PRESSURE SENSING INTRAGASTRIC BALLOON

• US 20090131968A1
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allergan Incorporated (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Birk, Janel A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0046 with wireless means

Abstract

An intragastric balloon having a built-in sensor. The sensor may be used to monitor pressure within the balloon shell, or outside of the shell in the stomach. The sensor may be used after deflation of the intragastric balloon to monitor the pressure through the intestinal tract as the balloon migrates therethrough. An apparatus for remote deflation of the balloon may be utilized to allow a physician to deflate the intragastric balloon without surgery. The pressure sensor may be provided in a valve of the intragastric balloon which separates from the balloon and migrates as a capsule through the intestinal tract to monitor conditions therein.

Claims

1. An inflatable intragastric balloon useful for facilitating weight loss in a patient in need thereof, comprising:

a shell for containing a volume of fluid introduced therein;

a valve for adjusting the volume of fluid in the shell; and

a sensor for measuring a condition of fluid in the shell.

2. The intragastric balloon of claim 1, further including:

a remotely-activated deflation mechanism for emptying the volume of fluid in the shell through the valve; and

a remote control for communicating with the remotely-activated deflation mechanism from outside the patient'"'"'s body.

3. The intragastric balloon of claim 1, wherein the sensor is coupled to a microchip and an internal power source, the system being adapted to self-query conditions around the sensor and control the valve to adjust the volume of fluid in the shell.

4. The intragastric balloon of claim 3, wherein there is more than one sensor, one of which measures a condition of fluid in the shell and one of which measures a condition of an environment external to the shell.

5. The intragastric balloon of claim 3, wherein the valve is in a self-contained capsule that may be separated from the shell by a remotely-activated mechanism, thereby deflating the shell.

6. An inflatable intragastric balloon useful for facilitating weight loss in a patient in need thereof, comprising:

a shell for containing a volume of fluid introduced therein;

a self-contained capsule attached to the shell that may be separated from the shell, thereby deflating the shell; and

a pressure sensor in the capsule.

7. The intragastric balloon of claim 6, further including:

a valve attached to the shell;

a remotely-activated mechanism for adjusting the volume of fluid in the shell through the valve; and

a remote control for communicating with the remotely-activated deflation mechanism from outside the patient'"'"'s body.

8. The intragastric balloon of claim 7, wherein the remote control also communicates with the sensor.

9. The intragastric balloon of claim 6, wherein the valve is provided in the capsule.

10. The intragastric balloon of claim 6, further including:

a remotely-activated mechanism for adjusting the osmotic pressure and thus volume of fluid in the shell by adding salt to the volume of fluid.

11. A method for the monitoring an intragastric balloon containing a volume of fluid therein comprising the steps of:

inserting an intragastric balloon into a patient'"'"'s stomach, the intragastric balloon having a shell for containing a volume of fluid introduced therein, a valve on the shell for adjusting the volume of fluid in the shell, and a sensor on the shell for measuring the pressure of fluid in the shell; and

measuring the pressure of fluid in the shell.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the intragastric balloon further includes a mechanism that permits remote adjustment of the volume of fluid in the shell through the valve, the method further including remotely activating the mechanism to adjust the volume of fluid in the shell.

13. The method of claim 11, further including:

creating an opening in the shell;

allowing normal intragastric movements to drain fluid from the balloon through the opening;

allowing the deflated balloon to pass through the gastrointestinal tract; and

measuring pressures in the gastrointestinal tract as the sensor passes therethrough.

14. A method for the monitoring an intragastric balloon containing a volume of fluid therein comprising the steps of:

inserting an intragastric balloon into a patient'"'"'s stomach, the intragastric balloon having a shell for containing a volume of fluid introduced therein, a self-contained capsule attached to the shell that may be separated from the shell, and a sensor located on the capsule;

measuring a condition of fluid in the shell with the sensor;

separating the capsule from the shell to create an opening in the shell and permit deflation of the shell;

allowing the capsule to pass through the gastrointestinal tract; and

measuring conditions in the gastrointestinal tract with the sensor as the capsule passes therethrough.

15. The method of claim 14, the intragastric balloon also having a valve on the shell for adjusting the volume of fluid in the shell, further including adjusting the volume of fluid within the shell based on the measured condition of fluid in the shell.