Bariatric clamp

Abstract

A bariatric clamp may include a plurality of recessed suture portions that are recessed from at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of a first elongated portion of the clamp, each recessed suture portion including one or more suture passageways through a substrate member such that the one or more suture passageways have a perimeter at least partially defined by the substrate. A bariatric clamp may also include a passage-forming section provided at least in part by a bight portion of the clamp and a partition-forming section provided by an elongated portion of the clamp, wherein the elongated portion may include a curve thereby defining a curved separation in the partition-forming section of the bariatric clamp.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bariatric clamp comprising:
 a first elongated portion including a first substrate member at least partly overmolded by a first polymer portion, the first elongated portion having a first proximal end and a first distal end opposite the first proximal end, and an inner surface and an outer surface;   a second elongated portion including a second substrate member at least partially overmolded by a second polymer portion, the second elongated portion having a second proximal end and a second distal end opposite the second proximal end, and an inner surface and an outer surface; and   a bight portion including a flexible hinge, the flexible hinge joining the first elongated portion at the first proximal end thereof and joining the second elongated portion at the second proximal end thereof;   wherein the first elongated portion includes a plurality of recessed suture portions that are recessed from at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the first elongated portion, each recessed suture portion including one or more suture passageways through the first substrate member such that the one or more suture passageways have a perimeter at least partially defined by the first substrate member.   
     
     
         2 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first polymer portion completely fills the one or more suture passageways of the recessed suture portions. 
     
     
         3 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first polymer portion partially fills the one or more suture passageways of the recessed suture portions. 
     
     
         4 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first polymer portion completely covers the one or more suture passageways of the recessed suture portions. 
     
     
         5 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the bight portion includes an opening through a portion of the flexible hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 5 , wherein the opening in the bight portion is configured to form a suture connection. 
     
     
         7 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 6 , wherein the bight portion includes a substrate member at least partially surrounding the opening in the flexible hinge. 
     
     
         8 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the second elongated portion includes a second plurality of suture portions that are recessed from at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the second elongated portion, each of the recessed suture portions including one or more suture passageways through the second substrate member. 
     
     
         9 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure mechanism comprising:
 an engagement portion disposed adjacent the first distal end of the first elongated portion; and   a fastener portion disposed adjacent the second distal end of the second elongated portion comprising one or more openings to receive at least a portion of the engagement portion to retain the bariatric clamp in a closed position.   
     
     
         10 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first substrate member includes a first bend adjacent the first proximal end of the first elongated portion and the second substrate member includes a second bend adjacent the second proximal end of the second elongated portion such that, when the bariatric clamp is positioned on a stomach, the flexible hinge of the bight portion forms an aperture through which fluid contained within the stomach may flow. 
     
     
         11 . A bariatric clamp comprising:
 a first elongated portion that includes a first substrate member;   a second elongated portion that includes a second substrate member; and   a bight portion including a flexible hinge joining the first elongated portion and the second elongated portion;   wherein the first elongated portion includes one or more suture portions configured to facilitate formation of a suture connection with a patient's stomach, wherein each suture portion comprises a first suture passageway through the first substrate member of the first elongated portion and is at least partially overlaid by a first polymer portion, and   wherein the first polymer portion is penetrable by a suture needle.   
     
     
         12 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the second substrate member of the second elongated portion includes one or more suture portions, and   wherein the suture portions of the first elongated portion are aligned with the suture portions of the second elongated portion when the bariatric clamp is in a substantially closed position.   
     
     
         13 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 11 , wherein the second substrate member of the second elongated portion includes one or more suture portions, and
 wherein the suture portions of the first elongated portion are not aligned with the suture portions of the second elongated portion when the bariatric clamp is in a substantially closed position.   
     
     
         14 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 11 , wherein the first polymer portion comprises a polymer overmold of at least a portion of the bariatric clamp. 
     
     
         15 . A bariatric clamp comprising:
 a first elongated member having a first proximal end and a first distal end opposite the first proximal end, and a first longitudinal axis that is defined between the first distal end and the first proximal end of the first elongated member;   a second elongated member having a second proximal end and a second distal end opposite the second proximal end, and a second longitudinal axis that is defined between the second distal end and the second proximal end of the second elongated member; and   a bight portion including a flexible hinge joining the first elongated member at the first proximal end thereof and joining the second elongated member at the second proximal end thereof;   wherein, when the bariatric clamp is in a closed position, the bight portion at least partially forms a passage-forming section,   wherein the first elongated member and the second elongated member form a partition-forming section that, when the bariatric clamp is positioned on a stomach of a patient, partitions a portion of the stomach into a first partitioned volume and a second partitioned volume, and   wherein at least a portion of the first elongated member includes a first curve that is positioned between the first distal end and the first proximal end of the first elongated member and curved away from the second elongated member along the first longitudinal axis thereby defining a curved separation in the partition-forming section of the bariatric clamp.   
     
     
         16 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 15 , wherein, when the bariatric clamp is positioned on the stomach of the patient, the passage-forming section of the bariatric clamp permits gastric fluids within the stomach to flow from the first partitioned volume to the second partitioned volume. 
     
     
         17 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the second elongated member includes a second curve along the second longitudinal axis that is curved away from the first elongated member, the second curve positioned between the second distal end and the second proximal end of the second elongated member. 
     
     
         18 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 15 , wherein the first elongated member includes a suture portion configured to facilitate formation of a suture connection with a patient's stomach, and
 wherein the suture portion comprises an aperture formed through the first elongated member and at least a portion of the aperture of the suture portion is overlaid by the polymer portion that is penetrable by a suture needle.   
     
     
         19 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 18 , wherein the second elongated member includes a second suture portion, and
 wherein the first suture portion of the first elongated member is aligned with the second suture portion of the second elongated member when the bariatric clamp is in a substantially closed position.   
     
     
         20 . The bariatric clamp of  claim 15 , further comprising a closure mechanism comprising:
 an engagement portion disposed adjacent the first distal end of the first elongated member; and   a fastener portion disposed adjacent the second distal end of the second elongated member comprising one or more openings to receive at least a portion of the engagement portion to retain the bariatric clamp in the closed position.