Gastroesophageal reflux treatment system, method, and device

Abstract

A gastroesophageal reflux preventer and related methods are provided. The gastroesophageal reflux preventer may include an absorbable material able to be placed in contact with a body organ and configured to induce a scarification of the body organ in response to absorption by the body organ of the material. In this manner, a proximate sphincter may be tightened, such as to ameliorate reflux through a gastroesophageal sphincter.

1 . A gastroesophageal reflux preventer comprising:
 an elongate portion of an absorbable material having a first end and a second end;   a support string having a first portion extending outwardly from the first end and having a second portion extending outwardly from the second end; and   a closure mechanism configured to retain at least a portion of the elongate portion in contact with a body organ during at least a portion of a scarification of the body organ in response to absorption by the body organ of the elongate portion.   
     
     
         2 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a knot connecting the first portion of the support string to the second portion of the support string. 
     
     
         3 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises an inward clasp closure comprising a pin attached to the first portion of the support string and a slot attached to the second portion of the support string to receive the pin, wherein the inward clasp closure is disposed inwardly of an outward edge of the elongate portion of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer when the pin and the slot are engaged. 
     
     
         4 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises an outward clasp closure comprising a pin attached to the first portion of the support string and a slot attached to the second portion of the support string to receive the pin, wherein the outward clasp closure is disposed outwardly of an inner edge of the elongate portion of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer when the pin and the slot are engaged. 
     
     
         5 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a one-way insertion closure comprising a thickened tab attached to the first portion of the support string and slotted receiver attached to the second portion of the support string to receive the thickened tab. 
     
     
         6 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate portion comprises a sectioned tubular portion having a plurality of sections spaced apart along a length of the support string. 
     
     
         7 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate portion comprises a tube through which the support string passes. 
     
     
         8 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate portion comprises a tube wherein the support string extends from ends of the tube but does not pass internally through the tube. 
     
     
         9 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate portion comprises a perforated tubular portion having spaced apart perforations such that the perforated tubular portion may be provided at an overall desired length by separating at least one perforation. 
     
     
         10 . A gastroesophageal reflux preventer comprising:
 a plurality of nodes comprising pieces of an absorbable mesh material linked together by a support string;   the support string having a first portion extending outwardly from a first end of the plurality of nodes linked together and having a second portion extending outwardly from a second end of the plurality of nodes linked together; and   a closure mechanism configured to retain at least a portion of the plurality of nodes in contact with a body organ during at least a portion of a scarification of the body organ in response to absorption by the body organ of at least one node of the plurality of nodes.   
     
     
         11 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 10 , wherein a knotted portion of the first portion and the second portion of the support string comprises the closure mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of nodes extend no more than 270 degrees around a portion of a body organ, wherein the support string extends a remaining 90 degrees around a portion of the body organ. 
     
     
         13 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one node comprises an annular node defining an aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 13 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a one-way insertion closure comprising a thickened tab attached to the first portion of the support string and a slotted receiver attached to the second portion of the support string to receive the thickened tab, the slotted receiver comprising the annular node defining the aperture and the thickened tab receivable into the aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 10 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a knot connecting the first portion of the support string to the second portion of the support string. 
     
     
         16 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 10 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a pin attached to the first portion of the support string and a slot attached to the second portion of the support string to receive the pin. 
     
     
         17 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 10 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a one-way insertion closure comprising a thickened tab attached to the first portion of the support string and slotted receiver attached to the second portion of the support string to receive the thickened tab. 
     
     
         18 . A method of making a gastroesophageal reflux preventer comprising:
 providing an elongate portion of an absorbable material having a first end and a second end;   providing a support string having a first portion extending outwardly from the first end and having a second portion extending outwardly from the second end; and   providing a closure mechanism configured to retain at least a portion of the elongate portion in contact with a body organ during at least a portion of a scarification of the body organ in response to absorption by the body organ of the elongate portion.   
     
     
         19 . The method of making the gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 18 , wherein providing the closure mechanism includes providing an inward clasp closure comprising a pin attached to the first portion of the support string and a slot attached to the second portion of the support string to receive the pin, wherein the inward clasp closure is disposed inwardly of an outward edge of the elongate portion of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer when the pin and the slot are engaged. 
     
     
         20 . The method of making the gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 18 , wherein providing the closure mechanism includes providing an outward clasp closure comprising a pin attached to the first portion of the support string and a slot attached to the second portion of the support string to receive the pin, wherein the outward clasp closure is disposed outwardly of an inner edge of the elongate portion of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer when the pin and the slot are engaged. 
     
     
         21 . The method of making the gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 18 , wherein providing the closure mechanism includes providing a one-way insertion closure comprising providing a thickened tab attached to the first portion of the support string and providing a slotted receiver attached to the second portion of the support string to receive the thickened tab. 
     
     
         22 . The method of making the gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 18 , wherein the elongate portion comprises a sectioned tubular portion having a plurality of sections spaced apart along at least a portion of length of the support string. 
     
     
         23 . The method of making the gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least the portion of length of the support string comprises no more than 270 degrees around at least a portion of a body organ when installed in a body. 
     
     
         24 . The method of making the gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 18 , further including passing the support string through the elongate portion. 
     
     
         25 . The method of making the gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 18 , further including providing spaced apart perforations along the elongate portion. 
     
     
         26 . A method of reducing leakage of a body fluid through a gastroesophageal sphincter comprising:
 resting an elongate portion of a gastroesophageal reflux preventer against at least one of a stomach and an esophagus proximate to the gastroesophageal sphincter; and   retaining at least a portion of the elongate portion in contact with the at least one of the stomach and the esophagus by encircling at least one of the elongate portion and a support string extending outwardly from the elongate portion about the at least one of the stomach and the esophagus and engaging a closure mechanism;   wherein engaging the closure mechanism comprises knotting together (i) a first portion of the support string extending outwardly from a first end of the elongate portion and (ii) a second portion of the support string extending outwardly from a second end of the elongate portion.   
     
     
         27 . A gastroesophageal reflux preventer comprising:
 an elongate portion of an absorbable material having a first end and a second end; and   a closure mechanism comprising a knotting together of the first end and the second end to retain at least a portion of the elongate portion in contact with a body organ during at least a portion of a scarification of the body organ in response to absorption by the body organ of the elongate portion.