Patent US6254642B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6254642B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Perorally insertable gastroesophageal anti-reflux valve prosthesis and tool for implantation thereof
Assignee: Reflux Corp
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Filing: 1997-12-09
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Granted: 2001-07-03
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Expires: 2017-12-09
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an instrument, valve prosthesis and procedure for the minimally invasive implantation of an anti-reflux valve in a patient for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Self-anchoring or stapleable one-way anti-reflux valve prostheses are provided, which may be implanted proximate a patient's gastroesophageal junction without open or laparoscopic surgery. An instrument for the peroral insertion, positioning and fixing of the valve prosthesis to the tissue of the esophagus is described for the implantation of either the self-anchoring or stapleable prosthesis.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas V. Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0004; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2476; A61F2/04; A61F2002/044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A peroral prosthesis system for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in a patient comprising: an anti-reflux valve prosthesis comprising: a mounting ring made of an expandable, compressible memory material; an anchor comprising staples for fixing the mounting ring in the lumen of the esophagus; and a one-way valve depending from the mounting rings for allowing orthograde passage of swallowed material, and impeding the passage of gastric content; and a peroral implantation tool for perorally inserting and positioning the prosthesis at a distal end of the lumen of an esophagus, and fixing the prosthesis to the lumen wall of the esophagus, comprising an intralumenal, circular surgical stapler, having an annular space connected to a vacuum source and a prosthesis holder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A peroral prosthesis system for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease in a patient comprising: an anti-reflux valve prosthesis comprising: a mounting ring made of an expandable, compressible memory material; an anchor comprising staples for fixing the mounting ring in the lumen of the esophagus; and a one-way valve depending from the mounting rings for allowing orthograde passage of swallowed material, and impeding the passage of gastric content; and a peroral implantation tool for perorally inserting and positioning the prosthesis at a distal end of the lumen of an esophagus, and fixing the prosthesis to the lumen wall of the esophagus, comprising an intralumenal, circular surgical stapler, having an annular space connected to a vacuum source and a prosthesis holder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the stapler comprises a head, an anvil axially positionable from the head, a perforated tube for drawing the lumen of the esophagus between the head and the anvil, and a holder for disengageably receiving a prosthesis mounting ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the stapler comprises: a stapler head for dispensing and driving staples; an anvil having a circular surface opposing the stapler head, and inset with a channel for receiving and holding the mounting ring, and a plurality of notches radially disposed in pairs on opposite sides of the channel for receiving and bending staple points; and staples disposed in the head with points positioned across the mounting ring to engage the notches on the anvil surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the stapler comprise: a stapler head for dispensing and driving staples, having a surface inset with a channel for receiving and holding a mounting ring; staples, having staple points radially disposed across the mounting ring; and an anvil, having a circular surface opposing the stapler head, and a plurality of notches radially disposed in pairs for receiving and bending the staple points.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the stapler comprises: a stapler head for driving staples, having a surface inset with a channel for receiving and holding a mounting ring; a mounting ring, held in the channel, and having staple points integrally incorporated therein and radially projecting from the mounting ring; and an anvil, having a circular surface opposing the stapler head, and a plurality of notches disposed for receiving and bending the staple points.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
84 words
An anti-reflux valve prosthesis comprising: a mounting ring; an array of at least one row of tissue anchors presenting at least 8 points extending outward from the mounting ring, in the direction substantially parallel to the esophagus the anchors having staple points for engaging the lumen wall of an esophagus and fixing the mounting ring in the lumen of the esophagus; and a one-way valve depending from the mounting ring, for allowing orthograde passage of swallowed material, and impeding the passage of gastric content.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
An anti-reflux valve prosthesis comprising: a mounting ring; an array of at least one row of tissue anchors presenting at least 8 points extending outward from the mounting ring, in the direction substantially parallel to the esophagus the anchors having staple points for engaging the lumen wall of an esophagus and fixing the mounting ring in the lumen of the esophagus; and a one-way valve depending from the mounting ring, for allowing orthograde passage of swallowed material, and impeding the passage of gastric content.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
The peroral prosthesis system of claim 1 wherein the prosthesis implantation tool comprises: a shaft having a distal stapler end and a proximal handle end; the intralumenal, circular surgical stapler connected to the distal end of the shaft, the stapler having a head, an anvil axially positionable from the head, the vacuum source adapted for drawing the lumen of the esophagus into the annular space between the head and the anvil, and the prosthesis holder adapted for disengageably receiving the mounting ring; a handle connected to the proximal end of the shaft, for receiving a vacuum and for manipulating and operating the stapler; and the shaft having internally disposed means for connecting the operation of the handle with the operation of the stapler.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the stapler further comprises: a stapler head for dispensing and driving staples; an anvil having a circular surface opposing the stapler head, and inset with a channel for receiving and holding the mounting ring, and a plurality of notches radially disposed in pairs on opposite sides of the channel for receiving and bending staple points; and staples disposed in the head with points positioned across the mounting ring to engage the notches on the anvil surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the stapler further comprises: a stapler head for dispensing and driving staples, having a surface inset with a channel for receiving and holding a mounting ring; staples, having staple points radially disposed across the mounting ring; and an anvil, having a circular surface opposing the stapler head, and a plurality of notches radially disposed in pairs for receiving and bending the staple points.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the stapler further comprises: a stapler head for driving staples, having a surface inset with a channel for receiving and holding a mounting ring; the mounting ring, held in the channel, and having staple points integrally incorporated therein and radially projecting from the mounting ring; and an anvil, having a circular surface opposing the stapler head, and a plurality of notches disposed for receiving and bending the staple points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A minimally invasive method for surgically treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease in a patient with the system of claim 1 comprising the steps of: perorally inserting the prosthesis received in a distal end of the implantation tool into an esophagus; positioning the prosthesis adjacent to an esophageal junction; fixing the prosthesis in place in the esophagus of the patient; removing the implantation tool from the esophagus; and leaving the valve prosthesis in situ to treat gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A kit for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease in a patient comprising: a package; the peroral prosthesis system of claim 1 housed within the package; and optionally, instructions for use of the peroral prosthesis system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The kit of claim 12 wherein the package and contents are sterile.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The anti-reflux valve prosthesis of claim 6 wherein the mounting ring comprises a helical spring and a biologically inter coating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The anti-reflux valve prosthesis of claim 14 wherein the anchors comprise a crosspiece between pairs of staple points and wherein the crosspieces are disposed within the coating substantially tangentially with respect to the mounting ring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The anti-reflux valve prosthesis of claim 14 wherein the anchors comprise a crosspiece between pairs of staple points and wherein the crosspieces are disposed transversely through the coating so that a pair of respective staple points on either end of each crosspiece are disposed on opposite sides of the coating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of any of claim 1 , 14 , 15 , 16 wherein the valve is selected from sleeve valves.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-02 | 2005-01-01 | 2005-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-02 | 2009-01-01 | 2009-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-02 | 2013-01-01 | 2013-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |