| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090062824 | Magnetic gastric band or the like, and related methods - A structure that can be used as a gastric band (and that may also have other uses as an implant elsewhere in a patient) includes a plurality of magnetic elements in a serial array that can be implanted so that the array extends in a circumferential direction around the patient's stomach (or other body tissue structure in the patient). Circumferentially adjacent magnetic elements magnetically attract one another to apply radial pressure to the tissue structure encompassed by the array, but those elements can also move apart in response to sufficient outward pressure from the encompassed tissue structure and/or the contents of (e.g., food in) that tissue structure. When used as a gastric band, the device can provide resistance to excessive food intake, which can help promote weight loss. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20100069954 | CLOSURE DEVICES, RELATED DELIVERY METHODS AND RELATED METHODS OF USE - A device for sealing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the heart is provided. The device includes a left atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a left atrium of the heart, a right atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a right atrium of the heart, and an elongate member adapted to extend through the passageway and connect the left and right atrial anchors. The right atrial anchor preferably includes a plurality of arms and a cover attached to the arms. The left atrial anchor preferably also includes a plurality of arms and preferably does not include a cover. Preferably, the elongate member has a first end fixedly connected to the left atrial anchor and a portion, proximal to the first end, passing through the right atrial anchor. Preferably, the elongate member is flexible. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100076573 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BODY TISSUE SPHINCTERS AND THE LIKE - A plurality of structures that resiliently attract one another are provided for implanting in a patient around a body tissue structure of the patient. For example, the body tissue structure may be the esophagus, and the plurality of structures may be implanted in an annulus around the outside of the esophagus, the annulus being substantially coaxial with the esophagus. The attraction may be between annularly adjacent ones of the structures in the annulus, and it may be provided, for example, by magnets or springs. The array of structures is preferably self-limiting with respect to the smallest area that it can encompass, and this smallest area is preferably large enough to prevent the apparatus from applying excessive pressure to tissue passing through that area. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100234881 | PFO CLOSURE DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS OF USE - Devices and methods for sealing a passageway formed by a patent foramen ovale (PFO track) in the heart are provided. One method includes providing an abrading device to the PFO track and abrading the tissue within the PFO track. The abraded tissue forming the PFO track is then held together under pressure, either via lowering right atrial pressure or via applying suction to the septum primum to pull it into apposition against the septum secundum. After a sufficient period of time, the pressure is released and the abraded tissue heals to form a robust seal over the PFO track. Additionally, several devices are provided which can be placed into the PFO track to apply adhesive to the walls of the PFO track. The devices may or may not be left within the PFO track. If the devices are not left within the PFO track, the walls of the PFO track, covered with adhesive, are brought into apposition with one another and adhered together. If the device is left within the PFO track, the device is flattened from an expanded configuration to a flattened configuration, and the walls of the PFO track, adhering to the outer surface of the device, are pulled toward each other as the device flattens. The device may also include interior structure to hold the device in a flattened configuration. | 09-16-2010 |
