IMPLANTABLE PUMP SYSTEM WITH CALIBRATION

• US 20100010291A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery US, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Birk, Janel A., Snow, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 8,376,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0053 remotely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0059 with wireless means

Abstract

A system for facilitating obesity control includes an inflatable gastric banding device, a fluid reservoir couplable to the inflatable portion, and an implantable fluid handling device coupled to the fluid reservoir and the inflatable portion. The fluid handling device includes remotely operable components housed in a biocompatible housing. The fluid handling device includes a micropump effective to pump fluid to the band and a flow sensor. The system also includes a controller/microprocessor including an algorithm programmed to automatically calibrate the pump using data from the flow sensor, prior to adjustments made to the inflation of the gastric band.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating obesity control comprising:

a gastric banding device including an inflatable portion;

a fluid reservoir couplable to the inflatable portion;

an implantable fluid handling device couplable to the fluid reservoir and the inflatable portion, and including

a pump;

a first valve;

a second valve;

a flow measurement device; and

a controller/microprocessor system in communication with the implantable fluid handling device and including an algorithm programmed to automatically calibrate the pump.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller/microprocessor system comprises an external microcontroller.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the algorithm is programmed to calibrate the pump prior to initiation of a pumping operation for adjusting volume of the inflatable portion.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the algorithm comprises a sequence of operation of the flow measurement device, the first valve, the second valve and the pump.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the pump is in line with the first valve.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the flow measurement device is in line with the second valve.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the pump is a one way pump.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the pump is in parallel with the flow measurement device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the algorithm includes a calculation of an actual pump rate based on repeated measurements of pressure and flow rate during inflating or draining the inflatable portion.

10. A method of adjusting a stoma size of a gastric banding patient having an implanted gastric band, the method comprising the steps of:

remotely commanding an adjustment of a volume of fluid in an inflatable portion of an implanted gastric band;

calibrating a pump in fluid communication with the inflatable portion of the gastric band including initiating a sequence of operation of a pump and a pressure and/or flow sensor; and

activating the calibrated pump to cause adjustment to the volume of fluid in the inflatable portion of the implanted gastric band.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the initiating a sequence of operation includes initiating a sequence of operation of the pump, the pressure and/or flow sensor;

and a valve.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the initiating a sequence of operation includes initiating a sequence of operation of the pump, the pressure and/or flow sensor, a first valve and a second valve.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of calibrating includes calculating an actual pump rate based on at least two flow parameters measured by the flow sensor.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of calibrating includes calculating an actual pump rate based on measured pressures and flow rates.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of calibrating includes activating the pump for a predetermined number of pump cycles.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the predetermined number of pump cycles is based on at least one of a fixed number, a pressure measurement, and a requested volume measurement.