Dome and screw valves for remotely adjustable gastric banding systems

Abstract

An implantable device controls the movement of fluid to an inflatable portion of a gastric band. The implantable device includes a body. The body has an inlet, an outlet and a valve seat positioned between the inlet and the outlet. The body defines a fluid passage from the inlet to the outlet. The implantable device also includes a diaphragm. The diaphragm has one or more edges coupled to the body. The diaphragm is made of an elastomeric material and capable of being moved between a closed position that blocks the valve seat and does not allow the fluid to move from the inlet to the outlet and an open position that does not block the valve seat and allows the fluid to move from the inlet to the outlet.

1 . An implantable device for controlling movement of a fluid to an inflatable portion of a gastric band, the implantable device comprising:
 a body having an inlet, an outlet and a valve seat positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the body defining a fluid passage from the inlet to the outlet;   a diaphragm having one or more edges coupled to the body, the diaphragm being made of an elastomeric material and capable of being moved from a closed position that blocks the valve seat and does not allow the fluid to move from the inlet to the outlet to an open position that does not block the valve seat and allows the fluid to move from the inlet to the outlet;   an actuator configured to apply a force on the diaphragm causing the diaphragm to move from the closed position to the open position; and   a microcontroller coupled to the actuator, the microcontroller configured to receive a telemetric signal from a remote transmitter and control the actuator based on the telemetric signal.   
   
   
       2 . The implantable device of  claim 1  further comprising a cap, coupled between the diaphragm and the actuator, for directing the force from the actuator to the diaphragm. 
   
   
       3 . The implantable device of  claim 1  wherein the force is applied on the one or more edges of the diaphragm. 
   
   
       4 . The implantable device of  claim 1  wherein the diaphragm moves in a direction substantially opposite to a direction of the force. 
   
   
       5 . The implantable device of  claim 1  wherein the diaphragm prevents the fluid from coming into direct contact with the actuator. 
   
   
       6 . The implantable device of  claim 1  wherein the diaphragm is made of a flexible material. 
   
   
       7 . The implantable device of  claim 1  wherein the diaphragm is in the open position when the actuator is in an energized state. 
   
   
       8 . The implantable device of  claim 1  wherein the diaphragm is in the closed position when the actuator is in an unenergized state. 
   
   
       9 . The implantable device of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is selected from a group consisting of a solenoid, a stepper motor, a piezoelectric actuator, an electroactive polymer, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The implantable device of  claim 1  wherein the remote transmitter transmits the telemetric signal to the microcontroller. 
   
   
       11 . An implantable device that controls the movement of fluid to an inflatable portion of a gastric band, the implantable device comprising:
 a body having an inlet, an outlet and a valve seat, the body defining a fluid passage from the inlet to the outlet;   
     a valve seal having one or more edges coupled to the body, the valve seal being made of an elastomeric material and capable of being moved from an open position that does not block the valve seat and allows the fluid to move from the inlet to the outlet to a closed position that blocks the valve seat and does not allow the fluid to move from the inlet to the outlet; and
 an actuator having an actuator body defining a threaded screw hole and positioned within the body and a screw positioned within the threaded screw hole, the screw configured to apply a force on the valve seal causing the valve seal to move from the open position to the closed position when the actuator receives a telemetric signal from a remote transmitter. 
 
   
   
       12 . The implantable device of  claim 11  further comprising a motor, positioned within the actuator body, for moving the screw within the threaded screw hole. 
   
   
       13 . The implantable device of  claim 12  wherein the motor is selected from a group consisting of a DC motor, an AC motor, a solenoid, a stepper motor, a piezoelectric actuator, a piezoelectric driver, an electroactive polymer, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The implantable device of  claim 13  wherein the motor is configured to move the screw to a first screw position so that the valve seal can be moved to a first valve seal position depending on the telemetric signal received from the remote transmitter. 
   
   
       15 . The implantable device of  claim 14  wherein the first valve seal position is selected from a group consisting of the closed position, the open position, and a partially-open position which is between the closed position and the open position. 
   
   
       16 . The implantable device of  claim 11  further comprising a coupling mechanism, positioned between the valve seal and the screw, for decoupling a rotational motion of the screw but allowing for a translational motion of the screw. 
   
   
       17 . The implantable device of  claim 16  wherein the coupling mechanism is selected from a group consisting of a tappet, a ball bearing, a bellows unit, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The implantable device of  claim 11  further comprising a flow sensor, coupled to the valve seat, for determining and adjusting an amount of the fluid flowing between the inlet and the outlet. 
   
   
       19 . The implantable device of  claim 11  further comprising a pressure sensor, coupled to the valve seat, for determining and adjusting a pressure of the fluid flowing between the inlet and the outlet. 
   
   
       20 . The implantable device of  claim 11  wherein the remote transmitter transmits the telemetric signal to the actuator.