Zachary P Dominguez

US Patent:

20120088962, Apr 12, 2012

Filed:

Aug 23, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/216132

Inventors:

Ethan Franklin - Goleta CA, US
Sean Snow - Carpinteria CA, US
Erik Torjesen - Goleta CA, US
Justin J. Schwab - Santa Barbara CA, US
Zachary P. Dominguez - Santa Barbara CA, US

Assignee:

ALLERGAN, INC. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61F 2/00

US Classification:

600 37

Abstract:

Generally described herein are automatic, self-adjusting, gastric banding systems and improvements thereof, that are capable of automatically relaxing and contracting in response to a large bolus passing through the area of a patient's stomach constricted by a gastric band. Alternatively, and/or in addition in one or more embodiments, the gastric banding systems described herein may also help prevent pouch dilatation and/or erosion. The apparatus and systems described herein aid in facilitating obesity control and/or treating obesity-related diseases while generally being non-invasive once implanted. Furthermore, certain embodiments of the self-adjusting gastric banding systems disclosed herein are automatically adjustable without complicated fluid control mechanisms, flow rate limiting devices, and/or valves. The automatic adjustments may also be made in response to other changes in the patient's esophageal-gastric junction, for example, in response to size, shape, and or location changes.

US Patent:

20120089170, Apr 12, 2012

Filed:

Oct 11, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/902085

Inventors:

Zachary Dominguez - Santa Barbara CA, US

Assignee:

ALLERGAN, INC. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61M 29/02
A61M 29/00

US Classification:

606192, 606191

Abstract:

The present application provides intragastric devices for the treatment of obesity. The intragastric devices advantageously act as a volume-occupying device, and is able to survive implantation in a patient's stomach for a year or longer. In addition, the intragastric devices may provide additional benefits. For example, the intragastric device may be configured to stimulate an inner stomach wall and/or temporarily block the pylorus to slow gastric emptying and/or be rotationally variant, thereby encouraging different stimulation points on the inner wall of the stomach and limiting the stomach's ability to adapt over long term implantation.

US Patent:

20120089172, Apr 12, 2012

Filed:

Oct 10, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/270016

Inventors:

Mitchell H. Babkes - Santa Clarita CA, US
Zachary Dominguez - Santa Barbara CA, US
Christopher S. Mudd - Ventura CA, US
Joseph S. Raven - Santa Barbara CA, US

Assignee:

ALLERGAN, INC. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61M 29/00

US Classification:

606192

Abstract:

The present application provides implantable intragastric devices for the treatment of obesity. The intragastric devices advantageously act as a volume-occupying device, and is able to survive implantation in a patient's stomach for a year or longer. In addition, the intragastric devices may be configured to stimulate an inner stomach wall and/or temporarily block the pylorus to slow gastric emptying and/or be rotationally variant, thereby encouraging different stimulation points on the inner wall of the stomach and limiting the stomach's ability to adapt over long term implantation. The intragastric devices may reshape the stomach cavity, such as by pushing on opposite sides so as to “planarize” the stomach. For instance, the device may be an inflated disk, or an implantable loop or a springy coil that may be straightened for delivery/extraction yet assume the loop or coil shape upon implant.

US Patent:

20120095288, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

May 31, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/149585

Inventors:

Sean Snow - Carpinteria CA, US
Mitchell H. Babkes - Santa Clarita CA, US
Marcos Borrell - Goleta CA, US
Christopher R. Deuel - Artlington MA, US
Zachary P. Dominguez - Santa Barbara CA, US
Ethan Franklin - Goleta CA, US
Babak Honaryar - Orinda CA, US
Erik Torjesen - Goleta CA, US

Assignee:

ALLERGAN, INC. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61F 2/04

US Classification:

600 37

Abstract:

Generally described herein are automatic, self-adjusting, gastric banding systems and improvements thereof, that are capable of automatically relaxing and contracting in response to a large bolus passing through the area of a patient's stomach constricted by a gastric band. Alternatively, and/or in addition in one or more embodiments, the gastric banding systems described herein may also help prevent pouch dilatation and/or erosion. The apparatus and systems described herein aid in facilitating obesity control and/or treating obesity-related diseases while generally being non-invasive once implanted. Furthermore, certain embodiments of the self-adjusting gastric banding systems disclosed herein are automatically adjustable without complicated fluid control mechanisms, flow rate limiting devices, and/or valves. The automatic adjustments may also be made in response to other changes in the patient's esophageal-gastric junction, for example, in response to size, shape, and or location changes.

