Anal incontinence disease treatment with controlled wireless energy supply

• US 9,439,744 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Obtech Medical AG (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Obtech Medical AG (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Forsell, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US14/037,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20140031611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 31, 128/898, 606/565, 606/564, 606/205, 606/207, 606/191, 606/192
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0009 placed in or outside the body opening close to the surface of the body plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ A61B17/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0036 implantable A61F2/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/004 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A anal incontinence disease treatment apparatus and method include and use an operable restriction device implanted in a patient and engaging the colon or engaging the rectum to form a restricted fecal passageway in the colon or the rectum. A source of energy external to the patient'"'"'s body and a control device for releasing wireless energy from the source of energy from outside the patient'"'"'s body are provided. The released wireless energy is used in connection with the operation of the restriction device, to enlarge or contract the restricted fecal passageway.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient suffering from anal incontinence by implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

cutting the skin of the patient,

inserting at least one dissecting tool,

dissecting an area of a fecal passageway using said at least one dissecting tool,

placing, in the patient, an operable restriction device adapted to be energized by a source of energy,

placing the operable restriction device in the dissected area,

forming a restricted fecal passageway, wherein the operable restriction device is adapted to change the opening of the fecal passageway, controlled from outside the patient'"'"'s body,

placing an internal data communicator adapted to communicate with an external data communicator intended to be placed outside the patient'"'"'s body,

placing, in the patient, the energy transforming device adapted to transform wireless energy into an energy form different than the wireless energy used in connection with the operation of the restriction device, and

placing, in the patient, the implantable source of energy adapted to store energy from the energy transforming device in the internal source of energy.

2. The method according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

enlarging the restricted fecal passageway to allow fecal matter to readily pass therethrough, and

restricting the fecal passageway, thereby

energizing the operable restriction device to open and close, respectively, the fecal passageway.

3. The method according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a source of energy external to the patient'"'"'s body,

controlling the external source of energy from outside the patient'"'"'s body,

releasing wireless energy and

using the released wireless energy in connection with the operation of the operable restriction device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method of implanting the anal incontinence treatment apparatus comprises the method steps of;

providing an external source of energy,

controlling the external source of energy to release wireless energy,

transforming the wireless energy by the energy transforming device into an energy form different than the wireless energy, and

using the different energy form in connection with the operation of the restriction device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method of implanting the anal incontinence treatment apparatus uses an implantable source of energy for the method step of:

placing, in the patient, the implantable source of energy, adapted to supply energy in connection with the operation of the restriction device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method of implanting the anal incontinence treatment apparatus uses an implantable stabilizer for the method step of:

placing, in the patient, the implantable stabilizer, adapted to be able to stabilize the energy transformed by the energy transforming device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operable restriction device comprises an electrically powered hydraulically operable restriction device, wherein the anal incontinence treatment apparatus comprises a reservoir and an operation device, wherein the step of placing the operable restriction device in the patient, further comprising the steps of:

placing, in the patient, the electrically powered hydraulically operable restriction device,

placing a reservoir adapted to contain hydraulic fluid,

placing an operation device, adapted to operate the hydraulically operable restriction device to move hydraulic fluid between the reservoir and the hydraulically operable restriction device and back, to restrict or release the hydraulically operable restriction device.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

operating from outside the patient'"'"'s body the hydraulically operable restriction device, using the operation device and the hydraulic fluid of the reservoir, and

moving hydraulic fluid between the reservoir and the hydraulically operable restriction device and back, to restrict or release the hydraulically operable restriction device.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method of implanting the anal incontinence treatment apparatus uses a control device comprising a second control unit for the method step of:

implanting, in the patient, the second control unit of the control device, adapted to control the operable restriction device in response to a signal received from a first control unit operable from outside the patient'"'"'s body.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising the method step of:

operating the first control unit of the control device from outside the patient'"'"'s body for providing the signal,

controlling by the second implantable control unit of the control device the operable restriction device in response to the signal received from the first control unit, and

operating the operable restriction device, using the using the implantable second control unit of the control device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method of implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus uses electrical components comprising a stabilizer for the method step of:

placing, in the patient, the implantable stabilizer, adapted to be used when powering the operable restriction device.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising the method of:

operating the powered operable restriction device, using the at least one implantable stabilizer.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of implanting the operable restriction device further comprises at least one of step a) and b);

a) implanting, in the patient, a motor adapted to operate the restriction device, or

b) implanting, in the patient, a pump adapted to operate the restriction device.

14. The method for treating a patient suffering from anal incontinence by implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

cutting the skin of the patient,

inserting at least one dissecting tool,

dissecting an area of a fecal passageway using said at least one dissecting tool,

placing, in the patient, an operable restriction device adapted to be energized by a source of energy,

placing the operable restriction device in the dissected area, and

forming a restricted fecal passageway, wherein the operable restriction device is adapted to change the opening of the fecal passageway, controlled from outside the patient'"'"'s body,

wherein the step of placing the operable restriction device in the patient further comprises the steps of;

implanting, in the patient, an operation device and a gearbox, wherein the operation device comprises a motor, or a motor and a pump.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method of implanting the anal incontinence treatment apparatus further comprises the method step of:

operating the operable restriction device, using the operation device and the gearbox.

