Implantable Port with Vibratory Feedback

• US 20110152901A1
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Marcotte, Amy L., Woodruff, Scott A., Dietz, Timothy G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,550,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0056 using injection ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0223 having means for anchoring the subcutaneous access site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0238 having means for locating the implanted device to insure proper injection, e.g. radio-emitter, protuberances, radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0244 having means for detecting an inserted needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276

Abstract

A system includes an adjustable gastric band coupled with an injection port. The port includes sensors, a plate beneath a septum, and a vibration generator in communication with the sensors. A first sensor detects palpation through a patient'"'"'s skin when the injection port is implanted in the patient. The vibration generator provides a vibratory response to detected palpation, thereby providing haptic feedback to a physician who is attempting to locate the injection port by palpating the patient. A second sensor detects a needle striking the plate, and the vibration generator provides a vibratory response to a detected needle strike. The vibration generator thereby provides haptic feedback to a physician to confirm that the needle has been successfully inserted through the septum. A pressure sensor may be used to provide vibratory feedback to the patient to indicate that an adjustment to the band is needed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) an implantable device;

(b) a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a force exerted on a first portion of the implantable device through a patient'"'"'s skin; and

(c) a vibration generator, wherein the vibration generator is co-located with the implantable device, wherein the vibration generator is in communication with the first sensor, wherein the vibration generator is configured to generate vibrations in response to the first sensor detecting a force exerted on the first portion of the implantable device through a patient'"'"'s skin.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the implantable device comprises an injection port having a septum and a fluid chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the injection port further comprises one or more integral fasteners, wherein the first portion of the injection port comprises an actuator configured to move the one or more integral fasteners from a retracted position to an extended position.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the injection port further comprises a port body, wherein the actuator further comprises an actuator ring, wherein the actuator ring is rotatable relative to the port body about an axis, wherein the actuator ring is further operable to move longitudinally along the axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensor is positioned between the actuator ring and the port body to detect downward movement of the actuator ring along the axis caused by palpation of the patient.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the implantable device comprises a plate, wherein the septum defines a top portion of the fluid chamber, wherein the plate is spaced away from the septum and defines a bottom portion of the fluid chamber, wherein the plate is configured to restrict depth of insertion of a needle through the septum.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first sensor is configured to sense a needle inserted through the patient'"'"'s skin striking the plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the implantable device further defines a component chamber under the plate, wherein one or both of the first sensor or the vibration generator are located in the component chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is configured to detect a force exerted on a second portion of the implantable device through a patient'"'"'s skin, wherein the vibration generator is further configured to generate vibrations in response to the second sensor detecting a force exerted on the second portion of the implantable device through a patient'"'"'s skin.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the implantable device comprises an exterior and an interior, wherein the first portion of the implantable device is located at the exterior of the implantable device, wherein the second portion of the implantable device is located in the interior of the implantable device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the vibration generator is configured to provide a first type of vibratory response in response to the first sensor detecting a force exerted on the first portion of the implantable device through a patient'"'"'s skin, wherein the vibration generator is configured to provide a second type of vibratory response in response to the second sensor detecting a force exerted on the second portion of the implantable device through a patient'"'"'s skin.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising a second sensor, wherein the implantable device is configured to contain fluid, wherein the second sensor is configured to sense the pressure of fluid contained in the implantable device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the apparatus further comprising a processor in communication with the second sensor, wherein the processor is configured to compare fluid pressure levels sensed by the second sensor against one or more threshold values, wherein the processor is further in communication with the vibration generator, wherein the processor is configured to cause the vibration generator to generate vibrations in response to the fluid pressure level sensed by the second sensor either exceeding or falling below the one or more threshold values.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) an implantable restriction forming device, wherein the restriction forming device is configured to hold fluid;

(b) an implantable injection port in fluid communication with the restriction forming device, wherein the injection port comprises a needle penetrable septum and a fluid chamber beneath the septum; and

(c) a vibration generator, wherein the vibration generator is co-located with the injection port, wherein the vibration generator is configured to generate vibrations in response to a stimulus external the injection port.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a first sensor, wherein the implantable injection port has an exterior portion and an interior portion, the interior portion including the fluid chamber, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a palpatory force exerted on the injection port through a patient'"'"'s skin, wherein the vibration generator is configured to generate vibrations in response to a palpatory force exerted on the injection port through a patient'"'"'s skin as detected by the first sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a second sensor, wherein the implantable injection port further comprises a plate located at a bottom portion of the fluid chamber beneath the septum, wherein the second sensor is configured to detect a force exerted on the plate by a needle inserted through a patient'"'"'s skin, wherein the vibration generator is further configured to generate vibrations in response to the second sensor detecting a force exerted on the plate by a needle inserted through a patient'"'"'s skin.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a pressure sensor configured to detect the pressure of fluid in the implantable restriction forming device, wherein the vibration generator is further configured to generate vibrations in response to the pressure sensor detecting that the pressure of fluid in the implantable restriction forming device has either exceeded or fallen below a predetermined value.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the vibration generator is configured to generate vibrations in response to a field communicated from an external coil.

19. A method of making an adjustment in a gastric band system, wherein the gastric band system is implanted in a patient, wherein the gastric band system comprises an implanted adjustable gastric band and an implanted injection port, wherein the implanted injection port comprises a needle penetrable septum, wherein the implanted injection port further comprises one or more sensors configured to detect forces exerted against portions of the injection port through the patient'"'"'s skin, wherein the implanted injection port further comprises a vibration generator configured to generate vibrations in response to signals from the one or more sensors, the method comprising:

(a) palpating external regions of the patient, wherein the act of palpating triggers a signal from at least a first sensor of the one or more sensors to the vibration generator;

(b) feeling vibrations generated by the vibration generator to determine the location of the injection port;

(c) inserting a needle of a syringe through the septum of the injection port; and

(d) manipulating the syringe to add fluid to or withdraw fluid from the adjustable gastric band via the injection port.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the implanted injection port further comprises a plate located below the needle penetrable septum, wherein the act of inserting the needle of the syringe through the septum of the injection port further comprises striking the plate with the needle, wherein the act of striking the plate with the needle triggers a signal from at least a second sensor of the one or more sensors to the vibration generator, the method further comprising feeling vibrations generated by the vibration generator to confirm insertion of the needle through the septum.