Positioning tools and methods for implanting medical devices

    公开(公告)号:US07097665B2

    公开(公告)日:2006-08-29

    申请号:US10345698

    申请日:2003-01-16

    IPC分类号: A61F2/36 A61B19/00

    CPC分类号: A61F5/0089 A61F5/0079

    摘要: 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.