprising a pipe providing access to the interior of the stomach,   wherein the location of said projection-like portion when in the inserted position of the calibration device defines the location of the band with respect to the stomach;   
   
   
       25 . A system according to  claim 24  wherein the lower projection-like portion is a rigid tube of fixed diameter. 
   
   
       26 . A system according to  claim 24  wherein the pipe extends through the lower projection-like portion for aspiration of the contents of the stomach. 
   
   
       27 . A method for attaching the gastric band of  claim 16  around a circumference of a patient's stomach so as to define a desired diameter of the stomach opening and a desired volume of the stomach above the opening, the method comprising:
 performing a calibration with a calibration device having a balloon-like inflatable upper portion and a lower substantially rigid projection-like portion having a fixed diameter substantially equal to said desired diameter of the stomach opening and to define a plane of location where the gastric band is to be attached, thereby defining the volume of the stomach above the opening, the calibration comprising:   inserting the calibration device inside the stomach though a stomach inlet,   inflating the upper inflatable portion up to a volume corresponding to a certain maximal diameter thereof so as to substantially engage the inner circumference of the stomach;   partially deflating said portion to a volume corresponding to the diameter of the upper portion; and   pulling the calibration device towards the stomach inlet to thereby locate the lower portion and define the location for mounting the gastric band; and   laparoscopically attaching the gastric band around the circumference of the patient's stomach at said location.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein attaching the gastric band comprises:
 inserting a gripping device through cuttings made in the stomach connecting tissue on opposite sides of the back of the stomach in the plane of location of the gastric band;   clamping the opposite end portion of the band; and   pulling the gripping device to thereby thread the band through the cuttings to engage the back side of the stomach;   supporting the end portion of the band while passing the gripping device though said though-going opening of the band towards said opposite end portion of the band;   manipulating arms of the gripping device to thread said opposite end portion of the band through the through-going opening and close the band tight around the lower projection-like portion of the calibration device inside the stomach;   holding together the end portions of the band by two arms of the gripping device and fastening the opposite end portion to the outer surface of the band; and   cutting off a free part of the opposite end portion of the band.   
   
   
       29 . A method of using a band having outer and inner surfaces and first and second ends, a through-going opening in the band spaced from the first end of the band a predetermined distance to define an extended end portion of the band of a predetermined length, the second end of the band being shaped to be insertable into said through-going opening, the method comprising:
 encircling the band at a position intermediate upper and lower ends of a stomach with the inner surface in contact with the stomach;   inserting the second end of the band in the through-going opening,   wherein the distance of insertion corresponds to a desired diameter of the stomach opening and a desired volume of the stomach above the opening; and   fastening the first and second ends of the band together.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further including cutting off a free part of the opposite end portion of the band. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein encircling the gastric band around the stomach comprises:
 making cuttings in the stomach connecting tissue on opposite sides of the back of the stomach in a desired location of the gastric band;   threading the band through the cuttings to engage the back side of the stomach; and   positioning the two ends of the band at the front of the stomach for insertion of the second end portion in the through-going opening.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the distance of insertion is determined by pulling the second end of the band until the band is tight around a fixed-diameter portion of a calibration device inserted inside the stomach.