System and Method for Determining Implanted Device Orientation

• US 20070213837A1
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Plescia, David, Dlugos, Daniel, Hassler, William, Ferreri, Annie
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.650
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12009 Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1355 Automated control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2048 using an accelerometer or inertia sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/067 using accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0053 remotely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0079 Pyloric or esophageal obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0226 having means for protecting the interior of the access site from damage due to the insertion of a needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0238 having means for locating the implanted device to insure proper injection, e.g. radio-emitter, protuberances, radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3327 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 : using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 : Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 : Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276

Abstract

A system is operable to detect the orientation of an implant component. The system comprises an implantable component, an external component, and a logic component. The implantable component comprises a first coil operable to transmit a first signal having a phase. The external component comprises a second coil operable to transmit a second signal having a phase. The logic component is operable to compare the phase of the first signal with the phase of the second signal. The logic component is further configured to determine an orientation of the first coil relative to the second coil based on a comparison of the phase of the first signal with the phase of the second signal. The system may be used to determine the orientation of an injection port in an implanted gastric band system. The system may alternatively be used in a variety of other types of systems.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the orientation of an implant component, the system comprising:

(a) an implantable component, wherein the implantable component comprises a first coil operable to transmit a first signal having a phase, wherein the implantable component is configured to be implanted within a patient;

(b) an external component, wherein the external component comprises a second coil operable to transmit a second signal having a phase; and

(c) a logic component configured to compare the phase of the first signal with the phase of the second signal, wherein the logic component is further configured to determine an orientation of the first coil relative to the second coil based on a comparison of the phase of the first signal with the phase of the second signal.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an implantable gastric band system, wherein the implantable component is part of the implantable gastric band system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the gastric band system comprises an injection port.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the implantable component comprises the injection port.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first coil is located within the injection port.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to sense fluid pressure within the gastric band system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first coil is in communication with the pressure sensor, wherein the first coil is operable to transmit pressure information obtained by the pressure sensor.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the gastric band system comprises an injection port, wherein the pressure sensor is located within the injection port.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the external component comprises a sense head operable to detect the position of the implantable component when the implantable component is located within the patient.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the sense head comprises a plurality of coils, wherein the plurality of coils are operable to detect the position of the implantable component when the implantable component is located within the patient.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the logic component is further operable to detect the orientation of the first coil relative to the second coil based on an amplitude of the first signal relative to an amplitude of the second signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first coil is configured to emit a pattern of pulses, wherein the second coil is operable to detect the pattern of pulses emitted by the first coil, wherein the logic component is further operable to detect the orientation of the first coil relative to the second coil based on the pattern of pulses emitted by the first coil as detected by the second coil.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the external component comprises a plurality of additional coils.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of additional coils are operable to transmit the second signal.

15. A system for detecting the orientation of an implant component, the system comprising:

(a) an implantable component, wherein the implantable component is configured to be implanted within a patient;

(b) an external component, wherein the external component is operable to communicate with at least a portion of the implantable component; and

(c) a orientation detection component, wherein the orientation detection component is operable to determine an orientation of the implantable component relative to the external component.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the implantable component comprises a first coil, wherein the external component comprises a second coil configured to communicate with the first coil.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first coil is operable to transmit a first signal having a phase, wherein the second coil is operable to transmit a second signal having a phase, and wherein the orientation detection component comprises a logic component operable to compare the phase of the first signal with the phase of the second signal, wherein the logic component is further configured to determine an orientation of the first coil relative to the second coil based on a comparison of the phase of the first signal with the phase of the second signal.

18. The system of-claim 15, wherein the orientation detection component comprises an accelerometer or a tilt sensor, wherein the accelerometer or tilt sensor is positioned on or in the implantable component.

19. A method of detecting the orientation of an implanted component, the method comprising:

(a) providing an external coil external to a patient, wherein the patient has an implanted component operable to transmit a first signal having a phase, wherein the implanted component has a center, wherein the external coil is operable to transmit a second signal having a phase;

(b) positioning the external coil at a location approximately over the center of the implanted component;

(c) receiving the first signal transmitted by the implanted component;

(d) comparing the phase of the first signal with the phase of the second signal; and

(e) determining the orientation of the implanted component relative to the external coil, based on the comparison of the phase of the first signal and the phase of the second signal.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising moving the external coil within a region surrounding the location approximately over the center of the implanted component, wherein the act of determining the orientation of the implanted component relative to the external coil further comprises monitoring relative changes in the parameters of the first signal and the second signal as the external coil is moved within the region.