The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 12, 1995
Filed:
May. 12, 1993
Lubomyr I Kuzmak, Livingston, NJ (US);
Other;
Abstract
An adjustable gastric banding device for regulating the size of a stoma opening in the stomach of a patient includes an elongate band portion that encircles the stomach so as to limit the food intake by the digestive portion of the stomach. The device can be readily implanted and removed using laparoscopic procedures. A locking element protruding from a location near the distal end of the encircling band portion is inserted into a slot formed in a receiving segment at an intermediate location along the encircling band portion so as to form a circle or loop of fixed diameter. The receiving segment has a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the encircling band portion and of the rear portion of the band. A moveable bolt secures the locking element in the slot. The bolt can be displaced remotely, thus releasing the locking element and allowing easy laparoscopic removal of the banding device. The entire circumference of the stomach encircling band portion is covered by an expandable section in contact with the surface of the stomach. The size of the stoma opening can be adjusted by injecting into or removing fluid from the expandable section.