Bariatric device and method

Abstract

A bariatric device and procedure configured to control the amount of food and nutrients entering a person's duodenum and reduce the weight of the person, in one aspect, comprises a gastrostomy tube having a proximal end and a distal end; a feeding tube assembly, said assembly including a feeding tube having a proximal end and a distal end; a gastrostomy tube anchor for securing the distal end of said gastrostomy tube inside the stomach; and a first feeding tube anchor designed to be expanded after the pyloric sphincter so as to anchor the distal end of said feeding tube in the duodenum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bariatric device, comprising:
 (a) a gastrostomy tube having a proximal end and a distal end;   (b) a feeding tube assembly, said assembly including a feeding tube having a proximal end and a distal end;   (c) a gastrostomy tube anchor attached to said gastrostomy tube and designed to be expanded inside a person's stomach at the stomach wall to secure the distal end of said gastrostomy tube inside the stomach; and   (d) a first feeding tube anchor means attached to said feeding tube assembly, said first feeding tube anchor designed to be expanded after a person's pyloric sphincter so as to secure the distal end of the feeding tube in a person's duodenum.   
     
     
         2 . A bariatric device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first feeding tube anchor is a first feeding tube balloon designed to be inflated after a person's pyloric sphincter, and the feeding tube assembly includes a first balloon inflation tube, wherein the first feeding tube balloon is in communication with said first balloon inflation tube. 
     
     
         3 . A bariatric device according to  claim 2 , wherein the gastrostomy tube anchor is a gastrostomy balloon which is designed to be inflated inside a person's stomach. 
     
     
         4 . A bariatric device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second feeding tube anchor attached to said feeding tube assembly, wherein said first and second feeding tube anchors are designed to be expanded on either side of a person's pyloric sphincter so as to anchor the distal end of said feeding tube in a person's duodenum. 
     
     
         5 . A bariatric device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a second feeding tube anchor, wherein said first and second feeding tube anchors are designed to be expanded on either side of a person's pyloric sphincter so as to anchor the proximal end of said feeding tube in a person's duodenum. 
     
     
         6 . A bariatric device according to  claim 5 , wherein the second feeding tube anchor is a second feeding tube balloon designed to be inflated before a person's pyloric sphincter, and the feeding tube assembly includes a second balloon inflation tube, wherein the second feeding tube balloon is in communication with said second balloon inflation tube. 
     
     
         7 . A bariatric device according to  claim 6 , wherein the feeding tube assembly is at least partially nested within said gastrostomy tube. 
     
     
         8 . A bariatric device according to  claim 7 , wherein the feeding tube assembly is slidably nested within said gastrostomy tube. 
     
     
         9 . A bariatric device according to  claim 8 , wherein the gastrostomy tube includes a releasable lock designed to restrict the sliding movement of the feeding tube assembly relative to the gastrostomy tube. 
     
     
         10 . A bariatric device according to  claim 8 , wherein the feeding tube assembly is accommodated in a tube support channel provided in the sidewall of the gastrostomy tube, and wherein the feeding tube is slidable relative to the gastrostomy tube within the tube support channel. 
     
     
         11 . A bariatric device according to  claim 10 , wherein the tube support channel extends along 80% or more of the gastrostomy tube. 
     
     
         12 . A bariatric device according to  claim 10 , wherein the cross-section of the feeding tube assembly is non-circular, and the tube support channel has a corresponding shape which limits or prevents rotation of the feeding tube assembly relative to the gastrostomy tube. 
     
     
         13 . A bariatric device according to  claim 6 , wherein said first and second feeding tube balloons are separated by a distance of between about 1 to about 15 cm. 
     
     
         14 . A bariatric device according to  claim 6 , wherein said first and second feeding tube balloons are separated by a distance of between about 1 to about 5 cm. 
     
     
         15 . A bariatric device according to  claim 6 , wherein said first and second feeding tube balloons have a width of between 10 mm to 25 mm. 
     
