Allergan, Inc.

Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.

Helix Medical, Inc.

Mentor Corporation

Bioenterics Corporation

Other

Baxter International Inc.

American Hospital Supply Corporation

Inamed Development Company

American Hospital Supply Company

Frederick L Coe

Janel A Birk

Robert E Hoyt, Jr

Edmund V Seder

Ray H Dormandy, Jr

Eric D Blom

Lubomyr I Kuzmak

Doye R Bridges

Donald L Hannula

Vernon L Vincent

Diego Murature

Michael E Lachman

Martin Mitchell

Michel Tuan Tran

Gregory M Smith

Robert E Hoyt

A mechanism for removing a fluid-filled object from a patient. The apparatus includes a deflation tube with a puncture member at one end of the tube for piercing a hole in the object wall. The apparatus includes a retrieval mechanism slidable within the deflation tube lumen. The retrieval mechanism includes an expansion element that is expandable when positioned within the object from a first configuration with a dimension less than that of the deflation tube lumen to a second or deployed configuration with a dimension that is greater than an outer dimension of the puncture member. The expansion element contacts an inner surface of the inflatable object as the deflation tube and retrieval mechanism are withdrawn from the body cavity. The expansion element may be a T-bar, a foldable anchor, an inflatable member, or another expandable form.

Intragastric balloon retrieval mechanisms

A remotely controllable gastric banding device () for placement around the stomach of a patient for the treatment of obesity. The device () comprises a gastric band () having an inflatable chamber () for adjusting the inner circumference of the band (), a pressurized reservoir () with a valve () for providing fluid to inflate the inflation chamber (), a valve () for releasing fluid from the inflatable chamber (), and a controller () for controlling the valves (). The controller () is remotely controllable from outside the patient.

Remotely adjustable gastric banding device

A surgical fastening system for implantable devices is disclosed. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around it which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi.

Implantable device fastening system

A surgical fastening system for implantable devices such as injection port systems. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around it which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi.

Implantable medical implants having fasteners

A surgical fastening system for implantable devices is disclosed. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around fit which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi.

Methods of deploying an implantable injection port

A gastric balloon and method of adding and removing fluid therefrom are disclosed. The gastric balloon includes a shell, a receiver, and a retractable tubing housed in the receiver and extendable from the stomach of a patient to the mouth of the patient. The shell is inflated and deflated from outside the body of the patient. The method of adding or removing fluid from the implanted gastric balloon includes steps of inserting a gastroscopic tool into the stomach of a patient and grasping an end of a retractable tubing housed in a receiver of the gastric balloon. Further steps of the method include withdrawing at least a portion of the retractable tubing from the stomach and out of a patient's mouth and adding or removing fluid from the gastric balloon via the retractable tubing withdrawn from the patient.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Frederick L Coe