SELF-REGULATING GASTRIC BAND WITH PRESSURE DATA PROCESSING

• US 20110275887A1
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery US, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Birk, Janel
• Granted Patent: US 8,905,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1355 Automated control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0053 remotely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0066 Closing devices for gastric bands

Abstract

A self-regulating gastric band apparatus for adjusting stoma size is disclosed. The apparatus includes an adjustable gastric band that has an expandable portion containing a volume of fluid. A band adjustment assembly is provided for implanting with the gastric band that includes a sensor for sensing fluid pressure in the expandable portion. The band adjustment assembly further includes a pump assembly connected to the expandable portion and to a controller that operates the pump assembly to adjust the volume of the fluid in the band based on the sensed fluid pressure. The band adjustment assembly includes memory storing an operating range relative to a target fluid pressure, and the pump assembly is operated to maintain the sensed band pressure within the operating range. The target pressure is set to maintain pressure variations below a predefined variation limit generally corresponding with satiated fill volumes for a particular patient and implanted band.

Claims

1. A remotely controllable, self-regulating gastric band system for treating an overweight patient, the gastric band system comprising:

a gastric band for implantation around an upper portion of a stomach of the patient, the gastric band having an inflatable portion disposed around an inner circumference thereof for containing a volume of a fluid;

a sensor for sensing an instantaneous parameter of the gastric band or the fluid;

a controller responsive to the sensor and configured to automatically control the volume of the fluid contained in the inflatable portion of the gastric band; and

an external control device positioned outside the patient and configured to wirelessly communicate with the controller, the external control device configured to be remotely controlled via a web server application.

2. The gastric band system of claim 1 further comprising a cradle device positioned outside the patient and configured to receive the external control device for charging the external control device.

3. The gastric band system of claim 2 wherein the cradle device is configured to wirelessly communicate with the external control device.

4. The gastric band system of claim 3 wherein the cradle device is configured to connect to a telephone line and further comprises telephone circuitry for establishing communication with the cradle device over the telephone line.

5. The gastric band system of claim 4 wherein the cradle device is configured to communicate with the web server application over the telephone line.

6. The gastric band system of claim 1 further comprising a memory coupled to the controller for storing an operating range, the controller configured to control the volume of the fluid contained in the inflatable portion of the gastric band so that the instantaneous parameter does not exceed the operating range.

7. The gastric band system of claim 6 wherein the external control device further comprises an internal memory for storing a parameter of the gastric band or the fluid received from the controller.

8. The gastric band system of claim 6 wherein the controller is configured to modify the operating range stored in the memory based on communication with the external control device.

9. The gastric band system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to be awakened by the external control device.

10. An implantable, self-regulating gastric band system for the treatment of obesity in a patient, the gastric band system comprising:

a gastric band having an inflatable member positioned along an inner circumference of the gastric band for storing a fluid, the gastric band configured to encircle an upper portion of a stomach of the patient;

a sensor for sensing a parameter associated with the gastric band and having a memory for storing an operating range of the parameter, the sensor configured to indicate when the sensed parameter is outside the operating range; and

a controller responsive to the sensor and configured to control a volume of the fluid in the inflatable member of the gastric band when the sensor indicates the sensed parameter is outside the operating range.

11. The gastric band system of claim 10 further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the inflatable member of the gastric band, the reservoir positioned along an outer circumference of the gastric band.

12. The gastric band system of claim 10 further comprising a quick release valve coupled to the gastric band for decreasing the volume of the fluid in the inflatable member.

13. The gastric band system of claim 10 further comprising an external control device positioned outside the patient and configured to wirelessly communicate with the controller, the external control device configured to be remotely controlled over a telephone line.

14. The gastric band system of claim 13 wherein the external control device is configured to query the sensor for a reading of the parameter associated with the gastric band.

15. The gastric band system of claim 13 wherein the external control device is configured to determine an optimum volume of the inflatable member based upon pressure variation of the inflatable member.

16. A remotely controllable gastric band apparatus for the treatment of an overweight patient, the gastric band apparatus comprising:

an adjustable gastric band for implantation around an upper portion of a stomach of the patient;

a sensor coupled to the gastric band for sensing an instantaneous parameter of the gastric band;

a controller responsive to the sensor and configured to automatically adjust the gastric band;

an external control device positioned outside the patient and configured to wirelessly interface with the controller; and

an external cradle for receiving the external control device, the external cradle configured to wirelessly interface with the external control device and having telephone circuitry for remotely interfacing with a web server application via telephonic communication.

17. The gastric band apparatus of claim 16 wherein the external control device is password controlled for preventing unauthorized communication with the external control device.

18. The gastric band apparatus of claim 16 wherein the external control device has a display element for displaying data received from the controller.

19. The gastric band apparatus of claim 16 wherein the external control device has an input mechanism for local interfacing with the external control device.

20. The gastric band apparatus of claim 16 wherein the external control device further comprises a memory, the external control device configured to transmit data stored in the memory to a computer.