Magnetically coupled implantable pump system and method
AssigneeAllergan, Inc.
InventorMike Augarten
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnetically coupled, implantable pump system comprises an external controller and an implantable device. A non-implantable magnet in an external controller produces a magnetic field that couples the non-implantable magnet to a magnet in the implantable device. A non-implantable motor moves the non-implantable magnet in a rotational direction. When the non-implantable magnet moves in the rotational direction, a piston coupled to the magnet moves within the implantable device. As the piston moves, an amount of fluid from a reservoir in the implantable device moves out of the reservoir and into an inflatable portion of a gastric band. The implantable device may also move fluid out of the inflatable portion of the gastric band.
Claims26
A system for adjusting a gastric band having an inflatable portion, the system comprising:
- a non-implantable magnet producing a magnetic field;
- a non-implantable motor, coupled to the non-implantable magnet, for moving the non-implantable magnet in a rotational direction;
- and
- an implantable device comprising:
- a reservoir containing a fluid and coupled to the inflatable portion of the gastric band;
- a magnet magnetically coupled to the non-implantable magnet, the magnet rotating in response to the non-implantable magnet rotating;
- and
- a piston coupled to the magnet, the piston moving in response to the magnet rotating, causing a portion of the fluid in the reservoir to move into the inflatable portion of the gastric band.
A system for adjusting a gastric band having an inflatable portion, the system comprising:
- an external controller, comprising:
- a non-implantable magnet producing a magnetic field;
- a non-implantable motor, coupled to the non-implantable magnet, for moving the non-implantable magnet in a first direction and a second direction;
- and
- a drive shaft coupled between the non-implantable magnet and the non-implantable motor;
- and
- an implantable device comprising:
- a reservoir containing a fluid and coupled to the inflatable portion of the gastric band;
- a magnet magnetically coupled to the non-implantable magnet, the magnet moving in the first direction in response to the non-implantable magnet moving in the first direction, and the magnet moving in the second direction in response to the non-implantable magnet moving in the second direction;
- a piston coupled to the magnet;
- a seal coupled between the piston and the reservoir;
- and
- a screw drive coupled between the piston and the magnet for moving the piston within the implantable device, causing a first portion of the fluid in the reservoir to move into the inflatable portion of the gastric band in response to the magnet moving in the first direction, and causing a second portion of the fluid to move out of the inflatable portion of the gastric band in response to the magnet moving in the second direction.
A method for adjusting an inflatable portion of a gastric band, the method comprising:
- positioning an external controller proximate to a patient, the external controller comprising:
- a non-implantable magnet producing a magnetic field;
- and
- a non-implantable motor, coupled to the non-implantable magnet, for moving the non-implantable magnet in a first direction and a second direction;
- generating a magnetic field from the non-implantable magnet that magnetically couples the non-implantable magnet to a magnet of an implantable device, the implantable device comprising:
- a pump coupled to the magnet;
- and
- a reservoir containing a fluid;
- moving the magnet in the first direction in response to the non-implantable magnet moving in the first direction;
- moving the magnet in the second direction in response to the non-implantable magnet moving in the second direction;
- moving a first portion of the fluid in the reservoir into the inflatable portion of the gastric band in response to the magnet moving in the first direction;
- and
- moving a second portion of the fluid from the inflatable portion of the gastric band in response to the magnet moving in the second direction.
A system for adjusting a gastric band having an inflatable portion, the system comprising:
- a non-implanted, rotatable magnet, the magnet capable of producing a magnetic field;
- and
- an implantable device comprising:
- a reservoir containing a fluid and coupled to the inflatable portion of the gastric band;
- a second magnet magnetically coupled to the non-implanted magnet, the second magnet rotating in response to the non-implanted magnet rotating;
- and
- a piston coupled to the second magnet, the piston moving in response to the second magnet rotating, causing a portion of the fluid in the reservoir to move into or out of the inflatable portion of the gastric band.
An implantable system for adjusting a gastric band implanted in a patient for a treatment of obesity, the gastric band having an inflatable portion, the implantable system comprising:
- a reservoir containing a fluid, the reservoir being coupled to the inflatable portion of the gastric band;
- an internal magnet magnetically coupled to a magnet external to the patient, the internal magnet moving in response to the external magnet moving;
- and
- a piston coupled to the internal magnet, the piston moving in response to the internal magnet moving, thereby causing a portion of the fluid in the reservoir to move into or out of the inflatable portion of the gastric band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.