Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.

Marcos Borrell

Sean Snow

Babak Honaryar

Joseph S Raven

Christopher S Mudd

Ahmet Tezel

Robert E Hoyt, Jr

Philip Bryer

Vernon Vincent

Christopher R Deuel

Paul O'Brien

Jason B Jacquet

Mark O'Donnell

Amy Tezel

Jeff Allen

Vern L Vincent

Jr Robert E Hoyt

In some embodiments, the present invention generally provides self-adjusting gastric banding systems for the treatment of obesity and obesity related conditions, as well as systems for allowing the automatic self-adjustment of gastric bands when a patient swallows a large bolus. In some embodiments, the present invention generally provides for gastric banding systems having a satiety booster, for example, to increase satiety levels when a patient desires to curb appetite at a particular time. In some embodiments, the present invention may provide for gastric banding systems that allow for both the automatic self-adjustment of gastric bands when a patient swallows a large bolus and an incorporated satiety booster for increasing satiety levels when a patient desires to curb appetite at a particular time.

Self-adjusting gastric band having various compliant components and/or a satiety booster

A self-adjusting gastric band applies a substantially constant force to a patient's fundus in order to facilitate weight control. The self-adjusting gastric band is capable of automatically relaxing and contracting in response to changes in the patient's fundus or in response to a large bolus passing through the patient's fundus that is constricted by the gastric band. The self-adjusting gastric band is automatically adjustable without hydraulic fluid and without external physician intervention. The self-adjusting gastric band comprises a movable member and a biasing mechanism coupled to the movable member to facilitate applying the substantially constant force against the fundus as the fundus changes size, shape and/or position.

Self-adjusting mechanical gastric band

An implantable device used in a gastric band system includes an access port, a tube coupled to the access port, and a shielding device covering a portion of the tube. The shielding device is positioned adjacent to the access port and covers the end of the tube coupled to the access port. The shielding device is made from a puncture resistant material, to protect the tube from puncture by a misplaced syringe needle inserted by a physician.

Implantable device to protect tubing from puncture

Generally described herein are apparatus, systems and methods related to utilizing a guiding tip to connect two open ends of respective tubes of a gastric banding system. More particularly, one of these tubes may include a barbed element at or near the point of connection which makes it difficult to connect the two tubes as the barbed element may be larger than an opening to receive the barbed element. The guiding tip provides a solution to this problem by acting as an interface between the barbed element and the receiving tube. In this manner, the sealing functionality of the barbed element may be retained while improving the ease of inserting the barbed element into the receiving tube.

Tube connector with a guiding tip

Generally described herein are devices, methods and systems related to detecting a leak present in a gastric banding system for the treatment of obesity. For example, a leak detector may include a syringe, a leak sensing unit and a needle, and may measure a pressure decay within a gastric banding system after the needle penetrates the patient's skin and is inserted into an access port connected to the gastric band of the gastric banding system. The pressure decay may be interpreted to determine if a leak is present in the gastric banding system.

Syringe-based leak detection system

The present invention provides a system for attaching a fluid access port to a patient. The system generally comprises an implantable access port with a bottom exit port and method for attaching an access port to a patient. In addition, a tube guard, flexible tube exit port, tissue guard, and porous coupling member are disclosed.

Implantable bottom exit port

The present invention provides a system for attaching a fluid access port to a patient. The system generally comprises an implantable access port and method for attaching an access port to a patient. In addition, a tube guard, tube shroud, tissue guard, porous coupling member and a prefabricated mesh member may be attached to the access port. For example, the prefabricated mesh may be coupled to the access port to facilitate securing the access port to the tissue of the patient.

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Goleta, CA, United States of America

Marcos Borrell