US 8,540,679 B2 · Controlled detachment of intra-luminal medical device

Abstract

An intra-luminal medical device includes a fixation mechanism to attach the medical device to tissue within a body lumen, and a detachment mechanism to permit selective detachment of the medical device from the tissue attachment site without the need for endoscopic or surgical intervention. An electromagnetic device may be provided to mechanically actuate the detachment mechanism. Alternatively, a fuse link may be electrically blown to detach the medical device. As a further alternative, a rapidly degradable bonding agent may be exposed to a degradation agent to detach the medical device from a bonding surface within the body lumen. The medical device may eliminate problems associated with uncertain and inconsistent detachment of intra-luminal medical devices.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A medical device comprising:

a device housing sized for introduction into and residence completely within a gastrointestinal tract;
a fixation mechanism to attach the device housing to a surface within the gastrointestinal tract;
a controlled detachment mechanism mechanically actuating the fixation mechanism to selectively detach the device housing from the surface of the gastrointestinal tract without endoscopic intervention, wherein the detachment mechanism comprises a fuse link;
and
a controller responsive to a control signal, wherein the controller activates the controlled detachment mechanism to apply current across the fuse link, and wherein the medical device remains completely within the gastrointestinal tract until after the device is detached from the surface, and wherein after the device is detached from the surface the device passes through the gastrointestinal tract for excretion by the patient.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Controlled detachment of intra-luminal medical device

Life of this patent

Controlled detachment of intra-luminal medical device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22