Described herein is a positioning tool having an elongate portion for carrying a medical implant. Also described is a method of positioning a medical implant using an elongate positioning tool. One form of the method includes positioning a medical implant on a distal portion of an elongate positioning tool, inserting the positioning tool with the implant thereon into a body cavity manipulating the positioning tool to position the implant into contact with tissue at an attachment location, attaching the implant to surrounding tissue at the attachment location, separating the implant from the positioning tool, and withdrawing the positioning tool from the body. In a preferred embodiment, the position of the implant is visually confirmed using an endoscope before the implant is attached to surrounding tissue. In one embodiment, the implant is a satiation device and the body cavity is the esophagus and/or stomach. In an alternative embodiment, an expansion structure on the distal end of the elongate portion expands and/or contracts the medical implant to facilitate positioning.

The invention relates to an implantable stomach prosthesis for surgically replacing or augmenting all or part of the antrum and/or pylorus of a stomach. The prosthesis controls the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine. The prosthesis may be configured to churn ingested material and release it from the stomach through a prosthetic pyloric valve. At least one expandable member is arranged to be expanded to control the passage of food and/or to mimic the churning action of a patient's stomach. The prosthesis includes an outer support structure, a flexible inner member forming a conduit for the movement of material, and at least one expandable member located between the outer support structure and inner member. An implantable pump system is provided for inflating and deflating the expandable member(s).

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.

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.

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.

A retrieval device comprising a hook assembly and a capsule assembly. The hook assembly has an attachment feature at a first end. The capsule assembly includes a capsule, a capsule shaft, and a handle connected in series and defining an inner bore. The capsule has a first end defining an opening. The inner bore of the capsule assembly is configured to slidably receive the hook assembly. The handle has a central portion, a first extension portion attached to the capsule shaft, and a second extension portion with a hook assembly lock at a second end. The hook assembly lock is configured to lock the hook assembly to the second extension portion. The second extension portion is configured to pull the hook assembly relative to the capsule shaft, and the first extension portion is configured to push the capsule shaft relative to the hook assembly along the central longitudinal axis.

An assembly includes an obstruction device including a proximal obstruction balloon and a distal obstruction balloon mounted on a shaft, the balloons being inflatable via one or more inflation lumens, and a space-occupying device mounted on a positioning member that extends from a portion of the obstruction device, the space-occupying device being proximal to the proximal obstruction balloon and inflatable via a space-occupying-device inflation lumen.

A retrieval device comprising a hook assembly and a capsule assembly. The hook assembly has an attachment feature at a first end. The capsule assembly includes a capsule, a capsule shaft, and a handle connected in series and defining an inner bore. The capsule has a first end defining an opening. The inner bore of the capsule assembly is configured to slidably receive the hook assembly. The handle has a central portion, a first extension portion attached to the capsule shaft, and a second extension portion with a hook assembly lock at a second end. The hook assembly lock is configured to lock the hook assembly to the second extension portion. The second extension portion is configured to pull the hook assembly relative to the capsule shaft, and the first extension portion is configured to push the capsule shaft relative to the hook assembly along the central longitudinal axis.

An occlusion device having a support structure and an expandable occlusion element associated with the support structure. The expandable occlusion element is formed of a self-expanding material, such as a hydrogel. A retainer may be provided to hold the expandable occlusion element with respect to the support structure of the occlusion device, within or outside the support structure, and positioned such that expansion of the expandable occlusion element occludes a lumen through the support structure and the occlusion device. Expansion of the expandable occlusion element may be reversible, or the expandable occlusion element may be releasable from the support structure.