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US 8,012,162 B2Granted
Surgical ring featuring a reversible diameter remote control system
AssigneeAllergan, Inc.
InventorMichel Andre Bachmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention concerns a surgical ring, configured to be implanted around a biological organ having a pouch or a duct shape. A surgical ring according to the present invention forms a closed loop around the organ, altering its diameter. Variations in ring diameter are reversibly controlled by a system that, in one embodiment, includes a flexible filiform element slidably disposed within the body of the ring and coupled to a first extremity of the ring and also to an actuator disposed near a second extremity of the ring.
Claims22
An apparatus for regulating the functioning of a patient's organ or duct, comprising:
- an elongated member having a first end and a second end;
- a clip disposed on the first end of the elongated member, the clip configured to engage the second end of the elongated member so that the elongated member forms a loop around the organ or duct;
- a flexible element slidably disposed within the elongated member, the flexible element defining a helical screw thread and forming a free portion and a fixed portion;
- and
- an actuator disposed on the second end of the elongated member, the actuator engaging the free portion of the flexible element;
- wherein operation of the actuator draws the free portion of the flexible element therethrough, and the flexible element constricts the loop;
- wherein the actuator comprises a nut;
- and
- wherein the nut engages the helical screw thread, operation of the actuator causing the nut to draw the helical screw thread through the actuator.
6 more elements
An apparatus for gastric banding of a patient's stomach, comprising:
- an elongated member having a first end and a second end, and configured to be formed into a loop around a portion of a patient's stomach;
- an electric motor disposed on the second end of the elongated member;
- an actuator coupled to the electric motor;
- and
- a flexible element slidably disposed within the elongated member, the flexible element having a fixed end coupled to the first end of the elongated member and a free end that engages and extends through the actuator;
- wherein operation of the actuator draws the free end of the flexible element through the actuator and causes the flexible element to vary a diameter of the loop;
- and
- wherein the elongated member is reinforced on a dorsal periphery of the elongated member to prevent diametral expansion or contraction of the dorsal periphery of the elongated member during the operation of the actuator.
5 more elements
An apparatus for gastric banding of a patient's stomach, comprising:
- an elongated member having a first end and a second end, and configured to be formed into a loop around a portion of a patient's stomach;
- an electric motor disposed on the second end of the elongated member;
- an actuator coupled to the electric motor;
- and
- a flexible element slidably disposed within the elongated member, the flexible element having a fixed end coupled to the first end of the elongated member and a free end that engages and extends through the actuator;
- wherein operation of the actuator draws the free end of the flexible element through the actuator and causes the flexible element to vary a diameter of the loop;
- wherein the elongated member is reinforced on a dorsal periphery of the elongated member to prevent diametral expansion of the dorsal periphery of the elongated member;
- wherein the flexible element defines a helical screw thread;
- and
- wherein the helical screw thread comprises:
- a core wire;
- a first helical spring disposed on the core wire, the helical spring having a rectangular transverse profile;
- and
- a second helical spring interwound with the first helical spring, the second helical spring having first and second ends operatively coupled to the core wire end to maintain the pitch substantially constant.
11 more elements
An apparatus for gastric banding of a patient's stomach, comprising:
- an elongated member having a first end and a second end, and configured to be formed into a loop around a portion of a patient's stomach;
- an electric motor disposed on the second end of the elongated member;
- an actuator coupled to the electric motor;
- and
- a flexible element slidably disposed within the elongated member, the flexible element defining a helical screw thread and having a fixed end coupled to the first end of the elongated member and a free end that engages and extends through the actuator;
- wherein operation of the actuator draws the free end of the flexible element through the actuator and causes the flexible element to vary a diameter of the loop;
- wherein the elongated member is reinforced on a dorsal periphery of the elongated member to prevent diametral expansion of the dorsal periphery of the elongated member;
- wherein the actuator comprises a nut;
- wherein the nut engages the helical screw thread, operation of the actuator causing the nut to draw the helical screw thread through the actuator.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.