Method and system for effecting weight reduction of living beings
First Claim
1. A method for effecting obesity control of a living being by removing at least one fat-like material from the lymphatic fluid flowing through the body of said living being, said fat-like material being selected from the group consisting of fats, cholesterols, phosphoglycerides, triglycerides, and lipoproteins, said method comprising coupling a first conduit to a duct within the body of said being having said lymphatic fluid flowing therethrough so that said lymphatic fluid flows into through said first conduit, whereupon said fat-like material within the lymphatic fluid is removed from the body of the being continually over a protracted period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and systems for separating a first material, e.g., fat, from lymphatic fluid flowing through a duct within the body of a living being, so that the material is removed from the being'"'"'s body or recirculated. The system comprises a reservoir for receipt of that material, and an elongated conduit implanted within the vascular system and having a distal end in fluid communication with the duct and a proximal end in fluid communication with the reservoir. An implantable pump and/or valve may be provided to effect the operation of the system under control from outside the body of the being.
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Citations
65 Claims
- 1. A method for effecting obesity control of a living being by removing at least one fat-like material from the lymphatic fluid flowing through the body of said living being, said fat-like material being selected from the group consisting of fats, cholesterols, phosphoglycerides, triglycerides, and lipoproteins, said method comprising coupling a first conduit to a duct within the body of said being having said lymphatic fluid flowing therethrough so that said lymphatic fluid flows into through said first conduit, whereupon said fat-like material within the lymphatic fluid is removed from the body of the being continually over a protracted period of time.
- 11. A method for removing at least one-fat like material from lymphatic fluid flowing through the body of a living being, said fat-like material being selected from the group consisting of fats, cholesterols, phosphoglycerides, triglycerides, and lipoproteins, said method comprising separating said at least one fat-like material from said lymphatic fluid flowing through the body of said living being and returning the remaining lymphatic fluid after separation of said at least one fat-like material therefrom to a first internal portion of the body of said being for reabsorption of said remaining lymphatic fluid by said body.
- 17. A method for removing at least one predetermined material from the lymphatic fluid flowing through the body a living being continually over a protracted period of time, said method comprising extending a first conduit through the venous system of the being, coupling said first conduit to a duct within the body of said being having said lymphatic fluid flowing therethrough so that said lymphatic fluid flows into through said first conduit, and thereafter removing said at least one predetermined material from said lymphatic fluid via said first conduit continually over a protracted period of time.
- 19. A system for removing a first fat-like material from lymphatic fluid flowing through the body of a living being on a continual basis over a protracted period of time, said first fat-like material being selected from the group consisting of fats, cholesterols, phosphoglycerides, triglycerides, and lipoproteins, said system comprising first conduit means and reservoir means, said first conduit means being configured to be located within the body of said being coupled to a duct within the body of said being having said lymphatic fluid flowing therethrough so that said lymphatic fluid flows into said conduit means, said conduit means being coupled to said reservoir means for carrying said lymphatic fluid into said reservoir means, said reservoir means being operative for causing said fat-like material in said lymphatic fluid to be separated therefrom, whereupon said fat-like material is removed from the body of said being.
- 40. An implantable system for removing a first fat-like material from lymphatic fluid flowing through the body of a living being on a continual basis over a protracted period of time, said first fat-like material being selected from the group consisting of fats, cholesterols, phosphoglycerides, triglycerides, and lipoproteins, said system comprising first conduit means and control means, said first conduit means being configured to be located within the body of said being coupled to a duct within the body of said being having said lymphatic fluid flowing therethrough so that said lymphatic fluid flows into said conduit means, said conduit means being coupled to said control means, said control means being operative for causing said lymphatic fluid to be provided to means for removing said fat-like material from said lymphatic fluid and for discharging said fat-like material from the body of said being.
- 46. An implantable system for controlling obesity in a living being by removing at least one fat-like material from the lymphatic fluid flowing through the body of said being, said at least one fat-like material being selected from the group consisting of fats, cholesterols, phosphoglycerides, triglycerides, and lipoproteins, said system comprising first conduit means configured to be located within the body of said being coupled to a duct within the body of said being having said lymphatic fluid flowing therethrough and also coupled to a first internal portion of the body of said being so that a controlled portion of said lymphatic fluid flows into said first conduit means to have said at least one fat-like material separated therefrom for removal from the being'"'"'s lymphatic system, with at least a portion of said drained lymphatic fluid being provided to said first internal portion for reabsorption thereby.
- 50. A method for controlling obesity in a living being, said method comprising implanting first conduit means within the body of said being coupled so that said means is coupled to a duct within the body of said being having lymphatic fluid flowing therethrough and is also coupled to a first internal portion of the body of said being, draining a portion of said lymphatic fluid into said first conduit means from the being'"'"'s lymphatic system, and providing at least a portion of said drained lymphatic fluid to said first internal portion for reabsorption thereby.
- 56. A system for removing a first predetermined material from the body of a living being on a continual basis over a protracted period of time, said system comprising first conduit means, reservoir means, and implantable control means, said first conduit means being configured to be located within the body of said being coupled to a duct within the body of said being having lymphatic fluid flowing therethrough so that said lymphatic fluid flows into said first conduit means, said first conduit means being coupled to said reservoir means for carrying said lymphatic fluid into said reservoir means, said reservoir means being operable to cause said first material in said lymphatic fluid to be separated therefrom. whereupon said first material is removed from the body of said being, said implantable control means being coupled to said first conduit means for controlling the amount of lymphatic fluid drained from said duct by said first conduit means.
- 58. A method for withdrawing a portion of lymphatic fluid flowing through a duct within the body of a living being, said method comprising implanting first conduit means within the body of said being coupled so that said first conduit means is coupled to a duct within the body of said being having lymphatic fluid flowing therethrough and is also coupled to a first internal portion of the body of said being so that a portion of said lymphatic fluid is drained from said duct into said first conduit means, implanting control means within the body of said being, said control means being coupled to said first conduit means for controlling the amount of lymphatic fluid drained from said duct by said first conduit means, and providing at least a portion of said drained lymphatic fluid to said first internal portion for reabsorption thereby.
- 62. A method for removing at least one fat-like material from the body of living being, said fat-like material being selected from the group consisting of fats, cholesterols, phosphoglycerides, triglycerides, and lipoproteins, said method comprising coupling a first conduit to a duct within the body of said being having lymphatic fluid flowing therethrough so that said fluid flows into and through said first conduit, whereupon said fat-like material within said lymphatic fluid is removed from the body of said being continually over a protracted period of time.
Specification