Gastroesophageal reflux treatment system, method, and device

Abstract

A gastroesophageal reflux preventer and related methods are provided. A gastroesophageal reflux preventer is configured to be positioned around the exterior of a body organ and may include an elongate portion including a plurality of nodes positioned along at least a portion of the length of the elongate portion.

1 . A gastroesophageal reflux preventer comprising:
 an elongate portion having a length between a first end and a second end of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer, the elongate portion comprising one or more sections;   a plurality of nodes positioned along at least a portion of the length of the elongate portion; and   a closure mechanism positioned adjacent the first end of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer, the closure mechanism selectably engageable with a first closure portion of the elongate portion and with a second closure portion of the elongate portion,   wherein the gastroesophageal reflux preventer may be provided in an uncoupled state and in a coupled state, and when in the coupled state the closure mechanism is coupled with at least one of the first closure portion and the second closure portion such that the gastroesophageal reflux preventer defines an enclosed area,   wherein the gastroesophageal reflux preventer is configured to be positioned around a surface of an esophagus to retain at least a portion of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer in contact with a body tissue of the esophagus during a scarification of at least a portion of the body tissue of the esophagus.   
     
     
         2 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a one-way insertion closure. 
     
     
         3 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the first closure portion is provided on or adjacent a first node of the plurality of nodes and the second closure portion is provided on or adjacent a second node of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         4 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the first closure portion is provided on or adjacent a first node of the plurality of nodes and the second closure portion is provided two nodes of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         5 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the first closure portion and the second closure portion are provided between two nodes of the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         6 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a tab, and the first coupling portion comprises a slotted receiver adjacent the second end of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer, and the first coupling portion is configured to receive the tab to provide the gastroesophageal reflux preventer in a coupled state. 
     
     
         7 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer is absorbable, partially absorbable, surroundable by tissue overgrowth, dissolvable, and/or partially dissolvable. 
     
     
         8 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of nodes of the elongate portion are formed of a suture material. 
     
     
         9 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 8 , wherein the suture material is a mixture including glycolide or caprolactone. 
     
     
         10 . A gastroesophageal reflux preventer configured to be positioned around the outer surface of a body organ, the gastroesophageal reflux preventer comprising:
 a support member formable into a shape such that the support member may be positioned around at least a portion of an outer surface of the body organ;   a plurality of nodes positioned along the support member, wherein at least one node of the plurality of nodes is formed of a material that, when placed in contact with the outer surface of the body organ, induces scarification of the body organ adjacent the contact;   a closure mechanism including a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion configured to couple with the first coupling portion, wherein the second coupling portion is provided on or adjacent one or more nodes of the plurality of nodes; and   wherein, when the second coupling portion is coupled with the first coupling portion, the gastroesophageal reflux preventer defines an enclosed area.   
     
     
         11 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 10 , wherein the closure mechanism is configured to further retain at least one node of the plurality of nodes in contact with the exterior surface of the body organ during at least a portion of the scarification of the body organ in response to the contact of at least one node of the plurality of nodes and the body organ. 
     
     
         12 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer according to  claim 10 , wherein when the gastroesophageal reflux preventer is placed around the outer surface of the body organ, the plurality of nodes extend no more than 270 degrees around the outer surface of the body organ. 
     
     
         13 . A gastroesophageal reflux preventer comprising:
 an elongate portion formable into a curved shape, the elongate portion having a first end and a second end that is opposite the first end of the curved shape;   a closure mechanism comprising a first closure portion positioned toward the first end, and a second closure portion positioned toward the second end, and wherein the first closure portion is configured to mechanically engage at least a portion of the second closure portion;   wherein the elongate portion is formed of a material that is elastic and is selected to induce scaring in a body organ when the material is in contact with the body organ,   wherein the gastroesophageal reflux preventer is configured to be secured to an exterior surface of the body organ in a closed position through at least the closure mechanism to allow one or more portions of the elongate portion to be in contact with the exterior surface of the body organ, and   wherein, when secured to the exterior surface of the body organ in the closed position, the gastroesophageal reflux preventer provides sufficient inward force to maintain at least a portion of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer in contact with the exterior surface of the body organ.   
     
     
         14 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer of  claim 13 , wherein the elongate portion is formable into the curved shape and generally maintains the curved shape. 
     
     
         15 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer of  claim 13 , wherein, when the gastroesophageal reflux preventer is secured in the closed position, the curved shape comprises an arc-length of less than about 270 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer of  claim 13 , wherein, when the gastroesophageal reflux preventer is secured in the closed position, the curved shape comprises an arc-length of less than about 180 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer of  claim 13 , wherein the curved shape of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer is positionable proximate to a gastroesophageal sphincter of the body organ and is positionable around a portion of the body organ. 
     
     
         18 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer of  claim 13 , further comprising a first suture and a second suture, both sutures to retain at least a portion of the elongate portion in contact with the body organ during at least a portion of a scarification of the body organ in response to contact between the body organ and the elongate portion, wherein the first suture and the second suture are disposed between the first end and the second end of the gastroesophageal reflux preventer. 
     
     
         19 . A gastroesophageal reflux preventer that is generally elongated in shape, the gastroesophageal reflux preventer comprising:
 an elongated portion formed of a material such that the elongated portion is elastic in length; and   a plurality of nodes extending from the elongate portion in a spaced-apart configuration along the elongate portion; wherein the gastroesophageal reflux preventer is configured to be positioned around at least a portion of an outer surface of a body tissue using sutures such that at least two of the plurality of nodes extending from the elongate portion are in contact with the outer surface of the body tissue, and   wherein when the gastroesophageal reflux preventer positioned around at least a portion of the outer surface of the body tissue, the elongated portion is deformable to at least partially conform the elongated portion to the shape of the outer surface of the body tissue,   wherein the plurality of nodes are formed of a material selected to induce scarification of the body tissue by the at least two of the plurality of nodes that are in contact with the outer surface of the body tissue.   
     
     
         20 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the elongate portion and the plurality of nodes is formed of a material that is absorbable, partially absorbable, surroundable by tissue overgrowth, dissolvable, and/or partially dissolvable. 
     
     
         21 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer of  claim 19 , wherein the elongate portion is formed of the same material as the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         22 . The gastroesophageal reflux preventer of  claim 19  wherein the gastroesophageal reflux preventer exerts an inward force on the outer surface of the body tissue when positioned around the outer surface in a coupled state. 
     
     
         23 . A lumen reducer configured to be positioned around the outer surface of a body organ with an internal lumen that may be open or closed, the lumen reducer comprising:
 a support member formable into a shape such that the support member may be positioned around at least a portion of an outer surface of the body organ;   a plurality of nodes positioned along the support member, wherein at least one node of the plurality of nodes is formed of a material that, when placed in contact with the outer surface of the body organ, induces scarification of the body organ adjacent the contact;   a closure mechanism including a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion configured to couple with the first coupling portion, wherein the second coupling portion is provided on or adjacent one or more nodes of the plurality of nodes; and   wherein, when the second coupling portion is coupled with the first coupling portion, the lumen reducer defines an enclosed area.