Methods and apparatus for magnet-induced compression anastomosis between adjacent organs
Methods and apparatus for creating an anastomosis or fistula between the gallbladder and an adjacent organ are disclosed. First, a parent magnet, typically a permanent magnet, is deployed in the stomach, small intestine, or another organ adjacent to the gallbladder, and a mating daughter material is deployed in the gallbladder in order to create a magnet-compression anastomosis. The gallbladder may then be ablated or otherwise functionally inactivated through the anastomosis. Another aspect of the invention relates to an all-in-one surgical kit that contains all the necessary specialized tools for a surgeon to perform the procedure.
1 . A kit for creating a compression anastomosis between a biliary tract of a gallbladder and an adjacent organ, comprising:
a parent magnet adapted for placement in the adjacent organ, being sized to fit within an introducing instrument and adapted to create a compression anastomosis;
one or more second magnets or magnetic materials adapted for placement in the biliary tract of the gallbladder, to be attracted to the parent magnet to form a daughter magnet; and
an endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration needle pre-loaded with the one or more second magnets or magnetic materials within the endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration needle, wherein the one or more second magnets or magnetic materials comprise a train of daughter magnet components, each daughter magnet component carrying two miniature magnets of variable magnetic polarity, the train of daughter magnet components sequenced to yield a larger mating area upon self-assembly in the gallbladder than would be possible with any single component.
2 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the introducing instrument comprises an endoscope.
3 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration needle has an outer diameter in the range of 10 Gauge to 25 Gauge.
4 . The kit of claim 3 , wherein the endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration needle has an outer diameter in the range of 15 Gauge to 20 Gauge.
5 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the parent magnet comprises a permanent magnet; or
the parent magnet is generally disc-shaped.
6 . A method of creating a compression anastomosis between a gallbladder and an adjacent organ, said method comprising:
a) providing a kit according to claim 1 ;
b) placing the parent magnet within the adjacent organ using the introducing instrument such that the parent magnet is proximate to a wall of the adjacent organ and adjacent to the gallbladder; and
c) placing the one or more second magnets or magnetic materials in the gallbladder using the endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration needle such that the parent magnet and the daughter magnet are magnetically attracted to one another through a defined tissue area of the combined thickness of a wall of the gallbladder and the wall of the adjacent organ and exert compressive forces on the defined area.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the parent magnet is sized and adapted to fit within and to be delivered by an endoscope, and wherein placing the parent magnet comprises introducing the parent magnet into the adjacent organ endoscopically.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration needle has an outer diameter in the range of 10 Gauge to 25 Gauge.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration needle has an outer diameter in the range of 15 Gauge to 20 Gauge.
10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein placing the one or more second magnets or magnetic materials comprises injecting the one or more second magnets or magnetic materials from the adjacent organ through the combined thickness of the wall of the gallbladder and the wall of the adjacent organ into the gallbladder.
11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one of:
the parent magnet comprises a permanent magnet; or
the parent magnet is generally disc-shaped.
12 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising using a clip to affix the parent magnet to the adjacent organ prior to placement of the one or more second magnets or magnetic materials in the biliary tract of the gallbladder.
13 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the adjacent organ is selected from the group consisting of the small intestine and the stomach.