ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED VALVE FOR IMPLANTABLE FLUID HANDLING SYSTEM
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for facilitating obesity control comprising:
- a gastric banding device including an inflatable portion;
a fluid reservoir couplable to the inflatable portion;
an implantable fluid handling device couplable to the fluid reservoir and the inflatable portion, and includinga valve device comprisinga housing having a flow path for passing of a fluid,a seal element disposed along the flow path and positioned and structured to be moved between a first position with respect to the flow path and a second position different from the first position with respect to the flow path, anda piezoelectric element sealed apart from fluid passing in the flow path and positioned and structured to cause the seal element to be moved between the first position and the second position upon application of an electrical potential to the piezoelectric element; and
a controller/microprocessor system in communication with the implantable fluid handling device.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for facilitating obesity control includes an inflatable gastric banding device, a fluid reservoir couplable to the inflatable portion, and an implantable fluid handling device including one or more piezoelectric valves.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A system for facilitating obesity control comprising:
-
a gastric banding device including an inflatable portion; a fluid reservoir couplable to the inflatable portion; an implantable fluid handling device couplable to the fluid reservoir and the inflatable portion, and including a valve device comprising a housing having a flow path for passing of a fluid, a seal element disposed along the flow path and positioned and structured to be moved between a first position with respect to the flow path and a second position different from the first position with respect to the flow path, and a piezoelectric element sealed apart from fluid passing in the flow path and positioned and structured to cause the seal element to be moved between the first position and the second position upon application of an electrical potential to the piezoelectric element; and a controller/microprocessor system in communication with the implantable fluid handling device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An implantable valve device for use in medical applications, the device comprising:
-
a housing having a flow path for passing of a fluid; a seal element disposed along the flow path and positioned and structured to be moved between a closed position in which the flow path is closed to fluid flow and a second position in which the flow path is open to fluid flow; and a piezoelectric element sealed apart from fluid passing in the flow path and positioned and structured to cause the seal element to be moved from the first position to the second position upon application of an electrical potential to the piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (13)
-
-
14. A valve system for use in medical applications comprising:
-
an implantable valve device comprising a housing including a flow path for passing of a fluid through the valve device, a seal element disposed along the flow path and positioned and structured to be moved between a first position with respect to the flow path and a second position different from the first position with respect to the flow path, and a piezoelectric element sealed apart from fluid passing in the flow path and positioned and structured to cause the seal element to be moved between the first position and the second position upon application of an electrical potential to the piezoelectric element; and a remote actuator effective to provide an electrical potential to the piezoelectric element. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
-
17. A system for facilitating obesity control comprising:
-
a gastric banding device comprising an inflatable chamber; an implantable valve device comprising a flow path in communication with the inflatable chamber; a seal element disposed along the flow path and positioned and structured to be moved between a first position with respect to the flow path and a second position different from the first position with respect to the flow path, and a piezoelectric element sealed apart from fluid passing in the flow path and positioned and structured to cause the seal element to be moved between the first position and the second position; a remote actuator effective to control movement of the seal element between the first position and the second position by controlling an electrical potential applied to the piezoelectric element.
-
Specification