REMOTELY ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BANDING SYSTEM

• US 20110201875A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery US, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: STROUMPOULIS, Dimitrios
• Granted Patent: US 8,678,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0053 remotely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0056 using injection ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0059 with wireless means

Abstract

An implantable device comprises a reservoir that contains a fluid for filling an inflatable portion of a gastric band. A device is coupled to the reservoir and includes stored potential energy having a first state and a second state. The first state represents a higher level of potential energy and the second state represents a lower level of potential energy. The implantable device further comprises a filling valve coupled between the reservoir and the gastric band, and the filling valve is configured to be opened in response to a first telemetric signal. The stored potential energy decreases from the first state to the second state when the filling valve is open, and a filling amount of the fluid moves from the reservoir to the gastric band when the stored potential energy decreases from the first state to the second state.

Claims

1. An implantable device that uses potential energy to facilitate the movement of fluid to an inflatable portion of a gastric band, the implantable device comprising:

a filling reservoir for holding the fluid;

a first device operatively coupled to the filling reservoir, wherein the first device comprises stored potential energy that facilitates moving an amount of the fluid to the inflatable portion of the gastric band; and

a filling valve coupled between the filling reservoir and the gastric band, the filling valve being open or closed based on a first telemetric signal received from a remote transmitter, and when the filling valve is open, a portion of the stored potential energy is released causing the amount of the fluid to move from the filling reservoir into the inflatable portion of the gastric band, and when the filling valve is closed, a remaining amount of the stored potential energy remains stored in the first device.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first device is selected from a group consisting of a balloon, a peristaltic pump, a piston, a plunger, a compression spring, an extension spring, and combinations thereof.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a draining reservoir; and

a draining valve coupled between the draining reservoir and the gastric band, the draining valve being open or closed based on a second telemetric signal received from the remote transmitter, and when the draining valve is open, a portion of the fluid in the inflatable portion of the gastric band moves into the draining reservoir.

4. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the filling reservoir is selected from a group consisting of a syringe-plunger type reservoir, an expandable balloon type reservoir, and combinations thereof.

5. The implantable device of claim 1, further comprising a flow meter, coupled to the filling valve, for determining the amount of the fluid moving into the inflatable portion of the gastric band.

6. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the remote transmitter transmits the first telemetric signal to the filling valve, the first telemetric signal having data to control the opening or closing of the filling valve.

7. The implantable device of claim 3, wherein the filling valve and the draining valve are selected from a group consisting of a piezoelectric valve, a solenoid valve, and combinations thereof.

8. The implantable device of claim 3, wherein the filling valve and the draining valve are powered by inductive powering signals received from the remote transmitter.

9. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the fluid is an incompressible fluid.

10. The implantable device of claim 9, wherein the incompressible fluid is a saline solution.

11. The implantable device of claim 3, wherein the remote transmitter transmits the second telemetric signal to the draining valve, the second telemetric signal having data to control the opening or closing of the draining valve.

12. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the remote transmitter is not implantable into a body of a mammal.

13. The implantable device of claim 3, further comprising:

a sealed chamber that includes the filling reservoir and the draining reservoir; and

a piston disposed between the filling reservoir and the draining reservoir and between a filling end of the sealed chamber and a draining end of the sealed chamber, wherein the filling valve is coupled to the filling end and the draining valve is coupled to the draining end, wherein the piston moves toward the filling end of the sealed chamber in response to the portion of the stored potential energy being released, and wherein the volume of the filling reservoir and the volume of the draining reservoir change as the piston moves in the sealed chamber.

14. The implantable device of claim 13, wherein a vacuum pressure is generated in the draining reservoir in response to the piston moving toward the filling end of the sealed chamber, and wherein the vacuum pressure causes a draining amount of the fluid to be removed from the gastric band when the draining valve is open, wherein the draining amount of the fluid moves into the draining reservoir from the gastric band.

15. The implantable device of claim 3, further comprising:

a filling chamber comprising the filling reservoir and a filling pressure section, wherein a filling piston separates the filling reservoir and the filling pressure section;

a draining chamber comprising the draining reservoir and a draining pressure section, wherein a draining piston separates the draining reservoir and the draining pressure section; and

a pressure port connecting the filling chamber and the draining chamber.

