Gastric Band System with Esophageal Sensor

• US 20100152532A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Marcotte, Amy L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,920,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/045 Stomach, intestines
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands

Abstract

An apparatus for providing a restriction and sensing a parameter associated with an anatomical structure comprises a restriction device and a sensing device. The restriction device is secured around a portion of anatomical structure and is operable to form a restriction within anatomical structure. The restriction may be formed or adjusted in response to a bolus located within anatomical structure. The restriction may be formed in response to bolus such that the restriction is formed before bolus reaches restriction device. Once the bolus passes and no more boluses are present, the restriction relaxes and loosens anatomical structure. The restriction device may comprise a gastric band, among other things, and the sensing device may comprise a strain gauge that is configured to detect a bolus passing down an esophagus.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) an implantable restriction device configured to be secured around a portion of an anatomical structure, wherein the implantable restriction device is operable to constrict the anatomical structure to form a restriction in the anatomical structure;

(b) a controller in communication with the implantable restriction device, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the degree of restriction formed in the anatomical structure by the implantable restriction device; and

(c) a sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the sensor is configured to detect the presence of movement or strain in an anatomical structure, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the restriction device to increase the degree of restriction formed by the implantable restriction device in response to sensor detecting the presence of movement or strain in an anatomical structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a memory in communication with the controller, wherein the memory stores a threshold value, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether movement or strain detected by the sensor exceeds the threshold value, wherein the controller is further configured to only adjust the restriction device to increase the degree of restriction formed by the implantable restriction device in response to the detected movement or strain exceeding the threshold value.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a strain gauge, a spot sensor, a vertical sensor array, a vertical sensor strip, and combinations thereof

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the implantable restriction device comprises a gastric band.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensor is configured to detect movement or strain in an esophagus caused by a bolus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the gastric band is fluid actuated, wherein the apparatus further comprises a pump in fluid communication with the gastric band, wherein the controller is in communication with the pump to adjust an amount of fluid communicated to or from the gastric band.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to be secured to at least a portion of an anatomical structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the sensor is positionable upstream in relation to the implantable restriction device such that a bolus passing through the anatomical structures will pass the sensor before passing the implantable restriction device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to communicate sensor measurements to an external display.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the measurements are communicated to the external display in such a way that shows whether an anatomical structure adjacent to the sensor is dilated.

11. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a sensor configured to detect a bolus in an esophagus as the bolus descends through the esophagus to the stomach; and

(b) an implantable restriction system in communication with the sensor, wherein the implantable restriction system is configured to create a restriction in one or both of an esophagus or stomach in response to the sensor detecting a bolus descending through the esophagus.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the implantable restriction system comprises a gastric band and a controller, wherein the controller is in communication with the sensor and is operable to actuate the gastric band to create the restriction in response to the sensor detecting a bolus descending through the esophagus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sensor is in wireless communication with the controller.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sensor is further configured to be positioned on the esophagus at a position longitudinally above the gastric band and spaced away from the gastric band.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a circumferential strain gauge, a spot sensor, a vertical strip sensor, and combinations thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gastric band is mechanically actuated.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the implantable restriction system further comprises a memory configured to store data from the sensor.

18. A method for creating a restriction with an implantable restriction device secured around a portion of an anatomical structure and a sensor located upstream in relation to the implantable restriction device, the method comprising:

(a) detecting movement or strain caused by a bolus moving through the anatomical structure when the bolus is located near the sensor;

(b) translating the movement or strain into a measured value;

(c) comparing the measured value against a predetermined threshold value; and

(d) creating a restriction in the anatomical structure with the implantable restriction device if the measured value is greater than the threshold value.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

(a) measuring the lapse of time after an occurrence of the measured value exceeding the threshold value;

(b) comparing the measured time to a predetermined time limit; and

(c) relaxing the restriction in the anatomical structure with the implantable restriction device if the measured time exceeds the predetermined time limit.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the act of creating a restriction in the anatomical structure with the implantable restriction device if the measured value is greater than the threshold value is performed before the bolus is positioned near the implantable restriction device.