Floating gastrointestinal anchor

Abstract

Apparatus ( 90 ) is provided for use in a stomach of a subject. The apparatus includes a balloon ( 92 ), adapted for placement in the stomach, and an anchor ( 102 ), coupled to the balloon. The anchor is adapted to prevent the balloon from passing into a duodenum of the subject. The apparatus further includes an inflation tube ( 96 ), coupled to the balloon to permit inflation of the balloon, and is adapted to stretch from the stomach to a mouth of the subject to facilitate inflation of the balloon. Other embodiments are also described.

1 . Apparatus for use in a stomach of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 a balloon, adapted for placement in the stomach;   an anchor, coupled to the balloon and adapted to prevent the balloon from passing into a duodenum of the subject; and   an inflation tube, coupled to the balloon to permit inflation of the balloon, and adapted to stretch from the stomach to a mouth of the subject to facilitate inflation of the balloon.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the inflation tube is adapted to stretch to more than 2.5 times a resting length thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is configured to be positioned in an antrum of the stomach such that the anchor interferes at least to some extent with natural antral contractions of the antrum. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the balloon is adapted to promote a feeling of satiety in the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the balloon is adapted to interfere with peristaltic waves and gastric emptying of the subject. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a device coupled to the anchor, selected from the list consisting of: a therapeutic device, and a transmitting device. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a closure mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the inflation tube, configured to maintain pressure within the balloon by preventing leakage of fluid therefrom into the stomach of the subject. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising an extraction tool configured to stretch the inflation tube by reversibly engaging and pulling on the inflation tube. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a filling tube configured to be temporarily coupled to the inflation tube while the inflation tube is stretched, and configured to facilitate inflation of the balloon when the inflation tube is relaxed at least in part following being stretched. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises a resilient tube, and wherein the apparatus comprises a bend-limiting tube coupled to the resilient tube, which limits an extent of bending of the resilient tube. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the inflation tube is configured to be disposed within the resilient tube, the resilient tube permitting the inflation tube to assume a straight position, or to bend up to a predefined limit. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises a material that has an elastic memory which biases the anchor towards assuming a pre-selected bent configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , comprising a straightening rod, and wherein:
 the anchor has a distal end and an open proximal end;   the anchor is shaped so as to define a central core extending from the open proximal end toward the distal end; and   the anchor is configured to be straightened from the pre-selected bent configuration by insertion of the straightening rod in the central core.   
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 inserting into a stomach of a subject a gastric balloon in fluid communication with an inflation tube;   assessing an inflation level of the balloon following insertion thereof;   in response to identifying a need for inflation of the balloon, stretching the inflation tube while keeping the balloon within the stomach; and   inflating the balloon following the stretching of the inflation tube.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein assessing the inflation level of the balloon comprises determining a level of weight loss of the subject and correlating weight loss to the level of inflation of the balloon. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein inflating the balloon comprises injecting a fluid into the inflation tube while a proximal end of the inflation tube is outside of a body of the subject. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , comprising temporarily coupling the inflation tube to a filling tube following the stretching of the inflation tube, and wherein inflating the balloon comprises:
 allowing at least a portion of the inflation tube to return to the stomach while the filling tube is coupled to the inflation tube; and   injecting a fluid into the inflation tube via the filling tube while the portion of the inflation tube remains disposed within the stomach.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein stretching the inflation tube comprises extracting a proximal portion of the inflation tube from a mouth of the subject. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein extracting the proximal portion of the inflation tube comprises stretching the inflation tube to at least 2.5 times a resting length thereof. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus for use in a stomach of a subject, the apparatus comprising an anchor, which comprises:
 a flexible tube, which, when in a relaxed position, is shaped so as to define a generally planar base portion that prevents the anchor from passing into a duodenum of the subject; and   at least two cross-bar elements having ends which are positioned in a vicinity of the base portion, which cross-bar elements are configured to help maintain a shape of the base portion.