Systems And Methods For Performing Bariatric Surgery
Patent No. US12303415 (titled "Systems And Methods For Performing Bariatric Surgery") was filed by Boehringer Technologies Llc on Dec 29, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’415 is related to the field of bariatric surgery, specifically methods and instruments for performing sleeve gastrectomies. The background involves reducing stomach size by resecting a portion of it, typically using a bougie as a guide. Existing methods lack integration of functions and a clear visual indication for resection, leading to potential complications like the instrument getting stuck.
The underlying idea behind ’415 is to use a flexible sizing tube with multiple apertures connected to a suction source to draw the stomach wall against the tube , creating a clear visual delineation line for resection. The suction also holds the tube in place, simplifying the surgical procedure. This eliminates the need for constant manipulation and provides a more precise guide for stapling.
The claims of ’415 focus on a method of sizing a patient's stomach using a non-expandable sizing tube with a continuous circular outer surface and multiple apertures. The method involves introducing the tube into the stomach, applying controlled suction through the apertures to pull the stomach wall against the tube, creating a visually perceptible delineation line, and then laparoscopically sealing the stomach along a seal line adjacent to the delineation line.
In practice, the surgeon inserts the sizing tube into the stomach and applies suction. The suction draws the stomach wall against the tube, creating a clear visual guide for the surgeon to follow when resecting the stomach. The tube's flexibility allows it to conform to the stomach's curvature, while the suction ensures it stays in place. The apertures are designed to prevent tissue damage and clogging.
This approach differs from prior methods that rely on bougies or other instruments that may not provide as clear a visual guide or as secure a hold on the stomach. The use of suction to create the delineation line and stabilize the stomach simplifies the procedure, potentially reducing the risk of complications such as leaks or strictures. The one-way valves prevent the tube from getting stuck and allow for fluid infusion for leak testing or unfolding the stomach.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’415 was filed, bariatric surgical procedures were typically performed laparoscopically at a time when systems commonly relied on mechanical staplers and bougies for gastric resectioning. At that time, integrating multiple functions into a single device for bariatric surgery was a design goal, when hardware or software constraints made precise control of suction and fluid dynamics within the stomach non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The claims were amended during prosecution. Arguments were presented to overcome rejections based on anticipation and obviousness. The application was subject to a final rejection under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103, as well as 35 U.S.C. 112. The prosecution record does describe claim changes and technical reasoning that led to the rejection.
Claims
There are 12 claims in total. Claim 1 is the only independent claim, and it focuses on a method for sizing a patient's stomach for a bariatric procedure using a non-expandable instrument and controlled suction. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and refine the method described in the independent claim, adding details regarding resection, sealing, testing for leakage, managing folds in the stomach, and specifying suction force ranges.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
Patent Family
File Wrapper
The dossier documents provide a comprehensive record of the patent's prosecution history - including filings, correspondence, and decisions made by patent offices - and are crucial for understanding the patent's legal journey and any challenges it may have faced during examination.
Date
Description
Get instant alerts for new documents
US12303415
- Application Number
- US17136407
- Filing Date
- Dec 29, 2020
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Nov 5, 2034
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents