The invention relates to a method and apparatus for endoscopically shaping and standardizing the size of a sleeved stomach for use in gastric reduction surgery. The device and method standardize and streamline gastric reduction surgery, specifically vertical sleeve gastrectomy, providing a guide for creating the stomach reduction and also shaping a stomach which will maintain an appropriate structure post-surgery.

A gastrointestinal device for treating obesity includes a three-dimensional porous structure configurable between a compressed pre-deployment configuration to facilitate delivery and an expanded post-deployment configuration. The porous structure includes a first opening at its proximal end and a larger second opening at its distal end. The porous structure also includes a sleeve coupled to its distal end. Optionally, the device further includes a suture at the proximal end of the wire mesh structure to facilitate retrieval and an anti-migration component positioned at the junction of the porous structure with the sleeve. The porous structure is deployed in a patient’s stomach such that the anti-migration component sits proximal to the patient’s pylorus and prevents migration of the entirety of the device into and through the pylorus. The sleeve extends through the pylorus, into the duodenum and ends in the duodenum or jejunum. Food enters the device from the first opening at the proximal end of the porous structure, passes through the porous structure and sleeve, and exits at the distal end of the sleeve. The device treats obesity by providing a relatively immovable volume occupying structure in the stomach and a bypass for food past the pylorus and proximal portion of the small intestine. Optionally, the device further acts to slow the passage of food through the digestive tract. Patients with the device experience satiety more quickly and have a prolonged sensation of satiety.

A tissue wall of a biological lumen may be reinforced by embedding a material or structure into the tissue wall. The reinforcement material or structure may embed by application of outwardly directed force along an interior side of the tissue wall, threading, or injection. The reinforcement material or structure may act as an embedded scaffold that limits expansion or contraction of the tissue wall to pushing or pulling forces. An anchor device, such as a medical device, may anchor to the reinforced portion of the tissue wall.

A bariatric device and method of causing at least partial satiety in a recipient includes positioning a body in a recipient, the body having a wall defining a lumen, the wall configured to generally conform to the shape and size of the proximal cardiac portion of the stomach. Force is exerted with the wall on the proximal cardiac portion of the stomach in the absence of food thereby activating receptors located in the proximal cardiac portion of the stomach, thereby influencing a neurohormonal feedback mechanism of the recipient to cause at least partial satiety by augmenting fullness caused by food and simulating fullness in the absence of food.

A suprapyloric anchor assembly includes an antral cap having at least three stabilizing members configured to reside in an antrum and engage tissue circumscribing a pyloric valve. A duodenal member is configured to reside at least partially in a duodenal bulb, and one or more tethers connect the antral cap to the duodenal member. The tether(s) is/are configured to allow passage of stomach contents through the pyloric valve. Optionally, one or more gastric balloon(s) may attached to the suprapyloric anchor and be inflated with the gastric cavity.

An obesity treatment apparatus comprises at least one operable stretching device (10) implantable in an obese patient and adapted to stretch a portion (12a) of the patient's stomach wall (12), and an operation device (16, 18) for operating the stretching device when implanted to stretch the stomach wall portion such that satiety is created.

A bypass device may include an elongate member extending from a proximal end toward a distal end, and a proximal opening and a distal opening coupled to one another by a lumen disposed through the elongate member. The bypass device also may include at least one port extending through a side surface of the elongate tubular member, wherein at least a portion of the bypass device may be bioabsorbable.

Provided herein are balloon systems and related methods for the treatment of obesity. The system includes a trans-abdominal gastric cannula and size-varying balloons that, with the assistance of the cannula(s) and anchors, are specially positioned and anchored to the gastric wall. The size-varying balloon may have an annulus that in combination with reliable and precise balloon positioning, minimizes the risk of gastric obstruction during use. A malabsorption sleeve may be positioned in the small intestine to further restrict caloric intake through the small intestine. The specially-configured gastric cannula provides a platform for accessing the gastric environment that facilitates precise handling, manipulation, and placement of balloons, including an annular-shaped balloon, in the gastric environment, including by balloon anchors connecting the balloon wall to the lumen-facing stomach wall.

According to one aspect, an apparatus for treating tissue may include an elongate tube. The elongate tube may include a slot extending longitudinally along a first side of the elongate tube, a first elongate jaw member on a first side of the slot, and a second elongate jaw member on a second side of the slot. The apparatus may also include a shaft coupled to the elongate tube along a second side of the elongate tube. The first elongate jaw member may be movably coupled to the shaft, such that the first elongate jaw member may be movable toward the second elongate jaw member to converge tissue walls within the slot and cut the tissue walls within the slot.

A method for controlling appetite by means of a satiation device is disclosed. The device, which includes a flexible webbing defining proximal and distal openings and a biasing structure, is attached to the patient's stomach with the proximal opening positioned adjacent and below the patient's gastro-esophageal junction. The biasing structure imparts pressure against the wall of the patient's stomach adjacent the gastro-esophageal junction.