Endobar Solutions LLC

Endobar Sortions LLC

Nickolas Kipshidze

Ronald Jay Solar

Eran Levit

Martin B Leon

Embolization particles can be safely delivered to the left gastric artery of a patient by introducing the distal end of a catheter in the patient's left gastric artery, inflating a balloon located near the distal end of the catheter so that the balloon prevents blood from flowing through the left gastric artery, and injecting a mixture of particles and contrast agent into the proximal end of the catheter so that they flow through the catheter. In addition, a path is provided for blood to flow into the catheter through an opening in the sidewall of the catheter at a position that is proximal to the balloon, and out through the distal end of the catheter. This blood flow helps to carry the particles along to their destination in the distal portion of the left gastric artery. The particles are also prevented from flowing into portions of the patient's artery system that are proximal of the balloon.

Selectively delivering particles into the distal portion of the left gastric artery

Controlled delivery of embolic beads into a subject's artery is achieved using a pump configured to draw fluid into a chamber and eject fluid from the chamber, one or more valves that control fluid-flow paths between three ports and the chamber of the pump, a valve actuator that places the one or more valves into various operating states, and a controller that controls the operation of the pump and the one or more valves in a controlled sequence. The various operating states interconnect one of the ports with a common port in fluid communication with the pump to achieve the controlled delivery of embolic beads.

Controlling the delivery of embolic beads into an artery

Methods and apparatuses for embolizing an artery in a living subject using a catheter are disclosed. The catheter has a lumen and also has a balloon located near the distal end of the catheter. The distal end of the catheter is introduced into the artery, and the balloon is inflated to form a seal that prevents blood in the artery from flowing past the balloon. A mixture that includes embolic particles and contrast agent is injected through the lumen into the portion of the artery that is distally beyond the balloon. The subject's own blood or another fluid that contains platelets is injected through the lumen into the portion of the artery that is distally beyond the balloon. Subsequently, the balloon is deflated and the distal end of the catheter is withdrawn.

Weight loss can be promoted by introducing a microcatheter into the mid segment or distal portion of a human subject's left gastric artery and delivering, via the microcatheter, a plurality of particles with sizes between 300 and 500 &#x3bc;m into the distal portion of the subject's left gastric artery. The particles cause endovascular flow reduction or interruption in the distal portion of the subject's left gastric artery. The reduced or interrupted blood flow decreases the production of the hormone ghrelin, which reduces the subject's appetite, thereby promoting weight loss.

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New York, NY, United States of America

Nickolas Kipshidze