     
         16 . A bariatric device according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said first and second feeding tube balloons is sufficiently wide in its fully expanded state to occlude the duodenum in use. 
     
     
         17 . A bariatric device according to  claim 6 , wherein the diameter of the gastrostomy tube is between 0.5 to 5.0 cm. 
     
     
         18 . A bariatric device, comprising:
 (a) a gastrostomy tube having a proximal end and a distal end;   (b) a feeding tube assembly at least partially nested within said gastrostomy tube, said assembly having a proximal end and a distal end and including a feeding tube and first and second balloon inflation tubes;   (c) a gastrostomy balloon attached to said gastrostomy tube and designed to be inflated and anchor the proximal end of said gastrostomy tube inside a person's stomach wall; and   (d) first and second feeding tube balloons in communication with said first and second balloon inflation tubes, said first and second balloons designed to be inflated on either side of a person's pyloric sphincter and anchor the distal end of said feeding tube in a person's duodenum.   
     
     
         19 . A feeding tube device, comprising a feeding tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a first balloon inflation tube, and a first feeding tube balloon in communication with said first balloon inflation tube, said first balloon designed to be inflated after a person's pyloric sphincter so as to anchor the distal end of said feeding tube in a person's duodenum. 
     
     
         20 . A feeding tube device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a second feeding tube balloon, wherein the first and second feeding tube balloons are designed to be inflated on either side of a person's pyloric sphincter so as to anchor the distal end of the feeding tube in a person's pyloric sphincter. 
     
     
         21 . A gastrostomy tube suitable for receiving a feeding tube assembly, comprising a proximal and a distal end, a sidewall, and a tube support channel on or in the sidewall for receiving said feeding tube assembly, and further comprising a gastrostomy tube anchor attached to said gastrostomy tube and designed to be expanded inside a person's stomach at the stomach wall to secure the distal end of said gastrostomy tube inside the stomach. 
     
     
         22 . A kit of parts for constructing a bariatric device according to  claim 6 , comprising a gastrostomy tube and a feeding tube assembly. 
     
     
         23 . A method for reducing the weight of a person, comprising installing a bariatric device according to  claim 1  in said person's stomach and limiting the amount of food that passes from the stomach into the duodenum using said device to evacuate orally consumed food and directly deposit nutrition to the person's intestinal tract downstream of the stomach. 
     
     
         24 . A method for reducing the weight of a person for cosmetic purposes using a bariatric device according to  claim 1 , the method comprising limiting the amount of food that passes from the stomach into the duodenum using said device to evacuate orally consumed food and directly deposit nutrition to the person's intestinal tract downstream of the stomach. 
     
     
         25 . A method for delivering nutrients to a person, comprising installing a bariatric device according to  claim 1  in said person's stomach and using said device to evacuate orally consumed food and directly deposit nutrition to the person's intestinal tract downstream of the stomach. 
     
     
         26 . A method for installing a bariatric device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 (i) inserting said gastrostomy tube into the person's stomach and anchoring the gastrostomy tube in place by expanding said gastrostomy tube anchor; and   (ii) inserting said feeding tube assembly through the person's stomach into the duodenum and securing said feeding tube in place by expanding said first feeding tube anchor after the pyloric sphincter.   
     
     
         27 . A method for replacing a gastrostomy tube in a bariatric device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 (i) retracting said gastrostomy tube anchor and removing said gastrostomy tube; and   (ii) inserting a replacement gastrostomy tube having the features described in  claim 1  and expanding the gastrostomy tube anchor of the replacement gastrostomy tube.   
     
     
         28 . A method for replacing a feeding tube assembly in a bariatric device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 (i) retracting said first feeding tube anchor and removing said feeding tube assembly; and   (ii) inserting a replacement feeding tube assembly having the features described in  claim 1  and expanding the first feeding tube anchor of the replacement feeding tube assembly.