16. The implantable device of claim 15, wherein the first device is operatively coupled to the filling piston, wherein the filling chamber is sealed such that the filling piston cannot move unless the filling valve is open, and when the filling valve is open, the filling piston moves from a first position to a second position in response to the portion of the stored potential energy being released, wherein the amount of the fluid includes a volume of the fluid displaced when the filling piston moves from the first position to the second position.

17. The implantable device of claim 16, wherein the pressure port facilitates equalizing a pressure in the filling pressure section and the draining pressure section, and wherein the draining chamber is sealed such that the draining piston cannot move unless the draining valve is open.

18. The implantable device of claim 17, wherein a vacuum pressure is generated in the filling pressure section and in the draining pressure section when the filling piston moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the vacuum pressure exerts a draining force on the draining piston.

19. The implantable device of claim 18, wherein the draining piston moves from a third position to a fourth position when the draining valve is open in response to the vacuum pressure exerting the draining force on the draining piston, and wherein a draining amount of the fluid is removed from the gastric band when the draining piston moves from the third position to the fourth position.

20. The implantable device of claim 19, wherein the filling valve and the draining valve are alternately opened and closed until substantially all of the fluid in the filling reservoir has moved to the draining reservoir, which represents and end-of-life condition of the implantable device.

21. The implantable device of claim 3, wherein the filling valve comprises a filling peristaltic pump operatively coupled to the filling reservoir and the gastric band, and wherein the draining valve comprises a draining peristaltic pump operatively coupled to the gastric band and the draining reservoir.

22. The implantable device of claim 21, wherein the first device is disposed within the filling peristaltic pump, and wherein the filling peristaltic pump comprises an arresting mechanism.

23. The implantable device of claim 22, wherein the first device releases the portion of the stored potential energy in response to the arresting mechanism being deactivated.

24. The implantable device of claim 21, wherein the filling reservoir comprises a deflatable reservoir.

25. The implantable device of claim 21, wherein the draining reservoir comprises a mammal body.

26. An implantable device, comprising:

a reservoir containing a fluid for filling an inflatable portion of a gastric band;

a device coupled to the reservoir, wherein the device comprises stored potential energy having a first state and a second state, wherein the first state represents a higher level of potential energy and the second state represents a lower level of potential energy; and

a filling valve coupled between the reservoir and the gastric band, wherein the filling valve is configured to be opened in response to a first telemetric signal, wherein the stored potential energy is configured to decrease from the first state to the second state in response to the filling valve being opened, and wherein a filling amount of the fluid is configured to be moved from the reservoir to the gastric band in response to the stored potential energy decreasing from the first state to the second state.

27. The implantable device of claim 26, further comprising:

a draining valve operatively coupled to the gastric band for removing a draining amount of the fluid from the gastric band; and

a draining reservoir coupled to the draining valve for receiving the draining amount of the fluid in response to the draining valve being opened, wherein the stored potential energy remains in the second state in response to the draining valve being opened.

28. A method for adjusting an inflatable gastric band of a gastric banding system, comprising:

opening a filling valve of the gastric banding system using a first telemetric signal;

releasing an amount of stored potential energy in a device coupled to a filling reservoir of the gastric banding system;

moving a filling amount of fluid from the filling reservoir to the inflatable gastric band in response to the releasing the amount of the stored potential energy;

reading a flow meter using a second telemetric signal to determine the filling amount has been moved into the inflatable gastric band; and

closing the filling valve using a third telemetric signal.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

opening a draining valve of the gastric banding system using a fourth telemetric signal;

utilizing an amount of stored energy to move a draining amount of fluid from the inflatable gastric band to the draining reservoir;

reading the flow meter using a fifth telemetric signal to determine the draining amount has been moved out of the inflatable gastric band; and

closing the draining valve using a sixth telemetric signal.

30. An implantable device that uses potential energy to facilitate the movement of fluid to an inflatable portion of a gastric band, the implantable device comprising:

a chamber comprising a reservoir for holding the fluid;

a device positioned within the chamber and having stored potential energy to expand from a first size to a second size; and

an gastric band inlet valve coupled between the reservoir and the gastric band, the gastric band inlet valve being open or closed based on a first telemetric signal received from a remote transmitter, and when the gastric band inlet valve is open, the stored potential energy is released causing the device to expand from the first size to the second size resulting in a portion of the fluid being removed from the reservoir and being moved into the inflatable portion of the gastric band, and when the gastric band inlet valve is closed, the device does not expand.