16. The method for treating a patient suffering from anal incontinence by implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

cutting the skin of the patient,

inserting at least one dissecting tool,

dissecting an area of a fecal passageway using said at least one dissecting tool,

placing, in the patient, an operable restriction device adapted to be energized by a source of energy,

placing the operable restriction device in the dissected area,

forming a restricted fecal passageway, wherein the operable restriction device is adapted to change the opening of the fecal passageway, controlled from outside the patient'"'"'s body, and

placing, in the patient, implantable electrical components, including placing, in the patient, at least one implantable voltage level guard, adapted to power the anal incontinence treatment apparatus.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising the method of:

operating the powered operable restriction device, using the at least one implantable voltage level guard.

18. A method for treating a patient suffering from anal incontinence by implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

cutting the skin of the patient,

inserting at least one dissecting tool,

dissecting an area of a fecal passageway using said at least one dissecting tool,

placing, in the patient, an operable restriction device adapted to be energized by a source of energy,

placing the operable restriction device in the dissected area,

forming a restricted fecal passageway, wherein the operable restriction device is adapted to change the opening of the fecal passageway, controlled from outside the patient'"'"'s body,

placing an internal data communicator adapted to communicate with an external data communicator intended to be placed outside the patient'"'"'s body,

communicating by the external communicator with the internal data communicator implantable in the patient, and

feeding data from the internal data communicator related to the patient or operable restriction device back to the external data communicator.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the operable restriction device comprises an electrically powered hydraulically operable restriction device, wherein the anal incontinence treatment apparatus comprises a reservoir and an operation device, wherein the step of placing the operable restriction device in the patient, further comprising the steps of:

placing, in the patient, the electrically powered hydraulically operable restriction device,

placing a reservoir adapted to contain hydraulic fluid,

placing an operation device, adapted to operate the hydraulically operable restriction device to move hydraulic fluid between the reservoir and the hydraulically operable restriction device and back, to restrict or release the hydraulically operable restriction device.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

operating from outside the patient'"'"'s body the hydraulically operable restriction device, using the operation device and the hydraulic fluid of the reservoir, and

moving hydraulic fluid between the reservoir and the hydraulically operable restriction device and back, to restrict or release the hydraulically operable restriction device.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method of implanting the anal incontinence treatment apparatus uses an implantable energy transforming device for the method step of:

placing, in the patient, the energy transforming device adapted to transform wireless energy into an energy form different than the wireless energy used in connection with the operation of the restriction device.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method of implanting the anal incontinence treatment apparatus comprises the method steps of;

providing an external source of energy,

controlling the external source of energy to release wireless energy,

transforming the wireless energy by the energy transforming device into an energy form different than the wireless energy, and

using the different energy form in connection with the operation of the restriction device.

23. The method for treating a patient suffering from anal incontinence by implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

cutting the skin of the patient,

inserting at least one dissecting tool,

dissecting an area of a fecal passageway using said at least one dissecting tool,

placing, in the patient, an operable restriction device adapted to be energized by a source of energy,

placing the operable restriction device in the dissected area, and

forming a restricted fecal passageway, wherein the operable restriction device is adapted to change the opening of the fecal passageway, controlled from outside the patient'"'"'s body,

wherein the method step of inserting at least one dissecting tool, further comprising the steps of;

inserting and placing at least two laparascopic trocars in the patient'"'"'s body,

inserting the at least one dissecting tool through at least one of the trocars, and

inserting a camera in another of the trocars, and wherein the method further comprising the steps of;

placing an energy transforming device adapted to transform wireless energy into an energy form different than the wireless energy used in connection with the operation of the restriction device, and

placing, in the patient, an implantable source of energy adapted to store energy from the energy transforming device in the internal source of energy.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the method of implanting the anal incontinence treatment apparatus comprises the method steps of;

providing an external source of energy,

controlling the external source of energy to release wireless energy,

transforming the wireless energy by the energy transforming device into an energy form different than the wireless energy, and

using the different energy form in connection with the operation of the restriction device.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the method of implanting the anal incontinence treatment apparatus uses an implantable stabilizer for the method step of:

placing, in the patient, the implantable stabilizer, adapted to be able to stabilize the energy transformed by the energy transforming device.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the operable restriction device comprises;

an electrically powered hydraulically operable restriction device, wherein the anal incontinence treatment apparatus comprises a reservoir and an operation device, wherein the step of placing the operable restriction device in the patient further comprises the steps of;

placing, in the patient, the electrically powered hydraulically operable restriction device,

placing a reservoir adapted to contain hydraulic fluid,

placing an operation device adapted to operate the hydraulically operable restriction device to move hydraulic fluid between the reservoir and the hydraulically operable restriction device and back, to restrict or release the hydraulically operable restriction device.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising:

operating, from outside the patient'"'"'s body, the hydraulically operable restriction device, using the operation device and the hydraulic fluid of the reservoir, and

moving hydraulic fluid between the reservoir and the hydraulically operable restriction device and back, to restrict or release the hydraulically operable restriction device.

