Elevating Stomach Stimulation Device

Abstract

The medical systems, apparatuses and uses thereof for treating obesity and/or obesity-related diseases are provided which relate to devices designed to stimulate an internal surface of the stomach such as the cardia. Features of the obesity treatment devices include insertion of said devices transorally and without invasive surgery, without associated patient risks of invasive surgery, and without substantial patient discomfort. The devices include flotation portions and cardia-stimulating portions, so that as the level of stomach contents rise, the devices will contact and stimulate the nerves in the cardia region of the stomach to induce satiety. The devices may have non-inflatable balls, be made of skinned foam, have ballast members such as a weighted ball or quantity of saline for orientation, and various combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable device configured to be placed in a stomach of a patient to elevate with increased stomach contents and stimulate the cardia of the stomach, the device comprising:
 an inflatable body generally in the shape of a prolate spheroid defining a longitudinal axis between end poles and an equatorial plane, the inflatable body having an exterior surface with alternating longitudinal ribs and channels to facilitate passage of food therearound;   an internal tube mounted within the inflatable body extending between the end poles, the internal tube being formed of a material that is stiffer than the material of the inflatable body; and   at least one fill valve mounted to one end of the internal tube for injecting air or an inert gas into an inner chamber of the inflatable body, wherein   the implantable device is configured for insertion in the stomach with the inflatable body deflated and collapsed around the internal tube, and configured for implant in the stomach with the inflatable body inflated at least partly with air/inert gas for flotation on the contents of the stomach such that one of the end poles contacts the cardia when the device elevates within the stomach from an increase in the contents therein.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the fill valve opens into a lumen of the internal tube which has a plurality of through holes distributed along its length for the delivery of air/inert gas into the internal chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein there are two fill valves separately mounted to both ends of the internal tube, and wherein each fill valve opens into a lumen of the internal tube which has a plurality of through holes distributed along its length for the delivery of air/inert gas or a fluid into the internal chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis is oriented in a Z-axis, and each half of the implantable device across the equatorial plane is substantially symmetric along X and Y axes. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable device of  claim 4 , wherein the implantable device is substantially symmetric along the Z axis such that both halves are symmetric to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , further including a removable belt placed around the equatorial plane to aid in forming the desired shape of the implantable device as the chamber is filled with at least one of air/inert gas or liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable device of  claim 1 , wherein the ribs radiate toward the equator from each end pole. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable device of  claim 7 , wherein the ribs terminate short of the equator to define the equatorial channel by virtue of the spaces between the ends of the ribs.