31. The implantable device of claim 30, further comprising a pouch disposed within the reservoir, wherein the fluid is disposed within the pouch.

32. The implantable device of claim 30, further comprising a second device positioned within a draining reservoir and having stored potential energy to move from a first position within the draining reservoir to a second position within the draining reservoir.

33. The implantable device of claim 32, wherein the second device is selected from a group consisting of a balloon, a peristaltic pump, a piston, a plunger, a compression spring, an extension spring, and combinations thereof.

34. An implantable device that uses potential energy to facilitate the movement of fluid to an inflatable portion of a gastric band, the implantable device comprising:

a filling reservoir for holding the fluid, wherein a volume of the filling reservoir is approximately 10 mL;

a spring operatively coupled to the filling reservoir, wherein the spring comprises stored potential energy that facilitates moving an amount of the fluid to the inflatable portion of the gastric band;

a filling valve coupled between the filling reservoir and the gastric band, the filling valve being open or closed based on a first telemetric signal received from a remote transmitter, and when the filling valve is open, a portion of the stored potential energy is released causing the amount of the fluid to move from the filling reservoir into the inflatable portion of the gastric band, and when the filling valve is closed, a remaining amount of the stored potential energy remains stored in the spring;

a draining reservoir;

a draining valve coupled between the draining reservoir and the gastric band, the draining valve being open or closed based on a second telemetric signal received from the remote transmitter, and when the draining valve is open, a portion of the fluid in the inflatable portion of the gastric band moves into the draining reservoir;

a flow meter for determining the amount of the fluid moving into or out of the inflatable portion of the gastric band;

a junction box comprising the filling valve, the draining valve, and the flow meter;

a hermetically sealed chamber that includes the filling reservoir and the draining reservoir; and

a piston disposed between the filling reservoir and the draining reservoir and between a filling end of the hermetically sealed chamber and a draining end of the hermetically sealed chamber, wherein the spring is coupled to the piston, wherein the filling valve is coupled to the filling end and the draining valve is coupled to the draining end, wherein the piston moves toward the filling end of the hermetically sealed chamber in response to the portion of the stored potential energy being released, and wherein the volume of the filling reservoir and the volume of the draining reservoir change as the piston moves in the hermetically sealed chamber.

35. The implantable device of claim 34, wherein the filling valve and the draining valve are selected from a group consisting of a piezoelectric valve, a solenoid valve, and combinations thereof.

36. The implantable device of claim 34, wherein the filling valve and the draining valve are powered by inductive powering signals received from the remote transmitter.

37. The implantable device of claim 34, further comprising a pouch disposed within the filling reservoir, wherein the fluid is disposed within the pouch.

38. The implantable device of claim 34, wherein a vacuum pressure is generated in the draining reservoir in response to the piston moving toward the filling end of the hermetically sealed chamber, and wherein the vacuum pressure causes a draining amount of the fluid to be removed from the gastric band when the draining valve is open, wherein the draining amount of the fluid moves into the draining reservoir from the gastric band.

39. An implantable device that uses potential energy to facilitate the movement of fluid to an inflatable portion of a gastric band, the implantable device comprising:

a filling reservoir for holding the fluid;

a spring operatively coupled to the filling reservoir, wherein the spring comprises stored potential energy that facilitates moving an amount of the fluid to the inflatable portion of the gastric band;

a filling valve coupled between the filling reservoir and the gastric band, the filling valve being open or closed based on a first telemetric signal received from a remote transmitter, and when the filling valve is open, a portion of the stored potential energy is released causing the amount of the fluid to move from the filling reservoir into the inflatable portion of the gastric band, and when the filling valve is closed, a remaining amount of the stored potential energy remains stored in the spring;

a filling chamber comprising the filling reservoir and a filling pressure section;

a filling piston separating the filling reservoir and the filling pressure section;

a draining chamber comprising the draining reservoir and a draining pressure section;

