Implantable pump

• US 6,551,235 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Potencia Medical AG
• Original Assignee: Potencia Medical AG
• Inventors: Forsell, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/918,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20020022759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 600/30, 600/31, 600/16, 600/593, 417/417, 417/491, 417/492, 417/500, 604/67, 604/891.1, 604/131, 604/141, 604/133, 607/32, 128/831, 128/843, 128/855, 128/DIG.25
• US Class Current: 600/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/004 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/26 Penis implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0003 Apparatus for the treatment of obesity; Anti-eating devices surgical instruments or methods for treatment of obesity, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/00; hollow or tubular parts of organs A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0053 remotely adjustable

Abstract

A pump for medical implantation is disclosed which comprises a housing forming a cylindrical cavity, a cylindrical piston movable in the cavity for providing fluid communication between the cavity and channels opening to the cavity, and a motion device for magnetically rotating the piston and moving it back and forth to provide fluid flow between the cavity and the channels. Advantageously, the cylindrical piston is movable as a loose body in the cavity, and thus, functions as a valve. As a result, the pump of the invention is simple and very reliable, since it is devoid of traditional valves. When implanted in a patient, the pump can be used to pump hydraulic fluid between a reservoir and a hydraulic constriction device also implanted in a patient to thereby operate the device and form a the constriction of a passage of the patient'"'"'s organ. Also disclosed is a method for laparascopically implanting the hydraulically operable implant together with the pump in a patient'"'"'s abdomen.

Claims

1. A pump for medical implantation, comprising:

a housing forming a cylindrical cavity having a closed end and an open end opposite said closed end, said housing being provided with a first fluid channel opening into said cavity at a first location and a second fluid channel opening into said cavity at a second location circumferentially displaced from said first location,

a cylindrical piston movable in said cavity and having an indentation for providing fluid communication between said cavity and said first channel, when said piston is turned into a first turning position, and for providing fluid communication between said cavity and said second channel, when said piston is turned into a second turning position, and

a motion device for moving said piston back and forth to provide fluid flow between said cavity and any of said channels and for rotating said piston back and forth between said first and second positions.

2. A pump according to claim 1, further comprising a rod, which is movable by magnetic force, said rod being rigidly connected to said piston and extending through said open end of said cylindrical cavity, wherein said motion device comprises a first solenoid for generating a first magnetic force to move said rod axially back and forth, so that the piston performs suction and pressure strokes.

3. A pump according to claim 2, wherein said motion device comprises a second solenoid for generating a second magnetic force to rotate said rod back and forth so that said piston is moved between said first and second positions.

4. A pump according to claim 2, further comprising an energizer for powering said solenoid with electric pulses.

5. A pump according to claim 2, wherein said rod is magnetic and orientated such that it exerts a force on the piston in the direction opposite the axially moving direction of the piston, when the solenoid is energized to pull the piston in the suction stroke, and exerts a force on the piston in the same direction as the axially moving direction of the piston, when the solenoid is energized to push the piston in the pressure stroke.

6. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the piston are made of to ceramic material.

7. A pump according to claim 6, wherein the clearance between the piston and the housing is less than 5 μ

m.

8. A pump according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical piston is movable as a loose body in said cavity.

9. A method for laparascopically implanting in a patient'"'"'s abdomen a hydraulically operable implant, together with the pump as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

a) insufflating the patient'"'"'s abdomen to form a pneumoperitoneum;

b) inserting at least one laparascopic trocar into the abdomen;

c) using the trocar to introduce the hydraulic implant and pump into the abdomen; and

d) operating a tool via the trocar to fix the hydraulic implant and pump at selected locations in the abdomen and to provide a hydraulic connection between the pump and the hydraulic implant.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising step e):

post-operatively controlling the implanted pump in a non-invasive manner for the operation of the hydraulic implant.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein step (e) is performed by using a wireless remote control for controlling the pump.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein step (e) further comprises transmitting wireless energy from outside the patient'"'"'s body for use in powering the implanted pump.

13. A method for implanting in a patient'"'"'s abdomen a hydraulically operable implant, together with the pump as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

a) insufflating the patient'"'"'s abdomen to form a pneumoperitoneum;

b) inserting at least one laparascopic trocar into the abdomen;

c) using the trocar to introduce the hydraulic implant into the abdomen;

d) operating a tool via the trocar to fix the hydraulic implant at a selected location in the abdomen;

e) subcutaneously implanting the pump; and

f) providing a hydraulic connection between the pump and the hydraulic implant.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising step g):

post-operatively controlling the implanted pump in a non-invasive manner for the operation of the hydraulic implant.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein step (g) is performed by using a wireless remote control for controlling the pump.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein step (g) further comprises transmitting wireless energy from outside the patient'"'"'s body for powering the implanted pump.

21. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said rod is magnetic and orientated such that it exerts a force on the piston in the direction opposite the axially moving direction of the piston, when the solenoid is energized to pull the piston in the suction stroke, and exerts a force on the piston in the same direction as the axially moving direction of the piston, when the solenoid is energized to push the piston in the pressure stroke.

17. An apparatus for restricting the flow in a passage of a patient'"'"'s organ, comprising:

a hydraulic constriction device implanted in the patient to form a constriction of the passage, said constriction device being operable to change the constriction of the passage,

a reservoir implanted in the patient for supplying hydraulic fluid for the operation of said hydraulic constriction device, and

a pump implanted in the patient for pumping hydraulic fluid between said reservoir and said hydraulic constriction device to operate said hydraulic constriction device to change the constriction of the passage,

said pump including

a housing forming a cylindrical cavity having a closed end and an open end opposite said closed end, said housing being provided with a first fluid channel opening into said cavity at a first location and a second fluid channel opening into said cavity at a second location circumferentially displaced from said first location, said first channel being hydraulically connected to said reservoir, said second channel being hydraulically connected to said hydraulic constriction device,

a cylindrical piston movable in said cavity and having an indentation for providing fluid communication between said cavity and said first channel, when said piston is turned into a first turning position, and for providing fluid communication between said cavity and said second channel, when said piston is turned into a second turning position, and

a motion device for moving said piston back and forth to provide fluid flow between said cavity and any of said channels and for rotating said piston back and forth between said first and second positions.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the housing and the piston are made of ceramic material.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the clearance between the piston and the housing is less than 5 μ

m.

24. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the cylindrical piston is movable as a loose body in said cavity.

18. An apparatus according to claimed 17, wherein said pump further comprises a rod, which is movable by magnetic force, said rod being rigidly connected to said piston and extending through said open end of said cylindrical cavity, wherein said motion device comprises a first solenoid for generating a first magnetic force to move said rod axially back and forth, so that the piston performs suction and pressure strokes.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said motion device further comprises a second solenoid for generating a second magnetic force to rotate said rod back and forth so that said piston is moved between said first and second positions.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an energizer for powering said solenoid with electric pulses.