Pressure Sensors for Gastric Band and Adjacent Tissue

• US 20080221598A1
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Dlugos, Daniel F., Burrell, Janna M., Poeppelman, Amy L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0003 Apparatus for the treatment of obesity; Anti-eating devices surgical instruments or methods for treatment of obesity, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/00; hollow or tubular parts of organs A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a restriction and sensing an associated operational parameter, comprises a restriction device and a sensing device. The restriction device is configured to be secured around a portion of an anatomical structure. The restriction device is operable to form a restriction within the anatomical structure. The sensing device is configured to sense a parameter associated with operation of the restriction device. At least a portion of the sensing device is configured to be positioned adjacent to tissue of the anatomical structure. The restriction device may comprise a gastric band, among other things. The sensing device may comprise a pressure sensor, among other things.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a restriction and sensing an associated operational parameter, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an implantable restriction device configured to be secured around a portion of an anatomical structure, wherein the restriction device is operable to form a restriction within the anatomical structure; and

(b) an implantable sensing device configured to sense a parameter associated with operation of the restriction device, wherein at least a portion of the sensing device is configured to be positioned adjacent to tissue of the anatomical structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the restriction device comprises a gastric band.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises a sensor strip.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor strip is configured to be positioned between the restriction device and the anatomical structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor strip comprises a plurality of sensors.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one pressure sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense the parameter associated with operation of the restriction device, wherein the plurality of sensors is configured to obtain data sufficient to establish a profile of the parameter sensed by the sensors, wherein the profile indicates allocation of the sensed parameter among the sensors.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the restriction device comprises a tissue interface portion, wherein at least a portion of the pressure sensing device is molded within the tissue interface portion of the restriction device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises a fluid filled member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sensing device further comprises a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the fluid within the fluid filled member.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sensing device further comprises a plurality of fluid filled members, wherein the plurality of fluid filled members are in fluid isolation relative one another.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, the sensing device further comprising a web, wherein each fluid filled member of the plurality of fluid filled members is secured to the web.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is operable to communicate data representing a sensed parameter to a location external to a patient.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sensing device comprises an RF coil operable to communicate data representing a sensed parameter to a location external to a patient.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensing device further comprises a plurality of sensors and a plurality of RF coils, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is associated with a corresponding RF coil.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises a strain gauge.

17. An apparatus for providing a restriction and sensing an associated operational parameter, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an implantable restriction device configured to be secured around a portion of an anatomical structure, wherein the restriction device is operable to form a restriction within the anatomical structure, wherein the restriction device comprises a tissue interface member, wherein the tissue interface member is configured to interface with tissue of the anatomical structure; and

(b) a plurality of implantable sensor elements configured to sense a parameter associated with one or both of the restriction device or the anatomical structure, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of sensor elements are provided on or in the tissue interface member of the restriction device.

19. An apparatus for providing a restriction and sensing an associated operational parameter, the apparatus comprising:

(a) an implantable restriction device configured to be secured around a portion of an anatomical structure, wherein the restriction device is operable to form a restriction within the anatomical structure, wherein the restriction device comprises a tissue interface member, wherein the tissue interface member is configured to interface with tissue of the anatomical structure;

(b) an implantable fluid filled member, wherein the fluid filled member is configured to fit around the anatomical structure, wherein the fluid filled member is positionable at either or both of;

(i) between at least a portion of the restriction device and the anatomical structure, or

(ii) near the restriction device; and

(c) a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the fluid filled member, wherein the pressure sensor is operable to sense the pressure of fluid within the fluid filled member.

18. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a communicator operable to communicate data representing a parameter sensed by the plurality of sensor elements to a location external to a patient.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the fluid filled member comprises a tube.