POWERING IMPLANTABLE RESTRICTION SYSTEMS USING KINETIC MOTION

• US 20090204141A1
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Dlugos, Daniel F. JR., Ortiz, Mark S., Harris, Jason L., Stokes, Michael J., Plescia, David N., Conlon, Sean P., Marcotte, Amy L., Zeiner, Mark S., Yates, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,221,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/191
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0059 with wireless means

Abstract

Various powering devices are provided for transferring and/or generating energy from numerous sources to a communicating member implanted in a patient. The energy transferred to or generated by the communicating member can be used to provide power to an implantable restriction system configured to form a restriction in a pathway.

Claims

1. A system for forming a restriction in a patient, comprising:

an implantable restriction device adapted to form a restriction in a patient, the implantable restriction device including a communicating member having a kinetic motion apparatus operable to convert motion into energy to power the implantable restriction device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus includes a housing and a magnet disposed within the housing.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus further includes a wire coil disposed around the housing.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the wire coil is in electrical communication with the implantable restriction device.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the wire coil includes a ferrite core to enhance or augment the coupling.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the magnet is configured to move relative to the wire coil to create electrical energy to power the implantable restriction device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus further includes a storage device for storing the electrical energy produced from movement of the magnet.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus includes a counterweight coupled to a drive gear and configured to rotate freely about a pivot point when the kinetic motion apparatus is rotated in response to a patient'"'"'s movement.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus further includes an electric generator configured to receive mechanical energy from the drive gear and convert it to electrical energy to power the implantable restriction device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus includes a piezoelectric device configured to convert internal muscle and/or organ movement within a patient into electrical energy to power the implantable restriction device.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external device adapted to receive data from the implantable restriction device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicating member is configured to receive and transmit data.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the external device includes a gauge effective to indicate a charge status of the implantable restriction device.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a driver adapted to produce motion of at least one portion of the kinetic motion apparatus effective to power the implantable restriction device.

15. The system of claim 2, further comprising an external oscillating electromagnet effective to induce sympathetic oscillations in the magnet disposed within the housing.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable restriction device comprises a gastric band and a housing in communication with the gastric band.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus includes a piezoelectric device configured to convert digestive movement of a patient'"'"'s stomach against the gastric band into electrical energy to power the implantable restriction device.

18. A method for providing power to an implantable restriction device, comprising:

driving a communicating member coupled to an implantable restriction device implanted in a patient to power the implantable restriction device,

wherein the communicating member includes a kinetic motion apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus includes a metal wire and a magnet and the metal wire and a magnetic field created by the magnet move relative to one another, thereby generating electrical energy to power the implantable restriction device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the metal wire and the magnetic field move relative to one another in response to motion by the patient.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus is driven by an external oscillating electromagnet that induces sympathetic oscillations in the magnet.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus is driven by a vibration element that causes the metal wire to move through the magnetic field.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus includes a counterweight coupled to a drive gear that rotates freely about a pivot point in response to patient movement.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein rotation of the counterweight and drive gear generates mechanical energy that is converted into electrical energy to power the implantable restriction device.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus includes a piezoelectric device that converts convert internal muscle and/or organ movement within a patient into energy to power the implantable restriction device.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the implantable restriction device comprises a gastric band disposed around a stomach to form a restriction, and a housing in communication with the gastric band.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the kinetic motion apparatus includes a piezoelectric device that converts digestive motion of the stomach against the gastric band into electrical energy to power the implantable restriction device.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the communicating member is in communication with an external device and the external device receives data from the communicating member, the data including at least one measurement of pressure of fluid within the implantable restriction device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the external device includes a gauge that indicates a charge status of the implantable restriction device.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein the communicating member determines a pressure of fluid within the implantable restriction device.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein excess energy from the kinetic motion apparatus is stored for later use in a storage device for storing electrical energy.