Method and apparatus for adjusting a gastrointestinal restriction device
First Claim
1. A gastrointestinal implant, comprising:
- a flexible adjustable body comprising a contact surface configured for at least partially engaging a surface of a gastrointestinal tract of a mammal, the contact surface having a first perimeter;
an opposing surface, radially opposed to the contact surface, the opposing surface having a second perimeter, the contact surface having undulating increases and decreases in radius along the first perimeter and the opposing surface having substantially matched increases and decreases in radius along the second perimeter;
an actuator configured to change the configurations of the contact surface and the opposing surface in response to rotational movement of an implantable interface operatively coupled to the actuator via a drive transmission, the actuator comprising a tensile member having a proximal end and distal end, the tensile member coupled to the flexible adjustable body;
an external adjustment device configured to non-invasively couple to the implantable interface from a location external to the mammal;
wherein movement of at least a portion of the implantable interface results in a change in the dimension or configuration of the contact surface;
wherein the actuator is disposed at least partially within the flexible adjustable body about a plurality of ribs contained therein, wherein the ribs include holes; and
wherein the actuator passes through at least a plurality of the holes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gastrointestinal implant system includes an adjustable restriction device having a contact surface configured for at least partially engaging a surface of a gastrointestinal tract of a mammal. The implant system further includes an implantable interface including a first driving element, the first driving element being moveable and operatively coupled to the adjustable restriction device by an actuator configured to change the dimension or configuration of the contact surface in response to movement of the first driving element. The system also includes an external adjustment device having a second driving element configured to non-invasively engage the first driving element of the implantable interface from a location external to the mammal. In the system, actuation of the second driving element of the external adjustment device produces movement in the first driving element of the implantable interface and results in a change in the dimension or configuration of the contact surface.
1096 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A gastrointestinal implant, comprising:
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a flexible adjustable body comprising a contact surface configured for at least partially engaging a surface of a gastrointestinal tract of a mammal, the contact surface having a first perimeter; an opposing surface, radially opposed to the contact surface, the opposing surface having a second perimeter, the contact surface having undulating increases and decreases in radius along the first perimeter and the opposing surface having substantially matched increases and decreases in radius along the second perimeter; an actuator configured to change the configurations of the contact surface and the opposing surface in response to rotational movement of an implantable interface operatively coupled to the actuator via a drive transmission, the actuator comprising a tensile member having a proximal end and distal end, the tensile member coupled to the flexible adjustable body; an external adjustment device configured to non-invasively couple to the implantable interface from a location external to the mammal; wherein movement of at least a portion of the implantable interface results in a change in the dimension or configuration of the contact surface; wherein the actuator is disposed at least partially within the flexible adjustable body about a plurality of ribs contained therein, wherein the ribs include holes; and wherein the actuator passes through at least a plurality of the holes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification