Implantable restriction system with load monitor

• US 8,523,885 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Dlugos, Daniel F. Jr., Haberstich, Wells D., Hueil, Geoffrey C., Korvick, Donna L., Messerly, Jeffrey D., Moore, Kyle P., Mumaw, Daniel J., Ortiz, Mark S., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Swindon, Patrick J., Thompson, Eric W., Weaner, Lauren S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Templeton, Christopher L
• Application Number:
  US12/562,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/157, 600 29- 31, 600/37
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0036 implantable A61F2/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0056 using injection ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0059 with wireless means

Abstract

An apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient'"'"'s organ or duct includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A fastener is disposed on the first end of the elongated member. The fastener is configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct. A tension element is disposed for movement within the elongated member. A drive element is associated with and engages the tension element for causing the tension element to control the tension applied by the elongated member against a patient'"'"'s body organ or duct. A load monitor ensures that excessive pressure is not applied to a patient'"'"'s body organ or duct.

Claims

1. Apparatus for regulating functioning of a patient'"'"'s organ or duct, comprising:

an elongated member having a first end and a second end;

a fastener disposed on the first end of the elongated member, the fastener configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct;

a tension element disposed for movement within the elongated member, the tension element including a free end and a fixed end;

a drive element associated with and engaging the tension element for causing the tension element to control tension applied by the elongated member against a patient'"'"'s body organ or duct;

a load monitor ensuring that excessive pressure is not applied to the patient'"'"'s body organ or duct; and

a tension element release system, wherein the fixed end of the tension element is secured via a release mechanism allowing selective release of the fixed end of the tension element for release of the applied tension.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load monitor includes a monitoring circuit monitoring current drawn by the drive element.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein drive element is motor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the monitoring circuit is a closed loop feedback circuit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the monitoring circuit includes leads accessing current flowing from a power source to the motor of the drive element.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the monitoring circuit includes a current sensing circuit and output current measurement from the current sensing circuit is forwarded to a microcontroller for control of the drive element.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tension element is slidingly disposed within a substantially cylindrical tube of a compressible material so that when the tension element is pulled through the drive element, the compressible material is compressed and a diameter of opening in the loop is reduced.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the compressible material is surrounded on a dorsal face thereof by a dorsal element that is flexible, but sturdier than the compressible material.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the dorsal element is silicone.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the release mechanism includes a jaw mechanism that selectively engages the fixed end of the tension element.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the jaw mechanism includes a jaw drive element for controlled movement of the jaw mechanism.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the jaw mechanism includes a first jaw member which is movable and a second jaw member which is movable, the first jaw member and the second jaw member being biased toward each other.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the release mechanism includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member with a jaw drive element positioned between the first jaw member and the second jaw member for selectively moving the first and second jaw members between a locked orientation and a released orientation.

14. Apparatus for regulating functioning of a patient'"'"'s organ or duct, comprising:

an elongated member having a first end and a second end;

a fastener disposed on the first end of the elongated member, the fastener configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct;

a tension element disposed for movement within the elongated member, the tension element including a free end and a fixed end;

a drive element associated with and engaging the tension element for causing the tension element to control tension applied by the elongated member against a patient'"'"'s body organ or duct;

a load monitor ensuring that excessive pressure is not applied to the patient'"'"'s body organ or duct; and

a tension element release system, wherein the fixed end of the tension element is secured via a release mechanism allowing selective release of the fixed end of the tension element for release of the applied tension, wherein the release mechanism includes a jaw mechanism that selectively engages the fixed end of the tension element and the jaw mechanism includes a jaw drive element for controlled movement of the jaw mechanism, the jaw drive element being a shape memory alloy spring positioned between a first movable jaw member and a second movable jaw member.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the shape memory alloy spring is linked to a source of electricity.