Gastric restriction device data handling devices and methods

• US 8,591,395 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ortiz, Mark S., Plescia, David N., Dlugos, Daniel F. Jr., Yates, David C., Doll, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCBRIDE, SHANNON CANTY
• Application Number:
  US12/020,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20090192415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 600/37, 600/593, 600 29- 31, 600/485, 600/507, 606/151, 128897-899, 607/60, 607/61, 607/2, 607/42
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for handling data in an implantable restriction system. In general, the methods and devices allow collection, analysis, storage, and transmission of pressure measurements. Pressure measurement data can be compressed before storing it. Additionally, not all pressure data need be recorded or retained, such as data substantially equaling a resting or nominal pressure of an implantable restriction device indicative of little to no pressure variation and data indicative of isolated, non-recurring events. Any pressure measurement data that is recorded can be transmitted to an external device using power telemetrically provided by the external device.

Claims

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

using an implantable pressure sensing device to obtain pressure data over a period of time related to a pressure within an implantable restriction device configured to form a restriction in a patient;

determining a portion of the obtained pressure data which corresponds to a time within the period of time when a meal was consumed by the patient based on at least one of a time of day the pressure data was obtained and a duration of the obtained pressure data being above a nominal pressure level;

storing at least a portion of the obtained pressure data at the implantable pressure sensing device;

in response to a signal from an external device, downloading at least a portion of the stored data to the external device;

telemetrically providing power to the implantable pressure sensing device from the external device by moving the external device in proximity of the implantable pressure sensing device, wherein telemetrically providing power triggers a download of the portion of the stored data to the external device; and

discarding pressure data obtained during the period of time that does not correspond to the time within the period of time when the meal was consumed such that the discarded data is not downloaded to the external device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising compressing at least a portion of obtained pressure data prior to storing the at least a portion of the obtained pressure data at the implantable pressure sensing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the compressing includes using at least one compression technique selected from the group consisting of:

storing difference values, storing values, using a quantization table, using run-length coding, and using Huffman coding.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtained pressure data stored at the implantable pressure sensing device includes pressure values that exceed a nominal pressure within the implantable restriction device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the implantable pressure sensing device cannot download the stored pressure data without being supplied the power from the external device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the implantable pressure sensing device lacks an implantable power source to supply power for the download of the stored pressure data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein storing at least a portion of obtained pressure data comprises storing all the obtained pressure data.

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

obtaining pressure data related to a pressure within an implantable restriction device configured to form a restriction in a patient;

determining a portion of the obtained pressure data to retain prior to communicating pressure data to an external reading device, the determining comprising comparing the obtained pressure data with a pre-programmed pressure chosen by a user and indicating a nominal pressure within the implantable restriction device;

storing in an implantable memory the obtained pressure data that exceeds the pre-programmed pressure;

communicating the portion of the obtained pressure data stored in the memory to the external reading device;

determining to retain pressure data obtained during the pre-determined time of day and determining to not retain pressure data obtained outside the pre-determined time of day;

storing in the implantable memory any of the pressure data obtained during the pre-determined time of day; and

communicating the stored pressure data obtained during the pre-determined time of day.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pre-programmed pressure is a defined range of pressure values, and determining a portion of the pressure data to retain comprises determining if any of the obtained pressure data includes a value within the defined range of pressure values and determining to store the obtained pressure data in the implantable memory based on whether the obtained pressure data falls within the range.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating an alert for communication to the external reading device if any of the obtained pressure data includes a value that exceeds a threshold pressure value.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein storing in the implantable memory only the obtained pressure data that exceeds the pre-programmed pressure comprises storing the portion of the pressure data determined to be retained prior to communicating the portion of the obtained pressure data to the external reading device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising compressing the portion of the pressure data determined to be retained prior to storing the portion of the pressure data determined to be retained.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein obtaining pressure data includes reducing a rate of pressure data gathering during a determined period.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein determining a portion of the pressure data to retain includes processing the obtained pressure data using a pressure sensing device coupled to the implantable restriction device and configured to obtain the pressure data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein processing the obtained pressure data includes using a processor in electronic communication with the pressure sensing device.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the pre-programmed pressure is based on at least one of a historical performance of the implantable restriction device in the patient and a performance of the implantable restriction device in a typical patient.

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

using an implantable pressure sensing device to obtain pressure data over a period of time related to a pressure within an implantable restriction device configured to form a restriction in a patient;

storing at the implantable pressure sensing device an absolute value of the obtained pressure data at a start of the period of time;

storing at the implantable pressure sensing device difference values of the obtained pressure data relative to the absolute value for a remainder of the period of time after the start;

determining a portion of the obtained pressure data which corresponds to a time within the period of time when a meal was consumed by the patient based on at least one of a time of day the pressure data was obtained and a duration of the obtained pressure data being above a nominal pressure level; and

discarding pressure data obtained during the period of time that does not correspond to the time within the period of time when the meal was consumed such that the discarded data is not downloaded to an external device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising compressing at least one of the absolute value and the difference values prior to storage of the at least one of the absolute value and the difference values, wherein the compressing includes using at least one compression technique selected from the group consisting of:

using quantization table, using run-length coding, and using Huffman coding.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising communicating the stored absolute value and difference values from the pressure sensing device to the external device.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising using the implantable pressure sensing device to obtain pressure data over a second, subsequent period of time related to the pressure within the implantable restriction device;

storing at the implantable pressure sensing device an absolute value of the obtained pressure data at a start of the second period of time; and

storing difference values of the obtained pressure data for a remainder of the second period of time after the start of the second period of time.