Adjustable gastroplasty ring comprising a grip tab

Abstract

The invention relates to a gastroplasty ring formed by a flexible band ( 2 ) which comprises a first end part ( 5 ) and a second end part ( 6 ) and which is intended to be closed around the stomach toward its two end parts by a closure system in order to reduce the diameter of the opening of the stoma by forming a loop, the band comprising an adjustable-volume annular compression chamber ( 3 ) connected, at the first end part, by an adjusting catheter ( 7 ) to a device for adjusting the internal pressure of said chamber, so as to adjust its diametral expansion, the ring comprising at least one grab tab ( 11, 12, 13 ) which projects toward the outside of the loop to make it easier for the two end parts to be brought together and parted.

1 . A surgical method for releasing a gastric band from a releasable immobilized position, the gastric band including a first end portion comprising an opening for receiving a second end portion of the gastric band to form a loop around a stomach at a time when in the releasable immobilized position, the method comprising: 
 grasping a first grabbing element positioned at the first end portion of the gastric band that is formed into the loop around the stomach; and    manipulating the first grabbing element to separate the first and second end portions of the gastric band.    
   
   
       2 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 grasping a second grabbing element positioned at the second end portion of the gastric band; and    manipulating the first and second grabbing elements to separate the first and second ends of the gastric band.    
   
   
       3 . The surgical method of  claim 2 , wherein the first grabbing element is positioned between the opening and the second grabbing element at a time when the gastric band is in its releasable immobilized position.  
   
   
       4 . The surgical method of  claim 2 , wherein the second grabbing element extends outwardly from of the ring.  
   
   
       5 . A surgical method comprising: 
 grasping a first grabbing element positioned at a first end portion of a gastric band that is formed into a loop around a stomach;    grasping a second grabbing element positioned proximate a second end portion of the gastric band; and    manipulating the first and second grabbing elements to separate the first and second end portions of the gastric band.    
   
   
       6 . The surgical method of  claim 5 , wherein manipulating the first and second grabbing elements to separate the first and second ends of the gastric band includes manipulating the first and second grabbing elements in opposite directions to separate the first and second ends of the gastric band.  
   
   
       7 . The surgical method of  claim 6 , wherein manipulating the first and second grabbing elements in opposite directions includes manipulating the first and second grabbing elements using substantially symmetric opposed forces.  
   
   
       8 . The surgical method of  claim 5 , wherein the first grabbing element is located proximate an opening formed in the first end portion of the gastric band, the opening configured to receive the second end portion of the gastric band to form the loop around the stomach.  
   
   
       9 . The surgical method of  claim 5 , further comprising, at a time before manipulating the first and second grabbing elements to separate the first and second ends of the gastric band, releasing the first and second portions of the gastric band from an immobilizing position.  
   
   
       10 . The surgical method of  claim 9 , wherein releasing the first and second portion of the gastric band from an immobilizing position comprises deflating a deformable portion of the gastric band in order to release the first and second portion of the gastric bands from the immobilizing position, the deformable portion located proximate the first end portion of the gastric band.  
   
   
       11 . The surgical method of  claim 5 , wherein the second grabbing element extends outwardly from the loop.  
   
   
       12 . The surgical method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 inserting the first end portion of the gastric band into a second portion of the gastric band, the first portion of the gastric band comprising an adjusting catheter and the second portion comprising an opening through which the adjusting catheter can be passed to form the loop; and    manipulating at least one of the first and second grabbing elements to bring the first and second end portions of the gastric band together to form the loop around the stomach.    
   
   
       13 . The surgical method of  claim 1 , wherein manipulating the first grabbing element to separate the first and second end portions of the gastric band is performed using laparoscopy or celioscopy.  
   
   
       14 . A surgical method comprising: 
 forming a loop around a stomach with a flexible gastric band by inserting a first portion of the gastric band into a second portion of the gastric band, the first portion of the gastric band comprising an adjusting catheter and the second portion comprising an opening through which the adjusting catheter can be passed to form the loop; and    releasably securing the first and second portion of the gastric bands in an immobilizing position.    
   
   
       15 . The surgical method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 positioning the first and second portions of the gastric band in the immobilizing position using a first grabbing element extending outwardly from the second portion of the gastric band.    
   
   
       16 . The surgical method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 positioning the first and second portions of the gastric bands in the immobilizing position by manipulating the first grabbing element and a portion of the first end of the gastric band in opposite directions to bring the first and second ends of the gastric band together to form the loop.    
   
   
       17 . The surgical method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 positioning the first and second portions of the gastric bands in the immobilizing position by manipulating the first grabbing element and a second grabbing element located on the portion of the first end of the gastric band in opposite directions to bring the first and second ends of the gastric band together to form the loop.    
   
   
       18 . The surgical method of  claim 15 , wherein the second grabbing element extends outwardly from the loop.  
   
   
       19 . The surgical method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 inflating a deformable portion of the gastric band in order to releasably secure the first and second portions of the gastric band in the immobilizing position, the deformable portion located proximate the first portion of the gastric band.    
   
   
       20 . The surgical method of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the deformable portion of the gastric band, located proximate the first portion of the gastric band, extends through the opening of the second portion of the gastric band at a time when the first and second portions of the gastric band are in the immobilizing position, and upon inflation of the deformable portion, releasably secures the first portion of the gastric band to the second portion of the gastric band.  
   
   
       21 . The surgical method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 adjusting the internal diameter of the ring by injecting a fluid into the adjusting catheter using an inflation device.    
   
   
       22 . The surgical method of  claim 14 , further comprising releasing the first and second portions of the gastric band from the immobilizing position by: 
 grasping a first grabbing element positioned proximate of the first end portion of the gastric band, the first grabbing element extending outwardly from the loop;    grasping a second grabbing element positioned on the second end portion of the gastric band; and    manipulating the first and second grabbing elements to separate the first and second ends of the gastric band.    
   
   
       23 . The surgical method of  claim 22 , wherein manipulating the first and second grabbing elements includes manipulating the first and second grabbing elements in opposite directions using substantially symmetric opposed forces.  
   
   
       24 . The surgical method of  claim 22 , wherein releasing the first and second portions of the gastric band from the immobilizing position is performed using laparoscopy or celioscopy.