Gastric band with engagement member

• US 20080287976A1
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Swindon, Patrick J., Weaner, Lauren S., Widenhouse, Christopher W., Wiley, Jeffrey P., Jambor, Kristin L.
• Application Number:
  US11/798,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20080287976A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0056 using injection ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0066 Closing devices for gastric bands

Abstract

A gastric band includes a gastric band body having a first end and second end. The first end and the second end are provided with a respective first latching member and a second latching member. The first end includes a tip and an engagement member proximal the first latching member such that the engagement member is on a side of the first latching member opposite the tip. The engagement member enhances one'"'"'s ability to grasp the first end of the gastric band body during application and removal.

Claims

1. A gastric band, comprising:

a gastric band body having a first end and second end, the first end and the second end being provided with a respective first latching member and a second latching member, the first end including a tip and an engagement member proximal the first latching member such that the engagement member is on a side of the first latching member opposite the tip.

2. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is a thru-hole formed in the gastric band body.

3. The gastric band according to claim 2, wherein the thru-hole passes laterally through the gastric band body.

4. The gastric band according to claim 2, wherein the thru-hole includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and the top surface is narrower in its lateral dimension than the bottom surface.

5. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is a shell-like member protruding from the gastric band body.

6. The gastric band according to claim 5, wherein the shell-like member includes a convex outer surface with a first end adjacent the first latching member and a second end facing away from the first latching member, and the second end of the shell-like member is open providing an access opening to a cavity of the shell-like member.

7. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is a thickened region with a recess formed therein.

8. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is a grasping pocket.

9. The gastric band according to claim 8, wherein the grasping pocket is formed in a thickened region in the gastric band body.

10. The gastric band according to claim 8, wherein the grasping pocket includes an internal cavity with an access opening.

11. The gastric band according to claim 10, wherein the access opening substantially faces away from the first latching member.

12. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is a raised, necked-in region.

13. The gastric band according to claim 12, wherein the necked-in region includes a generally narrowed section.

14. The gastric band according to claim 13, wherein the narrowed section includes an hourglass shape.

15. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is a lateral thru-hole with a center hole extending through a top surface thereof.

16. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member is a necked-in region wherein lateral walls of the gastric band body are closer together in the necked-in region along the top surface thereof than along the bottom surface of the gastric band body.

17. The gastric band according to claim 16, wherein the necked-in region is raised relative the top surface of a remainder of the gastric band body.