Gastric band

• US 6,676,674 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Moshe Dudai
• Original Assignee: Moshe Dudai
• Inventors: Dudai, Moshe
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US09/526,757
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/153, 606/155, 606/156, 606/157, 606/74, 606/232, 24/16.PB, 24/305.P
• US Class Current: 606/151
• 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 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0066 Closing devices for gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0089 Instruments for placement or removal

Abstract

A gastric band of a belt type is presented for attaching around a circumference of a patient'"'"'s stomach, so as to define the diameter of the stomach opening. The band comprises outer and inner surfaces, wherein the inner surface engages the stomach, and at least the outer surface is formed by an elongated member substantially non-extendable along a longitudinal axis thereof. A through-going opening is made in the elongated member and is located so as to define an end portion of the band having a predetermined length. An opposite end portion of the band is shaped so as to be insertable into the through-going opening for adjusting a desired inner diameter of the band in its closed operating position and fastening the opposite end portion to the outer surface of the band.

Claims

1. A non-inflatable gastric band mounting onto a patient'"'"'s stomach outside the stomach, so as to fix a desired diameter of the band in its operating closed position to thereby adjust a desired diameter of the stomach opening and a volume of the stomach above the band defined by a separate calibrating device, the band being made of a soft non-extendable material and comprising:

(a) outer and inner surfaces, wherein the inner surface engages the stomach when in an operating position of the band mounted on the stomach;

(b) a through-going opening at a location spaced from a butt-end of the band a predetermined distance to define an extended end portion of the band of a predetermined length, such that, when the band is closed, said end portion freely protrudes front the band;

(c) an opposite end portion of the band shaped so as to be insertable into said through-going opening for adjusting a desired inner diameter of the band in its closed operating position and fastening said opposite end portion to the outer surface of the band upon establishing the desired diameter;

said extended end portion and said opposite portion serving for gripping the band while mounting it onto the stomach and adjusting the diameter of the band to bring it into its operating closed position, said extended free protruding end portion of the band enabling detection of the band while in the operative position thereof mounted on the stomach and enabling gripping the band for readjusting the diameter of the stomach opening after the band is brought into its operating position; and

(d) a fastening means for fastening said opposite end portion of the band to the outer surface of the band to bring the band into its operating closed position, said fastening means allowing locking and real zing the band while adjusting the inner diameter of the band to bring the band into said operating position;

wherein said fastening means comprises at least two stitches applied to the band.

3. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein said second material comprises silicone.

2. A non-inflatable gastric band mounting onto a patient'"'"'s stomach outside the stomach, so as to fix a desired diameter of the band in its operating closed position to thereby adjust a desired diameter of the stomach opening and a volume of the stomach above he band defined by a separate calibrating device, the band being made of a soft non-extendable material and comprising:

(a) outer and inner surfaces, wherein the inner surface engages the stomach when in an operating position of the band mounted on the stomach;

(b) a through-going opening at a location spaced from a butt-end of the band a predetermined distance to define an extended end portion of the band of a predetermined length, such that, when the band is closed, said end portion freely protrudes from the band;

(c) an opposite end portion of the band shaped so as to be insertable into said through-going opening for adjusting a desired inner diameter of the band in its closed operating position and fastening said opposite end portion to the outer surface of the band upon establishing the desired diameter;

said extended end portion and said opposite portion serving for gripping the band while mounting it onto the stomach and adjusting the diameter of the band to bring it into its operating closed position, said extended free protruding end portion of the band enabling detection of the band while in the operative position thereof mounted on the stomach and enabling gripping the band for readjusting the diameter of the stomach opening after the band is brought into its operating position;

wherein said outer and inner surfaces of the band are formed of a first material and a second material, respectively, wherein said first material and said second material are constructed of different substances and said second material being not too rigid in order not to harm the stomach.

4. The gastric band according to claim 2, wherein said first material comprises poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.

5. The gastric band according to claim 2, wherein said second material comprises silicone.