Obesity treatment
View Patent ↗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:
a first volume filling device segment, and
a second volume filling device segment,
wherein the first volume filling device segment and the second volume filling device segment are adapted to be assembled into a volume filling device having an outer surface suitable for being implanted in the patient,
wherein the volume filling device has a volume when assembled and invaginated by a stomach wall portion of the patient, suitable for reducing the volume of the food cavity by a volume substantially exceeding the volume of the volume filling device, wherein:
said first volume filling device segment comprises at least one interconnecting recess,
said second volume filling device segment comprises at least one interconnecting protrusion;
said at least one interconnecting recess and at least one interconnecting protrusion are adapted to secure the first volume filling device segment and the second volume filling device segment to each other to form the assembled volume filling device, and
said assembled volume filling device is configured to disassemble into its volume filling device segments if the assembled volume filling device leaves its position in which it is invaginated by the stomach wall portion, wherein the volume filling device segments are adapted to separately pass through the food passageway, thereby reducing risk for causing obstruction/ileus in the patient's intestine.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second volume filling device segments are adapted to pass through a trocar, for assembly and implantation of said volume filling device into the abdominal cavity.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second volume filling device segments are of a size that admits free passage through the gastrointestinal system.
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 comprises silicone.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device comprises an attachment device adapted to cooperate with a gripping instrument.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the volume filling device is adapted to be completely invaginated by the stomach wall of the patient.