Device for generating an artificial constriction in the gastrointestinal tract

• US 7,172,607 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bariatric Solutions International GmbH
• Original Assignee: AMI Agency For Medical Innovations GmbH
• Inventors: Egle, Walter, Hofle, Siegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; (Jackie) Tan-Uyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pous; Natalie
• Application Number:
  US10/638,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20040158272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 606/157, 606/151, 600/31, 600/37, 600/587, 600/561, 604/103.07, 604/909, 623/23.65
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0066 Closing devices for gastric bands

Abstract

A device for generating an artificial constriction in a gastrointestinal tract includes a band, which can be placed annularly about a particular portion of the gastrointestinal tract, having a fillable hollow volume, and a closure device for connecting end regions of the band placed annularly about the portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The closure device is a safety closure, which, at a tear-off tension exceeding a limit value, opens free of destruction, and which can be closed again. This limit value of the tear-off tension is in the range between 20 and 60 N, and preferably between 30 and 50 N.

Claims

1. A device for generating an artificial constriction in a gastrointestinal tract, the device comprising:

a band adapted to be placed annularly about a particular portion of the gastrointestinal tract, said band comprising a fillable hollow volume and a pair of end regions; and

a safety closure device for connecting said end regions of said band placed annularly about the portion of the gastrointestinal tract, said safety closure device being operable to automatically open without destruction at a tear-off tension exceeding a limit value and operable to be closed again after opening,

wherein the limit value of the tear-off tension is in a range between 20 and 60 N, and

wherein said safety closure device comprises a cross piece having a circumferentially closed insertion opening, said cross piece being secured on a first of said end regions of said band, an extension insertable through the circumferentially closed insertion opening on said cross piece, said extension extending from a second of said end regions of said band and having a projection extending on a side of the cross piece facing away from said second end region when said safety closure device is closed, and a pull strap provided with said extension, said pull strap extending further way from said cross piece than said projection.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limit value of the tear-off tension is in the range between 30 and 50 N.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a closure part adhered to said first end region of said band, said closure part closing the fillable hollow volume of said band at said first end region, wherein said cross piece is disposed on said closure part.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cross piece and said projection are comprised of silicon with a hardness in the region of 70 Shore A.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projection projects at least beyond a side of said extension facing away from an annular opening formed by the device and two sides of said extension opposite to each other and adjoining said side of said extension facing away from the annular opening.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a width of said projection in proximity to a side of said extension facing the annular opening is narrower than a width of said projection in proximity to remaining sides of said extension or said side of said extension facing the annular opening and in proximity to said projection is substantially smooth.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a width of said projection in proximity to said side of said extension facing away from the annular opening is at least partially wider than a width of said projection in proximity to said two sides of said extension opposite to each other and adjoining said side of said extension facing away from the annular opening.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said extension has a free end and said projection widens conically in a direction away from said free end of said extension.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some areas of the circumferentially closed insertion opening are beveled and the circumferentially closed insertion opening widens toward an insertion side of the circumferentially closed insertion opening for said extension.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of said cross piece is less than 5 mm.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the thickness of said cross piece is less than 4 mm.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connection tubule separate from said extension, said connection tubule having an inner channel and extending from said band at a region between said first and second end regions of said band, wherein the inner channel is connected with the fillable hollow volume of said band.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein a longitudinal axis of said connection tubule forms an angle with a circumferential line of said band of less than 60 degrees.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said connection tubule is disposed closer to said first end region than said second end region.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pull strap comprises a snap hook.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a continuous high tension-strength reinforcement layer extending over at least a portion of an outer wall of said band and said extension.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said reinforcement layer comprises filaments continuous at least in a longitudinal direction.

18. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an end-side front wall for closing the fillable hollow volume of said band at said second end region, said end-side front wall having a hardness in a range of 20 to 40 Shore A.