External sensing system for gastric restriction devices
First Claim
1. A method of adjusting a restriction device that affects a size of a gastric lumen of a patient, to produce a desired flow condition within the lumen, the method comprising:
- administering a volume of a test substance to the patient;
detecting with a sensor a presence of the test substance flowing within the lumen, wherein the sensor produces an output signal that is correlated with a movement of the test substance within the gastric lumen and past the restriction device; and
adjusting the restriction device so that the output signal from the sensor indicates the presence of the desired flow condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus useful for monitoring fluid flow past a gastric restriction device using noninvasive means are described. Some methods involve the use of acoustic energy, e.g., Doppler ultrasound, to monitor the passage of fluid past the restriction device, and apparatus to detect the acoustic energy. In some embodiments the method detects a sound-producing fluid using a microphone, stethoscope, or ultrasound probe and detector combination. In some embodiments, there are described methods of using Doppler ultrasound to monitor the flow of a fluid through a stomal opening, allowing a flow condition, e.g., a flow rate, to be determined, so that a physician can accurately adjust the gastric restriction device.
98 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting a restriction device that affects a size of a gastric lumen of a patient, to produce a desired flow condition within the lumen, the method comprising:
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administering a volume of a test substance to the patient; detecting with a sensor a presence of the test substance flowing within the lumen, wherein the sensor produces an output signal that is correlated with a movement of the test substance within the gastric lumen and past the restriction device; and adjusting the restriction device so that the output signal from the sensor indicates the presence of the desired flow condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A kit for use in a method of measuring flow in a stomach past a gastric restriction device, the kit comprising:
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at least one standardized test substance of known approximate volume; and instructions on the use of the at least one standardized test substance in a method of measuring a flow of the test substance in the stomach and past the gastric restriction device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for detecting movement of a test substance in a stomach lumen past a gastric restriction device, comprising:
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an acoustic-energy detector configured to detect sound energy having at least one of a frequency and an intensity that correlates with movement of the test substance within the stomach lumen and past the gastric restriction device; and an adjustment module that operates to adjust the gastric restriction device to change a dimension of the stomach lumen, and wherein the adjustment module is coupled to the acoustic-energy detector. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A gastric flow-detection system, comprising:
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a flow-detection module, comprising; an acoustic-energy detector configured to detect sound that correlates with movement of a test substance within a patient'"'"'s stomach lumen and past a gastric restriction device that has been placed in the patient; and an attachment module that is coupled to the flow-detection module, the attachment module being attachable to the body of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A system for detecting movement of a test substance in a patient'"'"'s stomach lumen past a gastric restriction device, comprising:
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means for detecting acoustic energy that correlates with movement of the test substance within the stomach lumen and past the gastric restriction device; and means for indicating a parameter of flow of the test substance flowing in the stomach lumen and past the gastric restriction device. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An apparatus for detecting movement of a test substance in a stomach lumen past a gastric restriction device, comprising:
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an acoustic-energy detector configured to detect sound energy having at least one of a frequency and an intensity that correlates with movement of the test substance within the stomach lumen and past the gastric restriction device; and a display that indicates a parameter of flow of the test substance flowing in the stomach lumen and past the gastric restriction device; wherein the display is coupled to the acoustic-energy detector.
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55. A system for ascertaining flow of fluid passing through a restricted portion of a gastric lumen of a patient, the system comprising:
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a test fluid comprising a carrier fluid and a metal; and a metal detector configured to output a signal corresponding, at least in part, to flow of the test fluid through the restricted portion of the gastric lumen. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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Specification