Universal gastric band

• US 5,601,604 A
• Filed: 05/27/1993
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Inamed Development Company
• Inventors: Vincent, Vernon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACKSON, GARY
• Application Number:
  US08/068,411
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 606/157, 606/148, 606/216, 606/228, 128/899, 128/898, 128/780, 24/16
• US Class Current: 606/216
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1327 Tensioning clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0056 using injection ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0066 Closing devices for gastric bands

Abstract

A gastric band for placement around the stomach is described which is useful for the treatment and control of morbid obesity. The gastric band has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface has an inflatable member disposed thereon which substantially completely covers the inner surface of the band. A remote fill port is in fluid communication with the interior of the inflatable member. The gastric band is invasively placed in an encircling position around the stomach by the facile closure of a single fastening means. After the band is fastened around the stomach, a fluid is injected into the inflatable member thereby constricting the stoma of the stomach. Preferably, measuring means situated within the stomach provides a measure of the stoma opening. The inflatable member is adjusted so that the stoma opening is at the desired diameter. The advantage of the present gastric band over prior art bands is that adjustment of the tensioning the band prior to inflation is not required inasmuch as the latitude for inflation provided by the enlarged inflatable member enables a versatile range of adjustment.

Claims

1. A gastric band for the treatment of morbid obesity, said band being adapted for laparoscopic placement around the stomach of a patient, said band comprising a body portion having a head end and a tail end and an inner stomach-facing surface therebetween, said tail end comprising an elongate tubular member having means thereon for providing a fluid tight connection of said tubular member to an injection reservoir, said head end having means thereon for receiving said tail end and locking said band into a circle having an inner diameter and an inflatable member substantially entirely coextensive with said inner stomach-facing surface of said body portion of said gastric band when said band is locked into said circle having said inner diameter, and which said inflatable member is in fluid communication with said tubular member.