Gastric band composed of different hardness materials

• US 8,298,133 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wiley, Jeffrey P., Tsonton, Mark, Crawford, Norman D., Jambor, Kristin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorna, Carrie R
• Application Number:
  US11/798,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,995 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 32, 600/37
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0066 Closing devices for gastric bands

Abstract

A gastric band has a balloon shaped and dimensioned to circumscribe the stomach at a predetermined location and a belt extending about the balloon. Further, a linking layer is positioned between the balloon and the belt, wherein the linking layer is harder than either the balloon or the belt. Additionally, the belt includes a first latching member at a first end of the gastric band and second latching member at a second end of the gastric band, the first latching member and the second latching member being shaped and dimensioned for selective engagement to secure the gastric band about a stomach of a patient, wherein the first latching member and second latching member are composed of different materials.

Claims

1. A gastric band, comprising:

a balloon shaped and dimensioned to circumscribe the stomach at a predetermined location;

a belt extending about the balloon;

a linking layer positioned between the balloon and the belt, the linking layer being harder than either the balloon or the belt.

2. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein the gastric band is a pre-curved, low pressure, high volume gastric band.

3. The gastric band according to claim 2, wherein the balloon is more flexible than the belt.

4. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is composed of a material that has a durometer of between approximately 45 and approximately 55, the belt is composed of a material that has a durometer of between approximately 55 and approximately 65 and the linking layer has a durometer higher than either the balloon or the belt.

5. The gastric band according to claim 4, wherein the balloon is more flexible than the belt.

6. The gastric band according to claim 5, wherein the balloon is made out of a material having a durometer of approximately 50 and the linking layer has a durometer higher than the balloon.

7. The gastric band according to claim 5, wherein the belt is made out of a material having a durometer of approximately 60 and the linking layer has a durometer higher than the belt.

8. The gastric band according to claim 1, wherein the linking layer is composed of silicone.

9. The gastric band according to claim 8, wherein the belt is composed of silicone.

10. The gastric band according to claim 9, wherein the balloon is composed of silicone.

11. The gastric band according to claim 1, further including a first latching member and a second latching member;

and the first latching member and the second latching member are composed of different materials having different hardnesses.

12. The gastric band according to claim 11, wherein the first latching member is composed of a material that is softer than the material from which the second latching member is composed.

13. The gastric band according to claim 12, wherein the first latching member has a durometer of between approximately 55 and approximately 65 and the second latching member has a durometer of between approximately 55 and approximately 65.

14. The gastric band according to claim 12, wherein the second latching member is composed of a material that is softer than the material from which the first latching member is composed.

15. A gastric band, comprising:

a balloon shaped and dimensioned to circumscribe the stomach at a predetermined location;

a belt extending about the balloon;

a first latching member at a first end of the gastric band and a second latching member at a second end of the gastric band, the first latching member and the second latching member being shaped and dimensioned for selective engagement securing the gastric band about a stomach of a patient, wherein the first latching member and second latching member are composed of different materials offering different hardnesses.

16. The gastric band according to claim 15, wherein the balloon is made out of a material having a durometer of between approximately 45 and approximately 55 and the belt is made out of a material having a durometer of between approximately 55 and approximately 65.

17. The gastric band according to claim 15, wherein the first latching member has a durometer of between approximately 40 and approximately 70 and the second latching member has a durometer of between approximately 40 and approximately 70.

18. The gastric band according to claim 15, wherein the first latching member is composed of a material that is softer than the material from which the second latching member is composed.

19. The gastric band according to claim 15, wherein the second latching member is composed of a material that is softer than the material from which the first latching member is composed.

20. The gastric band according to claim 15, wherein the gastric band is a pre-curved, low pressure, high volume gastric band.