Gastric ring made of variable hardness elastomeric material
First Claim
1. A gastroplasty band (1) comprising:
- a flexible strip (2) designed to be closed around the stomach of a patient by closure means (5, 6) towards the two ends (3, 4) of the flexible strip in order to reduce the diameter of the opening of the stoma, said flexible strip including an annular compression chamber (7) of adjustable volume connected by a catheter (9) to a device for adjusting the diameter of said annular compression chamber by injecting or withdrawing fluid, said annular compression chamber being defined by walls comprising a dorsal reinforcement (12) extended by lateral walls (13);
wherein the dorsal reinforcement (12) is made out of a first elastomer material having predetermined hardness d1 on the Shore A scale; and
wherein the lateral walls (13) are made out of a second elastomer material of the same kind as the first elastomer material but of predetermined hardness d2 on the Shore A scale such that d2<
d1, thereby obtaining the annular compression chamber (7) of hardness on the Shore A scale that varies across its thickness.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gastroplasty band, as disclosed herein, comprises a flexible strip designed to be closed around the stomach of a patient by a closure mechanism. The flexible strip includes an annular compression chamber connected by a catheter to a device for adjusting the diameter of the compression chamber by injecting or withdrawing fluid. The compression chamber comprises a dorsal reinforcement extended by lateral walls. The dorsal reinforcement is made out of a first elastomer material having predetermined hardness d1 on the Shore A scale. The lateral walls are made out of a second elastomer material of the same kind as the first elastomer material but of predetermined hardness d2 on the Shore A scale such that d2<d1. The annular compression chamber thus has a hardness on the Shore A scale that varies across its thickness.
73 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A gastroplasty band (1) comprising:
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a flexible strip (2) designed to be closed around the stomach of a patient by closure means (5, 6) towards the two ends (3, 4) of the flexible strip in order to reduce the diameter of the opening of the stoma, said flexible strip including an annular compression chamber (7) of adjustable volume connected by a catheter (9) to a device for adjusting the diameter of said annular compression chamber by injecting or withdrawing fluid, said annular compression chamber being defined by walls comprising a dorsal reinforcement (12) extended by lateral walls (13);
wherein the dorsal reinforcement (12) is made out of a first elastomer material having predetermined hardness d1 on the Shore A scale; and
wherein the lateral walls (13) are made out of a second elastomer material of the same kind as the first elastomer material but of predetermined hardness d2 on the Shore A scale such that d2<
d1, thereby obtaining the annular compression chamber (7) of hardness on the Shore A scale that varies across its thickness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of fabricating a gastroplasty band by injecting an elastomer material in a mold provided with at least one cavity having at least one core, the method comprising:
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a) injecting a first elastomer material of predetermined hardness d1 on the Shore A scale in order to make at least a dorsal reinforcement of the gastroplasty band; and
b) overmolding at least on the dorsal reinforcement by injecting a second elastomer material of the same kind as the first elastomer material but of predetermined hardness d2 on the Shore A scale such that d2<
d1, in order to make the remaining portions of the gastroplasty band and obtain an overmolded one-piece gastroplasty band of varying hardness. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification