Monitoring of a food intake restriction device

• US 8,016,745 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Dlugos, Daniel F., Jensen, Dustin R., Hassler, William L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LACYK, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US11/398,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20060199997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,986 Days
• Field of Search: 128897-899, 600 29- 32, 600/37, 600/593, 604 27- 28, 604/909, 606139-141, 606/157, 606201-203, 606/213, 606/228, 606/151, 607/41
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12009 Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1355 Automated control means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0003 Apparatus for the treatment of obesity; Anti-eating devices surgical instruments or methods for treatment of obesity, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/00; hollow or tubular parts of organs A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0053 remotely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0226 having means for protecting the interior of the access site from damage due to the insertion of a needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0238 having means for locating the implanted device to insure proper injection, e.g. radio-emitter, protuberances, radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3327 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276

Abstract

An implantable restriction device is configured to provide a restriction in a patient as a function of the pressure of fluid. The implantable restriction device includes one or more pressure sensors configured to sense pressure of the fluid within the implantable restriction device. Pressure data obtained by the one or more pressure sensors may be communicated to a device located external to the patient, such as a data logger, using telemetry coils or other communicators. The data logger may store the pressure data, and may communicate the pressure data to a remote location via a network such as the Internet. A docking station may be provided to couple the data logger to a network and/or to recharge a cell in the data logger.

Claims

1. A system for obtaining data from an implanted device, the system comprising:

(a) an implantable restriction forming device, wherein the implantable restriction forming device is operable to form a restriction in a patient, wherein the implantable restriction forming device comprises an implantable injection port, wherein the implantable injection port defines a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the implantable restriction forming device, wherein the fluid reservoir of the implantable injection port is configured to receive a fluid, wherein the implantable injection port includes a needle penetrable septum configured to receive a needle for adding fluid to or withdrawing fluid from the fluid reservoir via the needle;

(b) an implantable pressure sensor positioned within the implantable injection port of the implantable restriction forming device, wherein the implantable pressure sensor comprises a diaphragm in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir of the implantable injection port and one or more strain gauges connected with the diaphragm, wherein the one or more strain gauges are configured to sense strain in the diaphragm as a function of the pressure of the fluid such that the implantable pressure sensor is operable to sense the pressure of fluid in the fluid reservoir;

(c) one or more implantable communicators in communication with the implantable pressure sensor, wherein the one or more implantable communicators are operable to communicate data from within a patient;

(d) one or more external communicators in communication with the one or more implantable communicators, wherein the one or more external communicators are operable to externally receive data communicated from within a patient by the one or more implantable communicators; and

(e) a storage device in communication with the one or more external communicators, wherein the storage device is operable to store at least a portion of data received by the one or more external communicators.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable restriction forming device further comprises an adjustable gastric band in fluid communication with the implantable injection port.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the one or more implantable communicators or the one or more external communicators comprise at least one coil.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data logger in communication with the one or more external communicators, wherein the storage device is located within the data logger, wherein the data logger is operable to provide a source of energy to the one or more external communicators.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a sense head, wherein the one or more external communicators are located within the sense head.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the data logger and the sense head are located in separate housings connected via a cable.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the data logger comprises a rechargeable cell, wherein the rechargeable cell is configured to provide power to the one or more external communicators.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a docking station, wherein the data logger is configured to selectively couple with the docking station, wherein the docking station is configured to recharge the rechargeable cell.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the docking station further comprises a communication port in communication with the storage device, wherein the communication port is configured to communicate with a remote monitoring unit via the network.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communication port in communication with the storage device, wherein the communication port is configured to communicate with a remote monitoring unit via the network.

11. A system for obtaining data from an implantable restriction forming device, the system comprising:

(a) a gastric band having an inflatable member, the inflatable member being configured to receive fluid, the gastric band being configured to form a restriction in a patient based on the pressure of fluid in the inflatable member;

(b) an implantable injection port in fluid communication with the inflatable member of the gastric band, wherein the implantable injection port includes a needle penetrable septum configured to receive a needle for adjusting an amount of fluid in the inflatable member via the needle;

(c) a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to sense the pressure of fluid in the inflatable member;

(d) a TET communicator, wherein the TET communicator is operable to provide power to a device implanted within a patient;

(e) a telemetry communicator, wherein the telemetry communicator is operable to transmit data communicated from the one or more implantable pressure sensors located within the implantable restriction forming device;

(f) a storage device in communication with the telemetry communicator, wherein the storage device is operable to store data transmitted from the telemetry communicator;

(g) a microprocessor in communication with the TET communicator, the telemetry coil, and the storage device, wherein the microprocessor is configured to regulate transmission of data from the telemetry communicator to the storage device; and

(h) a patient orientation sensor configured to detect orientation data associated with a patient, wherein the patient orientation sensor is in communication with the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to account for hydrostatic effects on the fluid pressure caused by patient orientation as detected by the patient orientation sensor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the TET communicator and the telemetry communicator are physically separate communicators.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a first housing and a second housing, wherein the TET communicator and the telemetry communicator are located in the first housing, wherein the storage device and the microprocessor are located in the second housing.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a docking station, wherein the docking station is operable to engage one or more components of the second housing.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the docking station is further operable to receive data communicated from the storage device.