Injection port

Abstract

An injection port and implantable pump for adding fluid to, or withdrawing fluid from, a surgical implant inside a patient's body is disclosed. Also disclosed is a surgical method for treating diseases using the injection port and pump. The injection port and implantable pump includes a rigid base member and an injection membrane penetrable by an injection needle and attached to the base member. The membrane and base member define a chamber for holding fluid. The membrane is displaceable relative to the base member between a first position in which the volume of the fluid chamber is maximal and a second position, in which the volume of the chamber is minimal. According to the method, the membrane is manually displaced from time to time to distribute fluid between the fluid chamber of the injection port and the implant to operate the implant, which is typically a hydraulic restriction device. The implant can be designed for treating reflux disease, urinary incontinence, impotence, anal incontinence or obesity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An injection port for adding fluid to or withdrawing fluid from a surgical implant inside a human body, the injection port comprising a rigid base member, and an injection membrane attached to said base member, said membrane and said base member defining a chamber for fluid, wherein said membrane includes a first layer and a second layer attached to each other, said first layer having better strength properties than said second layer and said second layer having better sealing properties than said first layer.  
     
     
         2 . An injection port according to  claim 1 , wherein said first layer is harder than said second layer.  
     
     
         3 . An injection port according to  claim 2 , wherein said second layer is situated between said first layer and said chamber.  
     
     
         4 . An injection port according to  claim 3 , wherein said membrane comprises a third layer harder than said second layer, said third layer being situated between said second layer and said chamber.  
     
     
         5 . An injection port according to  claim 2 , wherein said second layer is made of silicone having a hardness of less than 20 Shore.  
     
     
         6 . An injection port according to  claim 1 , wherein said membrane is displaceable relative to said base member between a first position, in which a volume of said chamber is maximal, and a second position, in which the volume of said chamber is minimal.  
     
     
         7 . An injection port according to  claim 6 , wherein said membrane is manually displaceable between said first and second positions.  
     
     
         8 . An injection port according to  claim 6 , further comprising a locking device adapted to releaseably lock said membrane in said second position.  
     
     
         9 . An injection port according to  claim 6 , wherein said membrane is elastic and takes the shape of a semi-sphere, when it is in said first position.  
     
     
         10 . An injection port according to  claim 9 , wherein said membrane is substantially flattened, when it is in said second position.  
     
     
         11 . An injection port according to  claim 10 , further comprising a locking device adapted to releaseably lock said membrane in said second position, when said membrane is pushed from said first position to said second position.  
     
     
         12 . An injection port according to  claim 11 , wherein said a locking device is adapted to release said membrane from said second position upon pushing said membrane, whereby said membrane resumes its semi-spherical shape in said first position.  
     
     
         13 . An implantable pump for pumping fluid to and from a surgical implant inside a human body, comprising a rigid base member, and an injection membrane penetrable by an injection needle and attached to said base member, said membrane and said base member defining a chamber for fluid, wherein said membrane is displaceable relative said base member between a first position, in which the volume of said chamber is maximal, and a second position, in which the volume of said chamber is minimal, whereby the amount of fluid that is to be pumped between said chamber and the surgical implant can be calibrated by inserting an injection needle through said injection membrane and adding fluid to or withdrawing fluid from said chamber.  
     
     
         14 . An implantable pump according to  claim 13 , wherein said membrane is manually displaceable between said first and second positions.  
     
     
         15 . An implantable pump according to  claim 13 , further comprising a locking device adapted to releaseably lock said membrane in said second position.  
     
     
         16 . An implantable pump according to  claim 13 , wherein said membrane is elastic and takes the shape of a semi-sphere, when it is in said first position.  
     
     
         17 . An implantable pump according to  claim 16 , wherein said membrane is substantially flattened, when it is in said second position.  
     
     
         18 . An implantable pump according to  claim 17 , further comprising a locking device adapted to releaseably lock said membrane in said second position, when said membrane is pushed from said first position to said second position.  
     
     
         19 . An implantable pump according to  claim 18 , wherein said locking device is adapted to release said membrane from said second position upon pushing said membrane, whereby said membrane resumes its semi-spherical shape in said first position.  
     
     
         20 . An implantable pump according to  claim 13 , wherein said membrane includes a first layer and a second layer attached to each other, said first layer having better strength properties than said second layer and said second layer having better sealing properties than said first layer.  
     
     
         21 . An implantable pump according to  claim 20 , wherein said first layer is harder than said second layer.  
     
     
         22 . An implantable pump according to  claim 21 , wherein said second layer is situated between said first layer and said chamber.  
     
     
         23 . An implantable pump according to  claim 22 , wherein said membrane comprises a third layer that is harder than said second layer, said third layer being situated between said second layer and said chamber.  
     
     
         24 . An implantable pump according to  claim 21 , wherein said second layer is made of silicone having a hardness of less than 20 Shore.  
     
     
         25 . A method for hydraulically operating a surgical implant implanted in a patient, the method comprising: 
 subcutaneously implanting in the patient an injection port having a displaceable injection membrane for changing the volume of a fluid chamber in the injection port;    hydraulically connecting the injection port to the surgical implant;    calibrating the amount of fluid in the fluid chamber of the injection port by penetrating the patient's skin and the membrane of the injection port with an injection needle and adding fluid to or withdrawing fluid from the fluid chamber; and    from time to time, manually displacing the membrane of the subcutaneously implanted injection port, in order to distribute fluid between the fluid chamber of the injection port and the implant to operate the implant.    
     
     
         26 . A surgical method for treating a patient having a disease, comprising the steps of: 
 insufflating the patient's abdomen with gas;    placing at least two laparoscopical trocars in the human's body;    inserting at least one dissecting tool through the trocars and dissecting a region of the patient; implanting an implant designed for treating reflux disease, urinary incontinence, impotence, anal incontinence or obesity, in the dissected area by using surgical instruments through the trocars;    subcutaneously implanting in the patient an injection port having a displaceable injection membrane for changing the volume of a fluid chamber in the injection port;    hydraulically connecting the injection port to the surgical implant;    calibrating the amount of fluid in the fluid chamber of the injection port by penetrating the patient's skin and the membrane of the injection port with an injection needle and adding fluid to or withdrawing fluid from the fluid chamber; and    from time to time, manually displacing the membrane of the subcutaneously implanted injection port, in order to distribute fluid between the fluid chamber of the injection port and the implant to operate the implant.