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Metal bellows position feedback for hydraulic control of an adjustable gastric band

  • US 7,481,763 B2
  • Filed: 05/28/2004
  • Issued: 01/27/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for remotely hydraulically controlling a hydraulically actuated therapeutic member, the method comprising:

  • providing a hydraulically actuated therapeutic device;

    providing an implantable infuser device, the implantable infuser device comprising;

    an accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulically actuated therapeutic device and having a surface movable to vary a contained volume between a first volume and a second volume,an induction position sensor inductively coupled to the movable surface of the accumulator and operably configured to sense an absolute position value,a closed loop controller responsive to a target volume value and the absolute position value to position the movable surface of the accumulator to the target volume value, andan enclosure encompassing the accumulator, wherein the position sensor comprises an inductive position sensor including an inductive target coupled for movement with the movable surface of the accumulator and an inductive coil attached to an internal surface of the enclosure proximate to the inductive target;

    transmitting a command to the infuser device to cause a change of volume of the accumulator of the infuser device to shift fluid between the infuser device and the hydraulically actuated therapeutic device;

    sensing accumulator position;

    calculating an error signal based upon a commanded volume and a current volume related to the sensed accumulator position; and

    commanding an actuator to change accumulator position based upon the calculated error signal.

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