Endoscopic gastric constriction device
An endoscopically implantable device is provided that cinches the stomach together to create a reduced diameter for a portion of the stomach. The device may be, for example, a gastrorestrictive device used to treat overweight or obese patients. The device may be used, for example, to treat gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD).
1 . A device for reducing a diameter of at least a portion of a stomach comprising:
a plurality of anchors configured to be coupled to a stomach from within the stomach;
a cinching mechanism coupled to the plurality of anchors and configured to cinch the stomach to provide a reduced diameter of at least a portion of the stomach.
2 . The device of claim 1 wherein the cinching mechanism comprises at least one tether coupled to at least one of the plurality of anchors.
3 . The device of claim 1 wherein the anchors each comprise an end portion configured to be positioned outside of a stomach wall, a narrow portion coupled to the elongate portion and configured to extend through the stomach wall into the stomach.
4 . The device of claim 3 wherein the cinching mechanism is coupled to the narrow portion.
5 . The device of claim 4 wherein the cinching mechanism comprises at least one tether.
6 . The device of claim 5 wherein the cinching mechanism further comprises a connector configured to be coupled to the at least one tether to draw the walls of the stomach together.
7 . The device of claim 4 wherein the cinching mechanism comprises a connector coupled to the narrow portion.
8 . The device of claim 7 wherein the cinching mechanism comprises a tether coupled to the connector and configured to draw the wall of the stomach together.
9 . The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease.
10 . The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured a gastrorestrictive device.
11 . The device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the at least a portion of the stomach is adjustable with the cinching mechanism.
12 . The device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the at least a portion of the stomach is readjustable with the cinching mechanism.
13 . A method for reducing the diameters of at least a portion of a stomach comprising:
providing a cinching mechanism for reducing the diameter of the at least a portion of the stomach;
endoscopically attaching the cinching mechanism to the inside of a stomach; and
drawing walls of the stomach inwards with the cinching mechanism to provide a reduced diameter for at least a portion of the stomach.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the cinching mechanism is used to provide a gastrorestrictive device to treat obesity.
15 . The method of claim 13 wherein the step of endoscopically attaching the device comprises endoscopically attaching the device adjacent the LES to treat GERD.
16 . A device for reducing the diameter of a stomach comprising:
an anchor means for coupling the device to a stomach from within the stomach; and
a cinching means for drawing the walls of at least a portion of the stomach together to reduce the diameter of the at least a portion of the stomach.
17 . The device of claim 16 wherein the device comprises means for treating obesity.
18 . The device of claim 16 wherein the device comprises means for treating GERD.
19 . A method for treating GERD comprising the steps of:
reducing the diameter of a stomach below the LES from within the stomach.