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:
Nov. 11, 2014
Filed:
Feb. 13, 2012
Justin J. Schwab, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Tiago Bertolote, Goleta, CA (US);
Zachary P. Dominguez, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Mitchell H. Babkes, Santa Clarita, CA (US);
Richard Law, Newbury Park, CA (US);
Justin J. Schwab, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Tiago Bertolote, Goleta, CA (US);
Zachary P. Dominguez, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Mitchell H. Babkes, Santa Clarita, CA (US);
Richard Law, Newbury Park, CA (US);
Apollo Endosurgery, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A mechanism for removing a fluid-filled object such as an intragastric balloon from a patient. The apparatus includes a delivery tube having a lumen and a retrieval tool able to slide within the lumen that can both puncture and grasp the intragastric balloon. The retrieval tool may have sharpened graspers with either a sharp tip and/or knife-like edges. Alternatively, the delivery tube itself may have sharpened cutting blades that deploy outward to puncture the intragastric balloon. One embodiment utilizes a suction cup tip on the delivery sheath and a sharpened puncture rod that extends past the distal tip of the lumen, for rapid deflation of a balloon. Various embodiments hasten the deflation process and simplify the manipulation required by the surgeon.