Method and device for controlling the inflation of an inflatable prosthetic envelope
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling inflation of an inflatable prosthetic envelope by connecting the envelope to a transfer tube and placing said tube into communication with a bag from which a liquid can be caused to flow to cause said envelope either to inflate or to deflate, the method comprising the steps of:
- confining in said bag, which is deformable, a quantity of liquid that is not less than the capacity of the envelope;
interposing, between said bag and the envelope, a non-return check valve comprising a moving member for opening and closing the transfer circuit, a resilient return member urging the moving member into a closed position, and a ferromagnetic sensing element attached to the moving member;
manually applying deformation pressure to the bag to transfer a quantity of liquid from the bag so as to inflate the envelope;
selectively applying a magnetic field adjacent the check valve, thereby remotely causing the check valve to open to allow liquid that has been admitted into the envelope to return to the bag in order to deflate the envelope until the envelope reaches the desired volume; and
removing or interrupting the magnetic field, thereby releasing the sensing member and allowing the moving member to be urged back into the closed position by the resilient member in the absence of an external magnetic field.
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Abstract
A method and device for controlling the inflation of a prosthesis, particularly applicable to gastric implants. A liquid-containing bag is connected to a unit defining a transfer circuit under the control of the shutter and connected to an inflatable envelope, where the shutter is constituted by a non-return check valve closable and openable magnetically by remote control.
133 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of controlling inflation of an inflatable prosthetic envelope by connecting the envelope to a transfer tube and placing said tube into communication with a bag from which a liquid can be caused to flow to cause said envelope either to inflate or to deflate, the method comprising the steps of:
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confining in said bag, which is deformable, a quantity of liquid that is not less than the capacity of the envelope; interposing, between said bag and the envelope, a non-return check valve comprising a moving member for opening and closing the transfer circuit, a resilient return member urging the moving member into a closed position, and a ferromagnetic sensing element attached to the moving member; manually applying deformation pressure to the bag to transfer a quantity of liquid from the bag so as to inflate the envelope; selectively applying a magnetic field adjacent the check valve, thereby remotely causing the check valve to open to allow liquid that has been admitted into the envelope to return to the bag in order to deflate the envelope until the envelope reaches the desired volume; and removing or interrupting the magnetic field, thereby releasing the sensing member and allowing the moving member to be urged back into the closed position by the resilient member in the absence of an external magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. Apparatus for controlling the inflation of an inflatable prosthetic envelope, the apparatus comprising a deformable bag containing a supply of liquid suitable for inflating said envelope by flowing in a transfer circuit under the control of a controllable shutter,
wherein: -
the bag is connected to a unit defining a transfer circuit under the control of the shutter and connected to the envelope; and the shutter comprises a non-return check valve comprising; a moving member for opening and closing the transfer circuit, a resilient return member urging the moving member into a closed position, and a ferromagnetic sensing member attached to the moving member for opening the moving member when an external magnetic field is applied, with the resilient return member urging the moving member into the closed position when no magnetic field is applied. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification