CLOSURE SYSTEM FOR TUBULAR ORGANS

• US 20110040141A1
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery US, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bachmann, Michel, Imbert, Christian, Jordan, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 8,377,081 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 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0066 Closing devices for gastric bands

Abstract

In one embodiment, a surgically implantable adjustable ring comprises a ring body, which includes a closure system having first and second end parts. The ring body is designed to be closed around a tubular organ by the closure system, constricting the tubular organ by forming a loop. The first end part is shaped like a sleeve having a first and second end portions, and is designed to receive the second end part of the ring. The sleeve is substantially perpendicular to the main direction of the first end part of the ring, and the second end part of the ring includes a locking protrusion adapted to hold the sleeve in position, securing the ring in a closed position by engaging the locking protrusion in an opening disposed on the sleeve.

Claims

1. A surgically implantable adjustable gastric ring for constricting an organ, the adjustable gastric ring comprising:

a ring having a first end part and a second end part, the ring being designed to be closed around the organ;

the first end part including a sleeve being designed to receive the second end part, the sleeve including a first aperture; and

the second end part including a locking protrusion adapted to engage the first aperture in the sleeve, thereby securing the ring in a closed position;

wherein the sleeve includes a second aperture and a first reinforcement flange, the second aperture disposed substantially parallel to the first aperture, and the first reinforcement flange being located adjacent to and in between the first aperture and the second aperture.

2. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 1, wherein the locking protrusion and the first aperture comprise a closure system.

3. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has a first portion and a second portion, the sleeve having a tab extending from the second portion, the sleeve being disposed in a substantially perpendicular direction in relation to the direction of the first end part.

4. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 3, further comprising a second reinforcement flange positioned between the first aperture and the first portion of the sleeve.

5. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 1, wherein the second aperture comprises a flexible portion of the sleeve, the flexible portion being more flexible than the remaining portion of the sleeve.

6. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 1, wherein the first reinforcement flange is disposed transversally to the external perimeter of the ring.

7. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 1, wherein the ring is made of a biocompatible elastomeric material.

8. A surgically implantable adjustable gastric ring closure system comprising:

a ring;

a first end part including;

a sleeve having a first portion;

a second portion defining a first aperture;

a third portion defining a flexible portion being more flexible than the first portion of the sleeve, the second portion positioned between the first and third portions;

a first reinforcement flange disposed adjacent to and in between the first aperture and the flexible portion; and

a second end part including a locking element, the first end part and the second end part positioned at opposite ends of the ring.

9. The closure system of claim 8, further comprising a second reinforcement flange positioned at the first portion.

10. The closure system of claim 8, wherein the locking element comprises a protrusion extending from the second end part.

11. The closure system of claim 8, wherein the flexible portion comprises a second aperture.

12. The closure system of claim 11, wherein the second aperture remains substantially unfilled when the closure system is in a closed position.

13. The closure system of claim 8, wherein the second end part and at least one of the portions of the first end part are substantially perpendicular to one another.

14. The closure system of claim 8, wherein the flexible portion has adjacent sides and a side reinforcement flange is positioned at each of the adjacent sides.

15. The closure system of claim 8, further comprising adjusting means to adjust a diameter of the ring.

16. The closure system of claim 15, wherein the adjusting means is a wire.

17. The closure system of claim 8, wherein the third portion includes a tab made of a flexible material.

18. A surgically implantable adjustable gastric ring comprising:

a first end part and a second end part of the ring;

the ring being designed to be closed around a tubular organ towards the first end part of the ring and the second end part of the ring by a closure system to adjust the diameter of the tubular organ by forming a loop, the first end part of the ring forming a sleeve having a first end portion and a second end portion;

the sleeve designed to receive the second end part of the ring, the sleeve main axis being defined along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the main direction of the first end part of the ring; and

the second end part of the ring including a locking protrusion adapted to hold the sleeve and thereby secure the ring in a closed position, the first end portion of the sleeve including a tab extending away from the second end portion of the sleeve;

wherein the tab comprises a flexible portion being more flexible than the remaining part of the tab such as to prevent an accidental opening of the closure system.

19. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 18, wherein the flexible portion comprises a hole.

20. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 19, further comprising reinforcement flanges positioned adjacent to the hole.

21. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 18, wherein the flexible portion is made thinner than the tab.

22. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 18, wherein the flexible portion is positioned close to the closure system.

23. The adjustable gastric ring of claim 18, wherein the flexible portion is adjacent to the closure system.