APPARATUS FOR TREATING OBESITY
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 . An apparatus for treating obesity of an obese patient having a stomach with a food cavity, the apparatus comprising:
at least one volume filling device adapted to be at least substantially invaginated by a stomach wall portion of the patient, and
wherein the volume filling device is adapted to be placed on the outside of the stomach wall with the outer surface of the volume filling device resting against the outside of the stomach wall, such that the volume of the food cavity is reduced in size by a volume substantially exceeding the volume of the volume filling device, the volume filling device having a maximum circumference of at least 30 millimeters, wherein said volume filling device has a volume of less than 0.0002 m 3 .
Shape
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device has an elongated shape.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the volume filling device has a bent or curved shape.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device has a rounded shape.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device has a shape adapted for permitting the device to be invaginated without penetrating the hepatogastric ligament of the patient
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device has varying circumference to be better adapted to be kept in place invaginated in the stomach wall of the patient.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device has a maximum circumference as seen in a plane perpendicular to an axis through the device, and wherein the circumferences of the device as seen in other planes perpendicular to said axis are equal to the maximum circumference or decrease as seen along said axis in the direction from the maximum circumference.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , 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, or decreases and increases at least one time as the plane is displaced along said axis.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device comprises an enclosure wall defining a chamber.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device comprises a bio-compatible material.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device comprises silicone.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device is destructible by acid
13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the acid is hydrochloric acid.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device comprises gel.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the gel has a shore value of less than 15.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the volume filling device is made of a material which is not destructible by acid.
17 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device comprises an elastic material.
18 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device comprises a flexible non-elastic material.
19 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device comprises a homogenous material.
20 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device is a solid body.
21 - 111 . (canceled)