Intragastric balloon retrieval mechanisms

摘要

A mechanism for removing a fluid-filled object from a patient. The apparatus includes a deflation tube with a puncture member at one end of the tube for piercing a hole in the object wall. The apparatus includes a retrieval mechanism slidable within the deflation tube lumen. The retrieval mechanism includes an expansion element that is expandable when positioned within the object from a first configuration with a dimension less than that of the deflation tube lumen to a second or deployed configuration with a dimension that is greater than an outer dimension of the puncture member. The expansion element contacts an inner surface of the inflatable object as the deflation tube and retrieval mechanism are withdrawn from the body cavity. The expansion element may be a T-bar, a foldable anchor, an inflatable member, or another expandable form.

主权项

1. A method for evacuating and removing a fluid-filled object positioned in a body cavity of a patient, comprising:
positioning a deflation device in the body cavity; piercing a wall of the fluid-filled object with the deflation device, wherein the deflation device comprises a tube with a lumen; displacing a retrieval mechanism in the lumen of the tube, wherein the retrieval mechanism comprises an inflatable expansion element having a deployed configuration greater in size than an outer diameter of the tube and wherein the displacing comprises extending the inflatable expansion element at least partially out of the lumen and into the pierced wall of the object; expanding the inflatable expansion element to the deployed configuration by inserting a fluid into the inflatable expansion element to apply pressure against an inner surface of the inflatable expansion element; and withdrawing the retrieval mechanism and the deflation device from the body cavity, wherein during the withdrawing an outer surface of the inflatable expansion element contacts an inner surface of the wall of the object, forcing the object to be removed from the body cavity with the retrieval mechanism.