Non-invasive pressure measurement in a fluid adjustable restrictive device

• US 20060211913A1
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Dlugos, Daniel F., Hassler, William L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,775,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12099 characterised by the location of the occluder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/135 inflatable for measuring blood pressure A61B5/022; inflatable pressure pads A61F5/34
• 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 2/004 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/26 Penis implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/414 by constricting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/415 by inflatable means
• 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 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• 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, which may process the pressure data, and may further provide a display to a user including information relating to the processed pressure data. Where the implantable restriction device comprises an adjustable gastric band, the one or more pressure sensors may be located in any number of the following locations: an injection port, an interface between the injection port and a catheter, in a catheter, in-line with a catheter, adjacent to a catheter, in a gastric band, in a gastric band buckle, or elsewhere.

Claims

1. A restriction system for forming a restriction in a patient, the system comprising:

(a) an implantable restriction device, wherein the implantable restriction device is operable to form a restriction in a patient;

(b) an implantable port in fluid communication with the implantable restriction device, wherein the implantable port is configured to receive fluid from a fluid source external to the patient;

(c) an implantable fluid conduit positioned between the implantable restriction device and the implantable port, wherein the implantable conduit is configured to permit communication of fluid from the implantable port toward the implantable restriction device, wherein the implantable conduit is further configured to permit communication of fluid from the implantable restriction device toward the implantable port;

(d) a fluid, wherein the fluid is located within each of the implantable restriction device, the implantable port, and the implantable fluid conduit; and

(e) an implantable pressure sensor, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is operable to sense the pressure of the fluid, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is further operable to communicate pressure data to an external monitor.

2. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the implantable restriction device comprises an adjustable gastric band.

3. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the restriction has a variable size, wherein the size is a function of pressure of the fluid.

4. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the implantable pressure sensor comprises a mechanically deformable surface in communication with the fluid, wherein the mechanically deformable surface is configured to deform in proportion to the pressure of the fluid.

5. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located within the implantable port.

6. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located at a junction between the implantable port and the implantable fluid conduit.

7. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located within the implantable fluid conduit.

8. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the implantable fluid conduit comprises a “

T”

-shaped portion, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located in the “

T”

-shaped portion.

9. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located in-line with the implantable fluid conduit.

10. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the implantable fluid conduit comprises a first catheter and a second catheter, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located between the first catheter and the second catheter.

11. The restriction system of claim 10, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located within a housing, wherein the housing is fixedly secured to the first catheter and the second catheter.

12. The restriction system of claim 10, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located within a housing, wherein the housing is removably secured to the first catheter and the second catheter.

13. The restriction system of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises barbed connectors configured to engage the first catheter and the second catheter.

14. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located within the implantable restriction device.

15. The restriction system of claim 1, wherein the implantable restriction device comprises a buckle, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located within the buckle.

16. The restriction system of claim 1, further comprising a second implantable pressure sensor, wherein the implantable pressure sensor is located in one of the implantable port or the implantable fluid conduit, and wherein the second implantable pressure sensor is located in one of the implantable fluid conduit or the implantable restriction device.

17. An implantable restriction system, the system comprising:

(a) a means for forming a restriction within a patient;

(b) a means for adjusting the restriction within the patient, wherein the means for adjusting the restriction comprises a fluid;

(c) a means for sensing pressure of the fluid, wherein the means for sensing pressure of the fluid is implantable within the patient;

(d) a means for processing fluid pressure data, wherein the means for processing fluid pressure data is located external to a patient; and

(e) a means for communicating pressure data obtained with the means for sensing pressure to the means for processing fluid pressure data.

18. A method of obtaining pressure data relating to fluid within an implantable restriction device, the method comprising:

(a) providing an implantable restriction system, wherein the implantable restriction system is operable to form a restriction within a patient, wherein the implantable restriction system comprises a fluid, wherein the size of the restriction is a function of the pressure of the fluid;

(b) obtaining pressure data, wherein the pressure data relates to the pressure of the fluid in the implantable restriction system, wherein the pressure data is obtained from one or more pressure sensors located within the patient;

(c) communicating the obtained pressure data to a processor located external to the patient;

(d) processing the pressure data, wherein the pressure data is processed using the processor located external to the patient; and

(e) providing a visual display relating to the processed pressure data.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting the pressure of the fluid in the implantable restriction system, wherein the act of adjusting is performed based on the visual display relating to the processed pressure data.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the act of adjusting comprises one or both of:

(i) adding fluid to the implantable restriction system, or

(ii) withdrawing fluid from the implantable restriction system.