# US 8,540,679 B2 · Controlled detachment of intra-luminal medical device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,679 B2 - Document ID: US8540679B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/698,811 - Filed: 2010-02-02 - Published: 2010-08-26 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2004-03-30 - Assignees: Given Imaging Ltd. - Applicants: David A Dinsmoor; Mark A. Christopherson - Inventors: David A Dinsmoor; Mark A. Christopherson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540679B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/6882: {Anchoring means} - A61B 5/145: Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration or pH-value {; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid or cerebral tissue} (non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06) - A61B 5/14539: {for measuring pH} - A61N 1/372: Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators - A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, comprising a cavity including a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the cavity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the fuse link comprises fuse material that is vaporized or melted when current is applied to the fuse link. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a power source to power the detachment mechanism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The medical device of claim 4, wherein the power source includes a battery. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The medical device of claim 4, wherein the power source includes an inductive coupling circuit to generate power from an inductive element external to the gastrointestinal tract. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a telemetry circuit to receive the control signal as a telemetry signal from an external controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an inductive coupling circuit to sense the presence of an external inductive element as the control signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an inductive coupling circuit to generate power from an inductive element external to the gastrointestinal tract and thereby drive the detachment mechanism with the generated power. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the device housing is sized for introduction into the esophagus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the device housing is sized for passage through the gastrointestinal tract. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor, mounted to the device housing, to sense at least one condition within the gastrointestinal tract. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor, mounted to the device housing, to sense at least one of pH, flow, temperature, and pressure within the gastrointestinal tract. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, further comprising: an electrical pulse generator, mounted within the device housing, to generate an electrical stimulation waveform; one or more electrodes electrically coupled to the electrical pulse generator and mounted to the device housing to deliver the electrical stimulation waveform to the gastrointestinal tract. ### Claim 15 A method for attaching and detaching a medical device within the gastrointestinal tract of a patient, the method comprising: positioning the medical device at a target location within a gastrointestinal tract; activating a fixation mechanism carried by the medical device to attach the medical device to a surface within the gastrointestinal tract; and activating a controlled mechanically actuated detachment mechanism carried by the medical device to detach the medical device from the surface of the gastrointestinal tract without endoscopic intervention, wherein the detachment mechanism comprises a fuse link, and wherein the detachment mechanism is activated to apply current across the fuse link in response to receipt of a control signal from a controller external to the gastrointestinal tract, and wherein after the device is detached from the surface the device passes through the gastrointestinal tract for excretion by the patient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising a cavity including a vacuum port for application of vacuum pressure to draw tissue into the cavity, and activating a fixation mechanism includes applying vacuum pressure to the vacuum port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising powering the detachment mechanism with a battery carried by the medical device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising powering the detachment mechanism with power generated by an inductive coupling circuit carried by the medical device in response to inductive energy generated by an inductive element external to the gastrointestinal tract. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising activating the detachment mechanism in response to presence of an external magnetic source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising positioning the medical device within the esophagus of the patient. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising sensing at least one of pH, flow, temperature, and pressure within the gastrointestinal tract with a sensor carried by the medical device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: generating an electrical stimulation waveform; and delivering the electrical stimulation waveform to the tissue via one or more electrodes carried by the medical device.