CONTROLLING PRESSURE IN ADJUSTABLE RESTRICTION DEVICES

• US 20090171375A1
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Widenhouse, Christopher, Adams, Thomas E., Martin, David, Coe, Jonathan A., Ezolino, Juan S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0059 with wireless means

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for regulating a hydraulic restriction system including a restriction device. In general, the methods and devices can allow for non-invasive, transient pressure control. The methods and devices can also, in some embodiments, mechanically regulate pressure of the restriction device without using any electrical components that may need to be powered to operate over extended periods of time.

Claims

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

a restriction device configured to form a restriction in a pathway, an amount of restriction corresponding to an amount of fluid in the restriction device; and

a control mechanism coupled to the restriction device and configured to receive energy, and wherein energy supplied to the control mechanism is effective to increase a pressure of the fluid in the restriction device, and wherein the control mechanism defines a maximum pressure that the pressure cannot exceed.

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

a restriction device configured to form a restriction in a pathway;

a pumping mechanism configured to pump fluid between a fluid source and the restriction device; and

an energy release mechanism coupled to the pumping mechanism and configured to release stored potential energy to activate the pumping mechanism to pump fluid between a fluid source and the restriction device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein pumping fluid into the restriction device is effective to increase an amount of restriction formed by the restriction device.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising an energy storage mechanism coupled to the energy release mechanism and configured to store potential energy.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising an energy charging mechanism coupled to the energy storage mechanism and configured to receive energy and to transfer received energy to the energy storage mechanism.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the energy storage mechanism and the energy charging mechanism are in fluid communication with one another and wherein energy is released from the energy charging mechanism into the energy storage mechanism by transferring fluid from the energy charging mechanism into the energy storage mechanism.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the energy charging mechanism is configured to receive fluid from a second fluid source not in fluid communication with the restriction device.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the energy charging mechanism is configured to receive applied kinetic energy derived from movement of a patient having the energy charging mechanism implanted therein.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the energy storage mechanism is configured to receive energy converted from kinetic energy derived from movement of a patient having the energy charging mechanism implanted therein.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the energy release mechanism is configured to activate the pumping mechanism using a gear-driven system.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the pumping mechanism is configured to pump fluid in a single direction away from a fluid source and into the restriction device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the pumping mechanism is configured to allow release of fluid from the restriction device only when the energy release mechanism is not releasing stored potential energy to activate the pumping mechanism.

13. A method of forming a restriction in a patient, comprising:

applying energy to an energy charging mechanism that delivers the energy to an energy storage mechanism which stores the energy, the energy storage mechanism releasing the stored energy to cause fluid to flow from a fluid source into a restriction device that is implanted to form a restriction in a pathway.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein fluid flow from the fluid source into the restriction device increases an amount of restriction applied to the pathway by the restriction device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein applying energy comprises applying kinetic energy generated by movement of a patient having the restriction device implanted therein.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein applying energy comprises placing a magnetic device in proximity to the energy charging mechanism.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein, when energy is applied to the energy charging mechanism, fluid is transferred from the energy charging mechanism into the energy storage mechanism to deliver the energy to the energy storage mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, when the energy storage mechanism releases the stored energy, fluid is transferred from the energy storage mechanism to a fluid source.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein energy stored in the energy storage mechanism is released only when the energy charging mechanism is not delivering energy to the energy storage mechanism.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the energy storage mechanism releases energy to an energy release mechanism that causes a pumping mechanism to pump fluid from the fluid source into the restriction device.

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

a restriction device configured to form a restriction in a pathway;

a flexible pump coupled to the restriction device and configured to release fluid from a fluid source into the restriction device when the flexible pump is manually activated; and

a valve coupled to the restriction device and configured to open to allow fluid to flow out of the restriction device when a pressure of fluid in the restriction device is greater than a pre-set pressure limit.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the valve comprises a check valve.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the valve is coupled to the fluid source and configured to open to allow fluid to flow out of the restriction device and into the fluid source.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the pre-set pressure limit is adjustable.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the flexible pump is configured to be implanted beneath tissue and to be manually activated through tissue.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the flexible pump is configured to be manually activated from within a patient in which the flexible pump is implanted through movement of the patient.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising a valve coupled between the flexible pump and the restriction device and configured to allow the flexible pump to pump fluid in a single direction from a fluid source and into the restriction device.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the restriction device is effective to increase an amount of restriction formed by the restriction device when fluid is added thereto.

29. The system of claim 21, wherein the flexible pump is configured to pump fluid into the restriction device from an implanted fluid reservoir.

30. The system of claim 21, further comprising a second valve coupled to the restriction device and having a locked position and configured to open to allow fluid to flow from the restriction device and into the fluid source when manually released from the locked position.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the second valve is configured to be released from the locked position by moving an external device in proximity of an implanted location of the second valve.

32. A method of forming a restriction in a patient, comprising:

pumping a subcutaneous flexible pump that is coupled to a restriction device that is implanted to form a restriction in a pathway to cause fluid to flow from a fluid source into the restriction device, wherein, when a pressure of fluid in the restriction device is greater than a pre-set pressure limit of a valve coupled to the restriction device, the valve opens to allow fluid to flow out of the restriction device.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the flexible pump pumps fluid in a single direction from the fluid source toward the restriction device.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein fluid flows out of the restriction device toward the fluid source when a second valve coupled to the restriction device is manually released from a locked position.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising adjusting the pre-set pressure limit.