Patent ID: 6460543
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A food intake restriction device for forming a stoma opening in the stomach or esophagus of a patient, comprising:an elongated restriction member implanted in the patient forming an expandable and contractible cavity, said elongated restriction member formed into an at least substantially closed loop surrounding the patient's stomach or esophagus, and defining a restriction opening, the size of which is reduced upon expansion of said cavity and increased upon contraction of said cavity; a reservoir implanted in the patient containing a predetermined amount of hydraulic fluid and connected to said cavity of said restriction member, hydraulic operation means implanted in the patient for distributing fluid from said reservoir to said cavity to expand said cavity, and for distributing fluid from said cavity to said reservoir to contract said cavity, to thereby control the size of the restriction opening, and wherein said hydraulic operation means comprises an activatable pump for pumping fluid between said reservoir and said cavity of said restriction member; and wherein said pump comprises a first activation member for activating said pump to pump fluid from said reservoir to said cavity of said restriction member and a second activation member for activating said pump to pump fluid from said cavity to said reservoir; and wherein at least one of said first and second activating members are operable by magnetic means, or by hydraulic means, or by electric control means such as an electric motor.