Patent ID: 8268009
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A bowel extension device for implantation into the lumen of the bowel of a body, said bowel extension device comprising: a housing defining an outer dimension that is less than an inner dimension of the bowel such that enteric contents within the bowel can flow past said housing; a displaceable member movably coupled to said housing; and an actuation system moving said displaceable member from a retracted position to an extended position to apply a tensile force sufficient to promote bowel growth without causing damage to the bowel such that said bowel growth is urged beyond the length of the bowel extension device, at least one of said housing and said displaceable member includes a textured surface frictionally engageable with the lumen, said actuation system having: a movable collar, a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wire coupling said movable collar and said displaceable member, a ratchet system operably extending between said movable collar and said displaceable member preventing retraction of said movable collar relative to said displaceable member, and a spring member opposing said Shape Memory Alloy wire, wherein said housing and said displaceable member are configured to be disposed within said bowel of a body after implantation of said bowel extension device, wherein only one of said housing and said displaceable member is adapted to be fixedly coupled to the lumen of said bowel at a first end of the bowel extension device such that said bowel growth is urged beyond an opposing second end of the bowel extension device, and wherein said actuation system moving said displaceable member from a retracted position to an extended position is reciprocal in nature such that said bowel growth is incrementally urged beyond the length of the bowel extension device, an overall length of said bowel extension device alternating as said actuation system moves from said retracted position to said extended position.