Device for removing implantable articles

• US 5,160,338 A
• Filed: 11/13/1991
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Inamed Development Company
• Inventors: Vincent, Vernon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frinks, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US07/792,030
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 606/120, 606/138, 606/151-153, 606/157, 606/158, 606/228, 623/11, 623/12, 600/3-5, 600/29-31, 128/DIG. 25
• US Class Current: 606/157
• 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: A61F 5/0056 using injection ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0066 Closing devices for gastric bands

Abstract

A device facilitating remote removal of an article implanted beneath the skin. In one embodiment, the implantable article comprises a band which is operatively placed to encircle an organ such as the stomach. Once in position, the band is tightened and held securely with sutures thereby preventing the stomach-encircling band from opening. If, following implantation, it becomes necessary or desirable to remove the band, a remotely actuated releasing wire, the end of which wire is implanted at an accessible site beneath the subcutaneous tissue permits the removal of the band without major surgery. In one embodiment, the sutures securing the band in an encircling position are conveniently removed by means of a wire within the band which wire, when retracted by remote activation, releases the retaining sutures and frees the band for removal. Actual removal of the released band is accomplished by pulling the band out of the abdomen and through the superficial incision by means of the wire.

Claims

1. A reversible implantable device, a portion of said device comprising a reversible portion having an exterior surface and an interior which may be anchored within the body by means of one or more ligatures passed therethrough, said reversible portion comprising a wire guiding lumen housed within the interior portion, a suture-retaining wire passing through the wire guiding lumen, and at least one slot connecting said wire guiding lumen to the exterior surface of said reversible portion.

2. The reversible implantable device of claim 1 wherein said slot connecting the wire guiding lumen to the exterior surface of the reversible portion is dimensioned to accommodate a ligature therewithin.