Apparatus for treating obesity

Abstract

A volume filling device for treatment of obesity is placed outside the stomach wall of the patient to reduce the inner volume of the stomach, thereby affecting the patient's appetite. By providing the volume filling device outside the stomach wall, contact with stomach acids is avoided, thereby increasing the life of the device.

1 - 111 . (canceled) 
     
     
         112 . An apparatus for treating obesity of an obese patient having a stomach with a food cavity, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one biocompatible volume filling device adapted to be completely invaginated by a stomach wall portion of the patient, wherein the at least one biocompatible volume filling device is adapted to be implanted in the abdominal cavity and invaginated in the stomach wall from the outside thereof such that the volume of the food cavity is reduced in size by a volume substantially exceeding the volume of the volume filling device, and wherein the at least one biocompatible volume filling device comprises a blind hole arranged in an outer wall of the at least one biocompatible volume filling device to allow the at least one biocompatible volume filling device to be held by an instrument during implantation of the at least one biocompatible volume filling device.   
     
     
         113 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , further comprising a main volume filling device reservoir adapted to be inflatable, the volume filling device further comprising an expandable structure, adapted to expand, when the volume filling device is invaginated in the stomach wall, wherein said structure comprises a bellow adapted to take into account the fibrosis surrounding the volume filling device when implanted, such that the movement of the bellow is substantially un-affected by said fibrosis. 
     
     
         114 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the volume filling device further comprises at least one of the following materials;
 a bio-compatible material,   an elastic material,   a flexible non-elastic material,   a homogenous material,   a gel, and   a material which is not destructible by acids of the stomach.   
     
     
         115 . Tha apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the circumference of the volume filling device as seen in a plane perpendicular to an axis through the device increases and decreases at least two times as the plane is displaced along said axis. 
     
     
         116 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the volume filling device is further provided with at least one layer, comprising at least one of:
 a polytetrafluoroethylene layer,   a polyurethane layer,   a silicone layer,   a metal layer,   a metal layer comprises any of gold, silver, and titanium, or a combination thereof,   a plurality of layers,   a plurality of layers, with an outer surface of at least one of; layer of polyurethane,   or polytetrafluoroethylene, Parylene, silicone, metal, or a combination thereof,   a plurality of layers, with an inner surface layer of at least one of; polyurethane, or polytetrafluoroethylene, Parylene, silicone, metal, or a combination thereof,   a plurality of layers, with an inner surface layer of polytetrafluoro ethylene and an outer layer of silicone,   a plurality of layers, with an inner surface layer of polytetrafluoro ethylene, an intermediate layer of silicone, and an outer layer of Parylene, a plurality of layers, with an inner surface layer of polyurethane and an outer layer of silicone,   a plurality of layers, with an inner surface layer of polyurethane, an intermediate layer of silicone, and an outer layer of Parylene, and an outer layer that includes a biocompatible material.   
     
     
         117 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the volume filling device comprises a fluid comprising at least one of:
 a fluid adapted to be transformed into solid state or fixed form;   a polyurethane liquid,   an iso-tonic fluid,   a fluid comprising large molecules to prevent diffusion, and   a fluid comprising iodine molecules.   
     
     
         118 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , further comprising at least one of:
 a holding device adapted to be held by an instrument and simplify the implantation of the volume filling device, and   two or more holding devices adapted to be held by an instrument and simplify the implantation of the volume filling device.   
     
     
         119 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein stomach-to-stomach sutures or staples are provided with fixation portions exhibiting a structure adapted to be in contact with the stomach wall to promote growth of human tissue to secure long term placement of the volume filling device attached to the stomach wall, wherein the structure comprises a net like structure. 
     
     
         120 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the volume filling device is adapted to be non-invasively adjustable postoperatively, comprising an external control unit for controlling at least one of; the volume filling device according to claim  1  and the stretching device according to claim  2  from the outside of the patient's body, comprising a wireless remote control adapted to control the device from the outside of the patient's body. 
     
     
         121 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the volume filling device is adapted to be non-invasively adjustable postoperatively, comprising an external control unit for controlling at least one of; the volume filling device and the stretching device from the outside of the patient's body, comprising a subcutaneously placed switch or reservoir adapted to control the device from the outside of the patient's body. 
     
     
         122 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , comprising a sensor or sensing device adapted to be implanted in the patient body, wherein an implantable control unit is adapted to control the device from the inside of the patient's body using information from said a sensor or sensing device, adapted to sense, directly or indirectly, the food intake of the patient, wherein the apparatus, comprising an operation device for operating at least one of the volume filling device, and the stretching device according, when implanted to stretch the stomach wall portion such that satiety is created. 
     
     
         123 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the volume filling device comprises a stretching device adapted to be engaged with a part of the stomach wall, including suturing or stapling the stretching device to the stomach wall or invaginating the stretching device in the stomach wall part, with stomach to stomach sutures, wherein the stretching device is further adapted to stretch a stomach wall portion controlling a force used for stretching the stomach wall portion as well as, the time periods the stretching is applied when the stretching is applied. 
     
     
         124 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein the volume filling device comprises a stretching device comprising two parts engaged with different parts of the stomach wall, one part each, wherein said engagement includes suturing or stapling the parts to the stomach wall or invaginating the parts in the stomach wall part, with stomach to stomach sutures, wherein the stretching device further adapted to have different wall portions stretched independently from each other controlling a force used for stretching the stomach wall portion as well as the time periods the stretching is applied when the stretching is applied. 
     
     
         125 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , further comprising a fluid connection interconnecting the stretching device and the volume filling device, wherein the stretching device comprises an expandable stretching reservoir and an operation device for operating the stretching device when implanted to stretch the stomach wall portion, wherein the volume filling device is inflatable and in fluid connection with said stretching reservoir, and wherein said operation device comprises a pump for pumping fluid between said main reservoir and said stretching reservoir to stretch said stomach wall portion such that satiety is created, comprising a control device for controlling said stretching device including said pump. 
     
     
         126 . The apparatus according to  claim 112 , further comprising a fluid connection interconnecting the stretching device and the volume filling device, wherein the volume filling device comprises a main volume filling device reservoir, and a stretching device comprising at least one operable stretching device implantable in an obese patient and adapted to stretch a portion of the patient's stomach wall, wherein said stretching device comprises an expandable reservoir, adapted to be invaginated in the stomach wall at the upper part of the stomach, higher up than the inflatable main volume filling device when the patient is standing, wherein the volume filling device is inflatable and in fluid connection with said stretching reservoir, wherein normal contractions of the stomach wall, related to food intake, cause fluid to flow from said invaginated main volume filling reservoir lower placed onto the stomach wall adapted to cause said stretching reservoir to stretch said stomach wall portion such that satiety is created. 
     
     
         127 . A system including the apparatus according to  claim 112 , wherein wireless energy is transmitted inductively from a primary coil in an external energy source to a comprised secondary coil included in a comprised internal energy receiver, wherein the internal energy receiver being connected to the implanted energy consuming components of the apparatus for directly or indirectly supplying received energy thereto, wherein the system further comprising at least one of:
 a battery,   a rechargeable battery, and   an energy transforming device.