US Patent:

20120095384, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

Oct 17, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/275170

Inventors:

Mitchell H. Babkes - Santa Clarita CA, US
Zachary Dominguez - Santa Barbara CA, US

Assignee:

ALLERGAN, INC. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61M 5/00

US Classification:

604 9

Abstract:

A variety of passive intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. Such passive implants do not autonomously change shape, but instead react within the stomach to induce satiety. The implants may take up volume within the stomach, thus reducing the digestive capacity. Additionally, the implants may contact areas within the stomach, such as the cardia surrounding the esophageal sphincter, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Also, a number of implants slow gastric emptying by blocking or otherwise impeding flow through the pyloric sphincter. Other implants delay digestion by providing a duodenal sleeve. A number of implants combine two or more of these satiety-inducing features. Methods of implant are disclosed including compressing the implants within a delivery tube and transorally advancing the implants through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the implants occurs in the reverse.

US Patent:

20120095385, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

Oct 18, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/276174

Inventors:

Zachary Dominguez - Santa Barbara CA, US
Joseph S. Raven - Goleta CA, US
Mitchell H. Babkes - Santa Clarita CA, US

Assignee:

ALLERGAN, INC. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61F 2/04
A61M 29/02

US Classification:

604 9, 604 8, 606192

Abstract:

Intragastric fluid transfer devices and related methods for operation thereof are disclosed. The intragastric fluid transfer devices and related methods are intended to assist a patient in maintaining a healthy body weight by stimulating the inner stomach walls and/or the inner duodenum walls. Features of the intragastric fluid transfer device include insertion of the devices transorally and without invasive surgery, without associated patient risks of invasive surgery, and without substantial patient discomfort. The life span of these intragastric fluid transfer devices may be material-dependent upon long-term survivability within an acidic stomach, but is intended to last one year or longer.

US Patent:

20120095484, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

Oct 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/272083

Inventors:

Zachary P. Dominguez - Santa Barbara CA, US

Assignee:

ALLERGAN, INC. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61B 17/08

US Classification:

606157

Abstract:

Intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. The device is passive and does not autonomously change shape, but instead reacts to movement of the stomach to induce satiety. The device includes a series of connected, articulated clips that plicate the stomach wall nondestructively (no puncturing through the gastric wall) such that the overall volume of the stomach is reduced. Cam-shaped clamping surfaces prevent slippage of the stomach tissue from within the clips. Methods of implant are disclosed including delivering the device through a transoral delivery tube and advancing the device through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the device occurs in the reverse.

US Patent:

20120095494, Apr 19, 2012

Filed:

Oct 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/272131

Inventors:

Zachary Dominguez - Santa Barbara CA, US
Mitchell H. Babkes - Santa Clarita CA, US
Justin Schwab - Santa Barbara CA, US
Christopher S. Mudd - Ventura CA, US
Jason Hoover - Goleta CA, US

Assignee:

ALLERGAN, INC. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61M 29/00
A61M 29/02

US Classification:

606192, 606198

Abstract:

Transoral obesity treatment devices and related methods for operation thereof are described which occupy space within a stomach and/or stimulate the stomach wall. The transoral obesity treatment devices and related methods are intended to assist a patient in maintaining a healthy body weight. Features of the devices include insertion transorally and without invasive surgery, without associated patient risks of invasive surgery, and without substantial patient discomfort. The life span of these devices may be material-dependent upon long-term survivability within an acidic stomach, but is intended to last one year or longer. The devices have the capacity to vary in size and are desirably self-actuating in that they change shape and/or volume using internal motors or actuators. The changing character of the devices helps prevent the person's stomach from compensating for the implant, such as sometimes happens with static intragastric devices.