RELEASABLY-SECURABLE ONE-PIECE ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BAND
First Claim
1. An releasably-securable adjustable gastric band comprising:
- a tail end;
a head end for receiving said tail end; and
a releasable locking means for releasably securing said head and tail ends of said gastric band in an encircling position.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A releasably-securable gastric band (12) having a tail end (10a) and a head end (10b) for receiving the tail end (10a) is disclosed. The gastric band (12) also includes a releasable locking means (20) that releasably secures the head (10b) and tail ends (10a) together. The tail end (10a) may include a tooth (14) and the head end (10b) may include a notch (22) for engaging the tooth (14). Upon insertion of the tail end (10a) into the head end (10b), the tooth (14) mates with the notch (22) and releasably locks the tail end (10a) in the head end (10b). The releasably-securable gastric band (12) includes a release tab (24). When force is applied to the release tab (24) in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the gastric band (12), the tooth (14) is disengaged from the notch (22) to allow the gastric band (12) to be released.
152 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An releasably-securable adjustable gastric band comprising:
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a tail end; a head end for receiving said tail end; and a releasable locking means for releasably securing said head and tail ends of said gastric band in an encircling position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of releasing a releasably-securable gastric band comprising the steps of:
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grasping a release tab positioned on a head end of the gastric band; applying force to the release tab in a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the gastric band. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of forming a stoma in a patient comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting a gastric band around the stomach of the patient; inserting a tail end of the gastric band into a head end of the gastric band; releasably securing the gastric band by drawing the tail end through the head end until an indicator formed on the tail end is visible in a window formed on the head end, wherein the gastric band can be released by applying force to a release tab formed on the gastric band in a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the gastric band.
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Specification