28. The method for treating a patient suffering from anal incontinence by implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus,

the method comprising the steps of:

cutting the skin of the patient,

inserting at least one dissecting tool,

dissecting an area of a fecal passageway using said at least one dissecting tool,

placing, an operable restriction device adapted to be energized by a source of energy,

placing the operable restriction device in the dissected area, and

forming a restricted fecal passageway, wherein the operable restriction device is adapted to change the opening of the fecal passageway, controlled from outside the patient'"'"'s body,

wherein the method step of inserting at least one dissecting tool, further comprising the steps of;

inserting and placing at least two laparascopic trocars in the patient'"'"'s body,

inserting the at least one dissecting tool through at least one of the trocars, and

inserting a camera in another of the trocars, and

wherein the step of placing the operable restriction device in the patient, further comprising the steps of;

implanting, in the patient, the operation device and the gearbox, wherein the operation device comprises a motor, or a motor and a pump.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the method of implanting the anal incontinence treatment apparatus further comprises the method step of:

operating the operable restriction device, using the operation device and the gearbox.

30. The method for treating a patient suffering from anal incontinence by implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus,

the method comprising the steps of:

cutting the skin of the patient,

inserting at least one dissecting tool,

dissecting an area of a fecal passageway using said at least one dissecting tool,

placing, in the patient, an operable restriction device adapted to be energized by a source of energy,

placing the operable restriction device in the dissected area, and

forming a restricted fecal passageway, wherein the operable restriction device is adapted to change the opening of the fecal passageway, controlled from outside the patient'"'"'s body,

wherein the method step of inserting at least one dissecting tool, further comprising the steps of;

inserting and placing at least two laparascopic trocars in the patient'"'"'s body,

inserting the at least one dissecting tool through at least one of the trocars, and

inserting a camera in another of the trocars, and wherein the method further comprising the steps of;

placing, in the patient, implantable electrical components, including

placing, in the patient, at least one implantable voltage level guard adapted to power the anal incontinence treatment apparatus.

31. The method according to claim 30, comprising the method step of:

operating the powered operable restriction device, using the at least one implantable voltage level guard.

32. The method for treating a patient suffering from anal incontinence by implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus,

the method comprising the steps of:

cutting the skin of the patient,

inserting at least one dissecting tool,

dissecting an area of a fecal passageway using said at least one dissecting tool,

placing, in the patient, an operable restriction device adapted to be energized by a source of energy,

placing the operable restriction device in the dissected area, and

forming a restricted fecal passageway, wherein the operable restriction device is adapted to change the opening of the fecal passageway, controlled from outside the patient'"'"'s body,

wherein the method step of inserting at least one dissecting tool, further comprising the steps of;

inserting and placing at least two laparascopic trocars in the patient'"'"'s body,

inserting the at least one dissecting tool through at least one of the trocars, and

inserting a camera in another of the trocars, and wherein the method further comprising the steps of;

placing, in the patient, the implantable stabilizer adapted to be used when powering the operable restriction device.

33. The method according to claim 32, comprising the method of:

operating the powered operable restriction device, using the at least one implantable stabilizer.

34. The method for treating a patient suffering from anal incontinence by implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus,

the method comprising the steps of:

cutting the skin of the patient,

inserting at least one dissecting tool,

dissecting an area of a fecal passageway using said at least one dissecting tool,

placing, in the patient, an operable restriction device adapted to be energized by a source of energy,

placing the operable restriction device in the dissected area, and

forming a restricted fecal passageway, wherein the operable restriction device is adapted to change the opening of the fecal passageway, controlled from outside the patient'"'"'s body,

wherein the method step of inserting at least one dissecting tool, further comprising the steps of;

inserting and placing at least two laparascopic trocars in the patient'"'"'s body,

inserting the at least one dissecting tool through at least one of the trocars,

inserting a camera in another of the trocars, and wherein the method further comprising the steps of;

implanting, in the patient, a receiving coil antenna comprising a resonant circuit comprising a capacitor and a coil for receiving transmitted wireless energy, wherein said resonant circuit is tuned to the same frequency as the transmitted wireless energy.

35. The method for treating a patient suffering from anal incontinence by implanting an anal incontinence treatment apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

cutting the skin of the patient,

inserting at least one dissecting tool,

dissecting an area of a fecal passageway using said at least one dissecting tool,

placing, in the patient, an operable restriction device adapted to be energized by a source of energy,

placing the operable restriction device in the dissected area, and

forming a restricted fecal passageway, wherein the operable restriction device is adapted to change the opening of the fecal passageway, controlled from outside the patient'"'"'s body, and

implanting in the patient a receiving coil antenna comprising a resonant circuit comprising a capacitor and a coil for receiving transmitted wireless energy, wherein said resonant circuit is tuned to the same frequency as the transmitted wireless energy.