Implantable device

• US 20050104457A1
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Allergan Medical SA (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Montavon, Jean-Charles, Jordan, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 7,314,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/00 Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents as cosmetic articles, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. wigs, hair pieces, A41G3/00, A41G5/00; artificial nails A45D31/00; dental prostheses A61C13/00; materials for prostheses A61L27/00; artificial hearts A61M60/00; artificial kidneys A61M1/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0036 implantable A61F2/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/445 Colostomy, ileostomy or urethrostomy devices A61F5/441, A61F5/442, A61F5/443 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An implantable device comprising: a stepper motor; a moveable member, moveable by the stepper motor; and an oscillator, wherein the oscillator is influenced by a signal derived from or supplied to the stepper motor to enable information on the moveable member to be fedback to an external controller by passive telemetry.

Claims

1. An implantable device comprising:

a stepper motor;

a moveable member, moveable by the stepper motor; and

an oscillator,

wherein the oscillator is influenced by a signal derived from or supplied to the stepper motor to enable information on the moveable member to be fedback to an external controller by passive telemetry.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said signal is the electrical signal applied to one coil of the stepper motor.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said signal is the voltage induced in a secondary coil wrapped around a coil of the stepper motor.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the oscillator drives an absorption modulator for use in feedback of said information by passive telemetry using FM-AM modulation.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said signal modifies the frequency of the oscillator.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said signal is used to modify one of:

at least one parameter of a resistor-capacitor network associated with the oscillator; and

at least one parameter of a crystal oscillator comprising the oscillator.

7. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller for driving the stepper motor, wherein the oscillator also comprises the external oscillator for providing a clock signal to the microcontroller.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein a reference position of the moveable member is detected by a detector which is used to influence the oscillator.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said detector causes a shift in frequency of said oscillator when the reference position is detected.

10. A device according to claim 8 wherein the detector is selected from the group consisting of:

an electrical contact switch, a Hall-effect switch, a force-sensing resistor, a variable inductor, and a piezoresistive element.

11. A device according to claim 1, encapsulated into a biocompatible, non-metallic package.

12. A system comprising:

an implantable device according to claim 1, and an external controller comprising means for counting pulses in said signal fedback by passive telemetry for determining the motion of the stepper motor and the position of the moveable member.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said external controller further comprises means for analysing the shape of said signal to detect blockage of the stepper motor.

14. A device according to claim 1, further comprising one selected from the group consisting of:

a flow controller adjustable by said movable member for blood flow regulation on native vessels or artificial grafts;

gastric banding adjustable by said moveable member for treatment of obesity;

oseophageal banding adjustable by said moveable member for treatment of Gastro Enteral Reflux Disease;

an artificial sphincter adjustable by said moveable member for treatment of urinary incontinence;

an artificial sphincter adjustable by said moveable member for treatment of faecal incontinence;

an artificial sphincter adjustable by said moveable member for use following a colostomy;

an artificial sphincter adjustable by said moveable member for use following an ileostomy; and

a drug infusion system adjustable by said moveable member.

15. Use of a device or system according to claim 1 in the manufacture of a medical device for use in at least one selected from the group of:

blood flow regulation on native vessels or artificial grafts;

gastric banding for treatment of obesity;

oseophageal banding for treatment of Gastro Enteral Reflux Disease;

control of an artificial sphincter for treatment of urinary incontinence;

control of an artificial sphincter for treatment of faecal incontinence;

control of an artificial sphincter following a colostomy;

control of an artificial sphincter following an ileostomy; and

control of a drug infusion system.

16. Use of a device or a system according to claim 1 in an application selected from the group consisting of:

blood flow regulation on native vessels or artificial grafts;

gastric banding for treatment of obesity;

oseophageal banding for treatment of Gastro Enteral Reflux Disease;

control of an artificial sphincter for treatment of urinary incontinence;

control of an artificial sphincter for treatment of faecal incontinence;

control of an artificial sphincter following a colostomy;

control of an artificial sphincter following an ileostomy; and

control of a drug infusion system.

17. A system according to claim 12, further comprising one selected from the group consisting of:

a flow controller adjustable by said movable member for blood flow regulation on native vessels or artificial grafts;

gastric banding adjustable by said moveable member for treatment of obesity;

oseophageal banding adjustable by said moveable member for treatment of Gastro Enteral Reflux Disease;

an artificial sphincter adjustable by said moveable member for treatment of urinary incontinence;

an artificial sphincter adjustable by said moveable member for treatment of faecal incontinence;

an artificial sphincter adjustable by said moveable member for use following a colostomy;

an artificial sphincter adjustable by said moveable member for use following an ileostomy; and

a drug infusion system adjustable by said moveable member.