a draining piston separating the draining reservoir and the draining pressure section;

a pressure port connecting the filling chamber and the draining chamber, wherein the spring is operatively coupled to the filling piston, wherein the filling chamber is sealed such that the filling piston cannot move unless the filling valve is open, and when the filling valve is open, the filling piston moves from a first position to a second position in response to the portion of the stored potential energy being released, wherein the amount of the fluid includes a volume of the fluid displaced when the filling piston moves from the first position to the second position;

a draining valve coupled between the draining reservoir and the gastric band, the draining valve being open or closed based on a second telemetric signal received from the remote transmitter, and when the draining valve is open, a portion of the fluid in the inflatable portion of the gastric band moves into the draining reservoir;

a flow meter for determining the amount of the fluid moving into or out of the inflatable portion of the gastric band;

a junction box comprising the filling valve, the draining valve, and the flow meter; and

a fluid port for filling the filling reservoir with the fluid causing an increase in the stored potential energy of the spring.

40. The implantable device of claim 39, further comprising a second spring positioned within the draining reservoir and having second stored potential energy to move from a first position within the draining reservoir to a second position within the draining reservoir.

41. The implantable device of claim 39, wherein the pressure port facilitates equalizing a pressure in the filling pressure section and the draining pressure section, and wherein the draining chamber is sealed such that the draining piston cannot move unless the draining valve is open.

42. The implantable device of claim 41, wherein a vacuum pressure is generated in the filling pressure section and in the draining pressure section when the filling piston moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the vacuum pressure exerts a draining force on the draining piston.

43. The implantable device of claim 42, wherein the draining piston moves from a third position to a fourth position when the draining valve is open in response to the vacuum pressure exerting the draining force on the draining piston, and wherein a draining amount of the fluid is removed from the gastric band when the draining piston moves from the third position to the fourth position.

44. An implantable device that uses potential energy to facilitate the movement of fluid to an inflatable portion of a gastric band, the implantable device comprising:

a filling reservoir for holding the fluid;

a junction box coupled to the filling reservoir;

a flow meter disposed in the junction box, wherein the flow meter determines an amount of the fluid moving into or out of the inflatable portion of the gastric band;

a filling peristaltic pump coupled to the filling reservoir and the flow meter, wherein the filling peristaltic pump is disposed in the junction box, the filling peristaltic pump comprising;

a roller barrel configured to rotate, the roller barrel comprising a roller;

a co-axial compression arc;

a flexible tubing located between the roller barrel and the co-axial compression arc;

a locking bar configured to abut the roller to prevent the roller barrel from rotating;

an electromagnet that draws the locking bar away from the roller barrel and toward the electromagnet when the electromagnet is activated;

a first spiral spring comprising first stored potential energy, the first spiral spring releasing a portion of the first stored potential to cause the roller barrel to rotate when the locking bar retracts from the roller barrel, wherein the roller facilitates moving the amount of the fluid to the inflatable portion of the gastric band; and

a filling valve coupled between the filling reservoir and the gastric band, the filling valve being open or closed based on a first telemetric signal received from a remote transmitter, and when the filling valve is open, the portion of the first stored potential energy is released causing the amount of the fluid to move from the filling reservoir into the inflatable portion of the gastric band, and when the filling valve is closed, a remaining amount of the first stored potential energy remains stored in the first spiral spring;

a draining reservoir; and

a draining peristaltic pump coupled to the draining reservoir, the gastric band, and the flow meter, wherein the draining peristaltic pump is disposed in the junction box, the draining peristaltic pump comprising;

a second spiral spring comprising second stored potential energy to facilitate moving a draining amount of fluid out of the gastric band; and

a draining valve coupled between the draining reservoir and the gastric band, the draining valve being open or closed based on a second telemetric signal received from the remote transmitter, and when the draining valve is open, the draining amount of the fluid in the inflatable portion of the gastric band moves into the draining reservoir.

45. The implantable device of claim 44, wherein the filling reservoir comprises a deflatable reservoir.

46. The implantable device of claim 44, wherein the draining peristaltic pump comprises a draining arresting mechanism that releases a portion of the second stored potential energy in response to the draining arresting mechanism being deactivated.