Implantable sphincter assistance device with single use emergency release decoupling interconnection link

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12582402-B2
Application number	US-202117552810-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2021
Priority date	Dec 16, 2021
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

An apparatus includes a plurality of beads. Each bead includes a housing and a magnet positioned within the housing. The apparatus also includes a plurality of interconnection elements. Each interconnection element movably joins together a corresponding pair of beads. The plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements are sized and configured to form an expandable loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The apparatus further includes a decoupling element. The decoupling element is positioned along the loop and is configured to selectively release a first portion of the loop from a second portion of the loop in response to application of a threshold force to the at least one decoupling element in a circumferential direction relative to the loop.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) a plurality of beads, wherein each bead of the plurality of beads comprises:
(i) at least one housing, and
(ii) at least one magnet positioned within the at least one housing;
(b) a plurality of interconnection elements, wherein each interconnection element of the plurality of interconnection elements movably joins together a corresponding pair of beads of the plurality of beads, wherein the plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements are sized and configured to form an expandable loop around an anatomical structure in a patient such that the plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements together define a circumference when forming the expandable loop; (c) a first pair of clasp structures, each clasp structure of the first pair of clasp structures being positioned at a respective end of the apparatus, the clasp structures of the first pair of clasp structures being configured to selectively couple with each other; and (d) a second pair of clasp structures, the second pair of clasp structures including at least one releasably engaging connection element, the at least one releasably engaging connection element of the second pair of clasp structures being configured to join the second pair of clasp structures together in an interlocking connection as part of the expandable loop, wherein the second pair of clasp structures are configured to be separated from each other in response to application of a threshold force along the circumference, the threshold force being applied to a portion of at least one of the second pair of clasp structures.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interconnection elements includes an interconnection element with a weakened portion, wherein the weakened portion is configured to be severed in response to application of the threshold force to the weakened portion.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the weakened portion is defined by a release notch provided along the interconnection element that has the weakened portion.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second pair of clasp structures includes first and second quick-release clasp structures selectively coupled to each other, the first quick-release clasp structure forming the at least one releasably engaging connection element.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first quick-release clasp structure includes a tab.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second quick-release clasp structure includes a recess configured to disengage the tab in response to application of the threshold force to at least one of the tab or the recess.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the tab is configured to be permanently deformed during disengagement of the tab from the recess.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second pair of clasp structures includes a rotatable magnet.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second pair of clasp structures is positioned at a midpoint of the apparatus.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one bailout beacon configured to generate a signal indicating a position of the second pair of clasp structures in three dimensional space.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the signal includes a radiofrequency signal.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the signal includes an optical signal.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one bailout beacon includes two bailout beacons flanking the second pair of clasp structures.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one bailout beacon is coupled to at least one bead of the plurality of beads.

15 . An apparatus comprising:
(a) a plurality of beads, wherein each bead of the plurality of beads comprises:
(i) at least one housing, and
(ii) at least one magnet positioned within the at least one housing; and
(b) a plurality of interconnection elements, wherein each interconnection element of the plurality of interconnection elements movably joins together a corresponding pair of beads of the plurality of beads, wherein the plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements are sized and configured to form an expandable loop around an anatomical structure in a patient, wherein at least one interconnection element of the plurality of interconnection elements includes a frangible breakaway wire extending between a first bead of the plurality of beads and a second bead of the plurality of beads, such that the frangible breakaway wire joins the first bead with the second bead, wherein the breakaway wire includes a weakened region defined by a release notch such that the breakaway wire is configured to break at the release notch in response to application of a threshold force.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the release notch is configured to facilitate severing of the breakaway wire.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the breakaway wire is configured to break at the release notch in response to application of a threshold force in a circumferential direction.

18 . An apparatus configured to be implanted within a biological structure, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a plurality of beads, wherein each bead of the plurality of beads comprises:
(i) at least one housing, and
(ii) at least one magnet positioned within the at least one housing;
(b) a plurality of interconnection elements, wherein each interconnection element of the plurality of interconnection elements movably joins together a corresponding pair of beads of the plurality of beads; (c) a first pair of clasp structures, each clasp structure of the first pair of clasp structures being positioned at a respective end of the apparatus, the clasp structures of the first pair of clasp structures being configured to selectively couple with each other; and (d) a second pair of clasp structures, each clasp structure of the second pair of clasp structures respectively including a releasably engaging connection element, the releasably engaging connection elements of the second pair of clasp structures being configured to join in an interlocking connection, wherein the second pair of clasp structures are configured to be separated from each other in response to application of a threshold force in a circumferential direction along a loop formed by the plurality of beads, the plurality of interconnection elements, the first pair of clasp structures, and the second pair of clasp structures, the threshold force being applied to a portion of at least one of the second pair of clasp structures.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the second pair of clasp structures are positioned at a midpoint of the apparatus.

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Fiebig Kevin M
• Muhlenkamp Tylor C
• Ross Nicholas J
• Cowperthwait Matthew D

Classifications

• A61B17/12009

  Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot · CPC title

• A61B2050/0082

  Rib-and-groove connection · CPC title

• A61B2050/0068

  Cooperating dimples · CPC title

• A61B2050/0084

  Tabs inserted into slots · CPC title

• A61B2050/0076

  having additional locking means · CPC title