US 12,303,415 B2
Systems and methods for performing bariatric surgery
Christopher L. Radl, Malvern, PA (US); and Trevor Smith, Phoenixville, PA (US)
Assigned to Boehringer Technologies, LP, Phoenixville, PA (US)
Filed by Boehringer Technologies, LP, Phoenixville, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 29, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/136,407.
Application 17/136,407 is a continuation of application No. 15/730,332, filed on Oct. 11, 2017, granted, now 10,888,446.
Application 15/730,332 is a continuation of application No. 14/073,464, filed on Nov. 6, 2013, granted, now 9,808,368, issued on Nov. 7, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/837,908, filed on Jun. 21, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/777,432, filed on Mar. 12, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/731,200, filed on Nov. 29, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2021/0113358 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/072 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/30 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61J 15/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 5/0089 (2013.01) [A61B 17/07207 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00818 (2013.01); A61B 2017/306 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320052 (2013.01); A61J 15/0003 (2013.01); A61M 25/007 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of sizing a patient's stomach for a bariatric procedure, said method comprising:
a) introducing a non-expandable instrument comprising a sizing tube comprising a single member into the stomach of the patient through the patient's esophagus so that a portion of said sizing tube is disposed along the lesser curvature of the patient's stomach, said sizing tube comprising an elongated member having a longitudinal axis and a circular cross-section having a circular outer surface, whereupon when said sizing tube is disposed along the lesser curvature of the patient's stomach the circular outer surface of said sizing tube is exposed for engagement by portions of the patient's stomach, a hollow interior defining a passageway, a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, said distal end portion terminating in a free end tip, said distal end portion having a predetermined outside diameter and a plurality of apertures disposed about said circular outer surface of said distal end portion, said plurality of apertures being directed in a plurality of different radial directions from said longitudinal axis and being in fluid communication with said passageway, said circular outer surface being entirely continuous along an entire length of said sizing tube between said apertures;
b) connecting said passageway of said sizing tube to a source of controlled suction whereupon controlled suction is applied to the interior of the patient's stomach via said plurality of apertures to pull the lesser curvature of the patient's stomach into engagement with a portion of said sizing tube without any portion of said instrument being interposed between said entirely continuous circular outer surface of said sizing tube and the interior of the patient's stomach, and to produce a suction-created visually perceptible delineation line on the exterior of the patient's stomach along a portion of said entirely continuous circular outer surface of said sizing tube facing the greater curvature of the patient's stomach; and
c) laparoscopically sealing the patient's stomach from the outside of the patient's stomach along a seal line, said seal line being adjacent said visually perceptible delineation line.