REMOTELY POWERED REMOTELY ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BAND SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A power system for use in conjunction with a gastric band coupled with an implantable antenna for receiving a telemetric signal from a remote control device, the power system comprising:
- a rectifying device coupled to the implantable antenna, and configured to rectify the received telemetric signal to form a DC input voltage at a DC input node;
a power sensing device configured to receive the DC input voltage and generate a regulation signal when the DC input voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold;
a regulation device coupled to the power sensing device, and configured to generate a regulation voltage based on the regulation signal; and
a switching device coupled to the regulation device, and configured to generate a feedback signal having a frequency based on the regulation voltage.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remotely adjustable remotely power gastric band system may include a control device, an implant electronic device, and an implantable gastric band. The control device may telemetrically power and communicate with the implant electronic device, which may be used for adjusting the diameter of the implantable gastric band. The implant electronic device may store the gastric band adjustment history records of a patient and regulate the power received from the control device. To improve transmission efficiency, the implant electronic device may adopt a double modulation scheme for communicating with the control device. Furthermore, the implant electronic device may detect and resolve motor blockage issues related to the implantable gastric band.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A power system for use in conjunction with a gastric band coupled with an implantable antenna for receiving a telemetric signal from a remote control device, the power system comprising:
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a rectifying device coupled to the implantable antenna, and configured to rectify the received telemetric signal to form a DC input voltage at a DC input node; a power sensing device configured to receive the DC input voltage and generate a regulation signal when the DC input voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold; a regulation device coupled to the power sensing device, and configured to generate a regulation voltage based on the regulation signal; and a switching device coupled to the regulation device, and configured to generate a feedback signal having a frequency based on the regulation voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A communication system for use in conjunction with a gastric band coupled with an implantable antenna for receiving a telemetric signal from a remote control device, the communication system comprising:
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a regulation device configured to generate a regulation voltage at a first node, the regulation voltage based on a margin between a DC input voltage and a predetermined threshold; a data path arranged in parallel with the regulation device, and configured to adjust the regulation voltage to a set voltage at a second node, the set voltage based partially on an output data sequence; and a frequency modulation device coupled to the second node, and configured to generate a frequency modulation signal having a modulated frequency corresponding to the set voltage. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A remotely powered and remotely adjustable gastric band system, comprising:
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a remote control device configured to transmit a telemetric signal having an amplitude and a carrier frequency; an implantable power device telemetrically coupled to the remote control device, and configured to extract power from the telemetric signal and generate a feedback signal having a message frequency based on the extracted power; and a gastric band for forming a ventral ring surface around a stomach of a patient, the gastric band coupled to the implantable power device, and configured to receive the extracted power from the implantable power device and adjust the ventral ring surface in response to the telemetric signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for detecting motor blockage of a motor for use in conjunction with an implantable gastric band, the motor including a motor coil for conducting a motor coil current and a plurality of gears for adjusting an inner ring surface of the implantable gastric band in response to the motor coil current, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a voltage pulse across the motor coil; measuring a plurality of transient motor coil currents; measuring a maximum motor coil current; and detecting the motor blockage based on the plurality of transient motor coil currents and the maximum motor coil current. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A tangible computer medium for storing instructions, upon being executed by a processor, that cause the processor to perform a method comprising the steps of:
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receiving measurements of a plurality of transient motor coil currents conducted by a motor coil of a motor for use in conjunction with an implantable gastric band; receiving a measurement of a maximum motor coil current conducted by the motor coil; and detecting a blockage of the motor based on the measurements of the plurality of transient motor coil currents and the measurement of the maximum motor coil current. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A motorized gastric band system, comprising:
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an implantable gastric band for forming a loop having a ventral surface for contacting a stomach of a patient; a motor coupled to the implantable gastric band, and including; a motor coil for conducting a motor coil current, and a gear responsive to the motor coil current, and for adjusting the ventral surface of the implantable gastric band; and a processor coupled to the motor, and configured to; receive measurements of a plurality of transient motor coil currents conducted by the motor coil, receive a measurement of a maximum motor coil current conducted by the motor coil, and detect a blockage of the motor based on the measurements of the plurality of transient motor coil currents and the measurement of the maximum motor coil current. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A retractable antenna device for a remotely adjustable and remotely powered an implantable gastric band, comprising:
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a housing having a top wall and a bottom wall; a winding drum disposed within the housing and along the axle, the winding drum having a neck and a base, the winding drum is configured to rotate about an axis between a first position and a second position; an antenna disposed between the base of the winding drum and the bottom wall of the housing; a cable configured to coil around the neck of the winding drum when the winding drum is at the first position, and configured to uncoil and substantially extend outside of the housing when the winding drum is at the second position; and a locking device configured to lock the winding drum when the winding drum rotates from the first position to reach the second position, so that the winding drum remains stationary at the second position. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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53. A remote control device for use in conjunction with a remotely adjustable and remotely powered implantable gastric band, comprising:
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a handle; a display screen having a proximal side and a distal side, the proximal side positioned between the handle and the distal side; a sensing device configured to determine an orientation of the remote control device by sensing the relative position of the distal side and the proximal side of the display screen; and a processing device coupled to the sensing device, configured to transmit a display signal to the display screen for displaying an image on the display screen with a first image orientation or a second image orientation depending on the orientation of the remote control device, and configured to adjust the implantable gastric band. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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55. A system for rapidly charging a remote control device for remotely adjusting and powering an implantable gastric band via a telemetric coupling, comprising:
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a battery for providing power to the remote control device, and having a battery voltage; and a charging station for charging the battery, the charging station configured to monitor the battery voltage of the battery, deliver a constant charging current to the battery until the battery voltage reaches a predefined threshold, and deliver a constant charging voltage to the remote control device thereafter to maintain the battery voltage.
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56. A system for remotely adjusting and powering an implantable gastric band configured to be installed around a stomach of a patient, comprising:
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an implantable memory configured to be disposed inside the patient and to store a patient record relatable to the patient and an adjustment record relatable to an adjustment history of the implantable gastric band; and a processor coupled to the memory, and configured to; retrieve the adjustment history upon receiving a telemetric data retrieval signal from a remote control device, generate a signal for adjusting the implantable gastric band upon receiving a telemetric band adjustment signal from the remote control device, and update the adjustment record based on the telemetric band adjustment signal.
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57. An implantable gastric band, comprising:
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a tubular member having a first end and a second end, the second end defining an opening, the first end having a flange configured to engage the second end of the tubular member, thereby forming a tubular ring having an adjustable ventral ring surface and a substantially rigid dorsal ring surface; a skeleton disposed between the adjustable ventral ring surface and the substantially rigid dorsal ring surface of the tubular ring, the skeleton having a distal end pushing against the first end of the tubular member and a proximal end pushing against the second end of the tubular member, the skeleton configured to support the substantially rigid dorsal ring surface of the tubular ring; a flexible screw slid between the skeleton and the adjustable ventral ring surface, the flexible screw having a hook anchoring the distal end of the skeleton and a crimped end extending beyond the opening of the tubular member, the flexible screw having an outer portion disposed outside of the tubular ring and an inner portion disposed inside of the tubular ring, the inner portion of the flexible screw defining a circumference of the adjustable ventral ring surface; a motor anchoring the proximal end of the skeleton and engaging the flexible screw, and configured to increase or decrease the inner portion of the flexible screw, thereby adjusting the circumference of the adjustable ventral ring surface; a processor for receiving an telemetric signal and for controlling the motor; and a cable having a processor end coupled to the processor and a motor end coupled to the motor. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification