The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 15, 2010
Filed:
Apr. 28, 2005
Applicant:
Warren L. Starkebaum, Plymouth, MN (US);
Inventor:
Warren L. Starkebaum, Plymouth, MN (US);
Assignee:
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61F 2/04 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A method for treatment of obesity involves implantation of bulking devices within the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) to inhibit swallowing, thereby limiting food intake and treating obesity. One or more bulking devices are implanted within or near the UES to create a partial obstruction, partially impair UES muscle function, or both. The bulking devices make swallowing difficult, limiting the rate of food intake by a patient, and discouraging the patient from quickly consuming an excessive amount of food at one time.