Methods and devices for measuring impedance in a gastric restriction system
First Claim
1. A restriction system for forming a restriction in a patient, comprising:
- an implantable restriction device configured to form a restriction in a patient;
at least two sensor electrodes disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of the implantable restriction device; and
an impedance measuring device configured to be in electronic communication with the sensor electrodes and to measure an impedance between the sensor electrodes, wherein the impedance measuring device is configured tomeasure the impedance between the sensor electrodes over a period of time to gather a sequence of impedance values, and generate a plot line from the sequence of impedance values indicating a weight of the patient over the period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for gathering impedance data related to implantable restriction devices. In general, the methods and devices can enable patients, health care providers, and others to use gathered data as a feedback mechanism to non-invasively monitor efficacy of an implantable restriction device in a patient and to identify, modify, and/or prescribe a treatment plan for the patient considering the gathered data. Impedance data can be gathered and analyzed for tissue proximate to the restriction device, e.g., a fat pad between a gastric band and the patient'"'"'s stomach. Electrodes in contact with the tissue can measure an impedance of the tissue, with the impedance between the electrodes changing as the tissue reduces in size (e.g., as fat cells shrink) and/or changes configuration.
2119 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A restriction system for forming a restriction in a patient, comprising:
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an implantable restriction device configured to form a restriction in a patient; at least two sensor electrodes disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of the implantable restriction device; and an impedance measuring device configured to be in electronic communication with the sensor electrodes and to measure an impedance between the sensor electrodes, wherein the impedance measuring device is configured to measure the impedance between the sensor electrodes over a period of time to gather a sequence of impedance values, and generate a plot line from the sequence of impedance values indicating a weight of the patient over the period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14)
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12. The system of 11, wherein the impedance measuring device is configured to
detect a sudden increase between a one of the impedance values and an immediately preceding one of the impedance values, and trigger an alert providing notice of the sudden increase.
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13. The system of 12, further comprising a pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure of fluid within the implantable restriction device over the period of time and to communicate pressure data to the impedance measuring device,
wherein the impedance measuring device is configured to analyze the pressure data to determine if the pressure of fluid increased at a time corresponding to the one of the impedance values and the immediately preceding one of the impedance values, and if so, to allow the alert to be triggered, and if not, to not trigger the alert.
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15. A restriction system for forming a restriction in a patient, comprising:
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an implantable measuring device configured to be in communication with an implantable restriction device configured to form a restriction in a patient, and to gather data related to a weight of the patient, the measuring device including at least two sensor electrodes disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of the implantable restriction device; and a controller configured to be in electronic communication with the sensor electrodes and to measure an impedance between the sensor electrodes over a period of time to gather a sequence of impedance values, and configured to signal for an adjustment of the patient'"'"'s treatment concerning the implantable restriction device if the gathered data indicates an inflection regarding the weight of the patient, wherein the controller is configured to signal for the adjustment of the patient'"'"'s treatment concerning the implantable restriction device if the sequence of impedance values indicates an inflection in a trend of the weight of the patient over the period of time and wherein the controller is configured to determine that the trend is weight loss of the patient if the sequence of impedance values indicates an asymptotic decrease in the impedance over the period of time, and to determine that the trend is weight gain of the patient if the sequence of impedance values indicates an asymptotic increase in the impedance over the period of time. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification