| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080255601 | Apparatus and method for remote deflation of intragastric balloon - An intragastric balloon and apparatus for remote deflation of the balloon are disclosed. The apparatus for remote deflation allows the physician to cause the valve of the intragastric balloon to open without surgery using a remote control from outside of the body. The remote deflation mechanism may be powered internally by a battery or may be powered externally by induction. Additionally, a deflation mechanism that causes the entire valve to be separated from the intragastric balloon is disclosed. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20090082793 | RELEASABLY-SECURABLE ONE-PIECE ADJUSTABLE GASTRIC BAND - A releasably-securable gastric band ( | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090131968 | PRESSURE SENSING INTRAGASTRIC BALLOON - An intragastric balloon having a built-in sensor. The sensor may be used to monitor pressure within the balloon shell, or outside of the shell in the stomach. The sensor may be used after deflation of the intragastric balloon to monitor the pressure through the intestinal tract as the balloon migrates therethrough. An apparatus for remote deflation of the balloon may be utilized to allow a physician to deflate the intragastric balloon without surgery. The pressure sensor may be provided in a valve of the intragastric balloon which separates from the balloon and migrates as a capsule through the intestinal tract to monitor conditions therein. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090254052 | IMPLANTABLE DEVICE FASTENING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE - A surgical fastening system for implantable devices is disclosed. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around fit which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090259190 | IMPLANTABLE INJECTION PORT AND PROTECTIVE CAP - A surgical fastening system for implantable devices is disclosed. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around fit which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090259191 | IMPLANTABLE INJECTION PORT - A surgical fastening system for implantable devices is disclosed. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around fit which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090264827 | METHODS OF IMPLANTING AN INJECTION PORT - A surgical fastening system for implantable devices is disclosed. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around fit which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090264901 | IMPLANTABLE ACCESS PORT DEVICE AND ATTACHMENT SYSTEM - A system for attaching an access port to bodily tissue includes an access port assembly and including an access port having a generally central axis. The access port assembly further includes an attachment mechanism structured to enable the access port to be attached, for example, to an abdominal muscle of a patient. The delivery tool includes a handle having a generally longitudinal axis and a delivery head structured to engage the access port assembly, and an activation mechanism for enabling deployment of the attachment mechanism when the delivery head is so engaged with the access port assembly. The delivery tool is configured such that the longitudinal axis of the handle is spaced apart from the generally central axis of the access port when the delivery head is so engaged with the access port assembly. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090270904 | Remotely Adjustable Gastric Banding System - Presently described are systems for facilitating obesity control comprising: a gastric banding device including at least one inflatable member for containing fluid; a fluid reservoir; an implantable pump unit in communication with the fluid reservoir for controlling pressure within the inflatable member, the implantable pump unit including a piezoelectric diaphragm pump and a remote control device capable of communicating with the pump. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20100010291 | IMPLANTABLE PUMP SYSTEM WITH CALIBRATION - 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. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100042052 | METHODS OF OPERATING AN IMPLANTABLE INJECTION PORT SYSTEM - A surgical fastening system for implantable devices such as injection port systems. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around it which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100099945 | ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED VALVE FOR IMPLANTABLE FLUID HANDLING SYSTEM - 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 including one or more piezoelectric valves. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100174307 | REMOTE DEFLATION OF INTRAGASTRIC BALLOON - An intragastric balloon system for facilitating weight loss in a human or animal patient generally includes a flexible shell suitable for placement in a digestive track of a patient and capable of being inflated with a fluid. The system further includes a valve mechanism coupled to the shell, an actuator for opening the valve mechanism to effect release of fluid from the shell, and a remote control device capable of sending a signal from outside the patient to the actuator in order to effectuate deflation of the shell in vivo and without surgical intervention. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100305397 | HYDRAULIC-MECHANICAL GASTRIC BAND - An implantable banding system for treating obesity is disclosed. The implantable banding system includes a telemetric control unit, a gastric band having at least one inner fluid compartment and an outer mechanical adjustment mechanism, the at least one inner fluid compartment being filled with a fixed volume of fluid, and the outer mechanical adjustment mechanism comprising a device configured to adjust the gastric band through a variety of diameters, an implant circuit coupled to the device and configured to receive an adjustment signal to control the operations of the device, and a sensor positioned within the at least one inner fluid compartment, configured to monitor a parameter of the fixed volume of fluid, generate an adjustment signal based on the parameter and one or more parameter control limits, and automatically activate the device based on the adjustment signal or transmit the adjustment signal to the telemetric control unit. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100324358 | HYDRAULIC GASTRIC BAND WITH COLLAPSIBLE RESERVOIR - A self-regulating gastric band apparatus for adjusting stoma size. The apparatus includes an adjustable gastric band that has an inner ring expanding with injected fluid. A band adjustment assembly is provided for implanting with the gastric band that includes a sensor for sensing fluid pressure in the inner ring. The band adjustment assembly further includes a pump assembly connected to the expandable inner ring and to a controller that can operate the pump assembly to adjust the volume of the fluid in the band based on the sensed fluid pressure. The band adjustment assembly includes memory storing an operating range relative to a target fluid pressure, and the pump assembly is operated to maintain the sensed band pressure within the operating range. The target pressure being set to maintain pressure variations below a predefined variation limit generally corresponding with satiated fill volumes for a particular patient and implanted band. An elongated fluid reservoir may extend along a substantial part of a fill tube. A balloon-like expandable fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the pump assembly may store a volume of the fluid for adjusting the volume of fluid in the lumen. A protective outer sheath may be provided around the exterior of an expandable fluid reservoir in both a first, deflated state, and a second, inflated state of the reservoir. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110054248 | GASTRIC BAND WITH ELECTRIC STIMULATION - A gastric band system including a functional electrical stimulation component is provided. Stimulation electrodes on the gastric band may be used to stimulate the vagal nerve and/or splanchnic nerve, which can inhibit the patient's appetite. The gastric band may have an inflatable member for adjusting a stoma size. The stimulation electrodes may be mounted on the inflatable member. The system may include a controller including a pressure sensor for monitoring the hydraulic pressure within the inflatable inner member and for controlling the stimulation component. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110137112 | GASTRIC BAND WITH ELECTRIC STIMULATION - Apparatus and methods for stimulating one or more nerves by incorporating a gastric band system and an electrical stimulation component. Stimulation electrodes on the gastric band may be used to stimulate the vagal nerve and/or splanchnic nerve, which may inhibit the patient's appetite and/or control obesity. The gastric band may have an inflatable member for adjusting a stoma size. The stimulation electrodes may be mounted on the inflatable member. The system may include a controller including a pressure sensor for monitoring the hydraulic pressure within the inflatable inner member and for controlling the stimulation component. | 06-09-2011 |