Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safe remotely adjustable artificial sphincter

• US 20060252982A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hassler, William L. Jr., Dlugos, Daniel F. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,727,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0059 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An implantable artificial sphincter system provides long-term adjustment via transcutaneous energy transfer (TET), minimizing invasive adjustment through adding or removing fluid via a syringe. An infuser device provides bi-directional fluid transfer via a flexible conduit to a sphincter band, such as a gastric band. Materials are nonferrous and nonmagnetic so as to be magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safe, being substantially immune to strong magnetic fields and not introducing an electromagnetic interference/compatibility (EMIC) hazard.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising an external programmer portion at least intermittently in communication with an implantable artificial sphincter portion for remote adjustment thereof, the implantable artificial sphincter portion comprising:

an artificial sphincter band formed of biocompatible and nonferromagnetic material sized to encompass a body lumen;

control circuitry responsive to the external programmer portion;

an MRI safe actuator activated by the control circuitry to selectively, bi-directionally adjust the artificial sphincter;

a power source providing power to the control circuitry and to the actuator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises transcutaneous energy transfer (TET), the implantable artificial sphincter portion further comprising an implantable TET coil electromagnetically tuned to receive TET from the external programmer portion and to provide the received TET to the power source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the MRI safe actuator comprises a piezoelectric motor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the artificial sphincter band includes a ceramic actuating end, the piezoelectric motor being attached to a first end of the artificial sphincter band and includes a drive tip in actuating contact with the ceramic actuating end, which in turn is in opposing, sliding contact with the first end.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the implantable artificial sphincter portion further comprises a transmission communicating an output motion from the MRI safe actuator to the artificial sphincter band.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transmission comprises conduit containing fluid, the artificial sphincter band further comprising a bladder responsive to bi-directional fluid flow from the conduit to adjust an internal circumference of the artificial sphincter band.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transmission comprises a transmission cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmission cable is operatively configured to communicate a translation motion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a position sensor operatively configured to sense a position related to an internal circumference of the artificial sphincter band.

11. An apparatus, comprising an external programmer portion at least intermittently in communication with an implantable artificial sphincter portion for remote adjustment thereof, the implantable artificial sphincter portion comprising:

an artificial sphincter band formed of biocompatible and nonferromagnetic material sized to encompass a body lumen;

control circuitry responsive to the external programmer portion;

an MRI safe piezoelectric motor activated by the control circuitry to selectively bi-directionally adjust the artificial sphincter band;

a power source providing power to the control circuitry and to the actuator.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the power source comprises transcutaneous energy transfer (TET), the implantable artificial sphincter portion further comprising a implantable TET coil electromagnetically tuned to receive TET from the external programmer portion and to provide the received TET to the power source.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the artificial sphincter band includes a rigid actuating end, the piezoelectric motor being attached to a first end of the artificial sphincter band and includes a drive tip in actuating contact with the rigid actuating end, which in turn is in opposing, sliding contact with the first end.

15. An apparatus, comprising an external programmer portion at least intermittently in communication with an implantable artificial sphincter portion for remote adjustment thereof, the implantable artificial sphincter portion comprising:

an artificial sphincter band formed of biocompatible and nonferromagnetic material sized to encompass a body lumen and including an adjustable inner circumference;

a transmission operatively configured to convert an actuator motion to an adjustment of the inner circumference of the artificial sphincter band;

control circuitry responsive to the external programmer portion;

an MRI safe actuator operatively configured to produce the actuator motion coupled to the transmission and activated by the control circuitry to selectively, bi-directionally adjust the artificial sphincter;

a power source providing power to the control circuitry and to the actuator.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the power source comprises transcutaneous energy transfer (TET), the implantable artificial sphincter portion further comprising a implantable TET coil electromagnetically tuned to receive TET from the external programmer portion and to provide the received TET to the power source.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the MRI safe actuator comprises a piezoelectric motor.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the artificial sphincter band includes a ceramic actuating end, the piezoelectric motor being attached to a first end of the artificial sphincter band and including a drive tip in actuating contact with the ceramic actuating end, which in turn is in opposing, sliding contact with the first end.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transmission comprises conduit containing fluid, the artificial sphincter band further comprising a bladder responsive to bi-directional fluid flow from the conduit to adjust an internal circumference of the artificial sphincter band.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transmission comprises a transmission cable.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the transmission cable is operatively configured to communicate a translation motion.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a position sensor operatively configured to sense a position related to an internal circumference of the artificial sphincter band.