Patents Assigned to Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8961393
    Abstract: Gastric banding devices, and drive systems designed to operate gastric banding devices, are disclosed. The gastric banding devices and drive systems intend to increase performance, durability, and simplicity over known gastric banding systems. Embodiments include transmission systems configured to output a variable force. Embodiments also include banding structures biased to apply a constrictive force to a patient's stomach. Supporting, or skeletal, structures are also disclosed. Various drive systems designed to improve power efficiency are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Rion, Laurent Mosimann, Pierre Fridez, Tiago Bertolote, Denis Crottet, Marcel Aeschlimann, Vincent Vaucher
  • Patent number: 8961394
    Abstract: Generally described herein are apparatus, systems and methods related to a mechanical interlock joint geometry for various components and joining of components thereby creating a reliable seal against fluid leaks that is resistant at typical pressures experienced when the components are implanted into a human body. Furthermore, the seal may be enhanced when a fluid pressure exerted inside the components is increased (e.g., from 1 to 10 psi).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak Honaryar, Sean Snow
  • Patent number: 8956380
    Abstract: Transoral three-dimensionally orthogonal intragastric spring systems, devices, methods of operation and manufacture are provided. A transoral three-dimensionally orthogonal intragastric spring system and/or device (and related methods of manufacture and operation) may reduce obesity or weight by stimulating the stomach walls of the patient. The three-dimensionally orthogonal intragastric spring device may be a purely mechanical device comprising a flexible body which in response to an input force in one direction, may deform and cause a resultant displacement in an orthogonal direction, thereby exerting a pressure on the inner stomach walls of the patient. Alternatively, a three-dimensionally orthogonal intragastric spring device may include a variable size balloon configured to occupy volume in the patient's stomach, thereby reducing the amount of space in the patient's stomach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary Dominguez, Justin Schwab, Mitchell H. Babkes
  • Patent number: 8939888
    Abstract: A method and system for determining pressure in a syringe, and more specifically to a syringe pressure accessory which can be connected to a syringe to determine pressure in a syringe and a gastric band. The syringe pressure accessory can detect a pressure of a syringe and/or a gastric band and digitally display the pressure. The syringe pressure accessory can include a durable unit and a disposable unit. The disposable unit can be disposed of after a single use, while the durable unit can be reused with multiple disposable units. The syringe pressure accessory can also include a syringe attachment unit and one or more display units for a caretaker or a patient. The display unit can be wirelessly connected to the syringe attachment unit to display a pressure chart or the results of various analysis of the pressure data. Markers can be added to the pressure chart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike Augarten, Sean Snow
  • Patent number: 8932247
    Abstract: An arterio-venous graft (16) is provided with a constriction device (20) near its arterial end. The constriction device (20) is used to reduce the flow through the AV graft under normal conditions and to relieve the constriction when high flow through the AV graft is required, such as for vascular access for hemodialysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventor: Nikos Stergiopulos
  • Patent number: 8929988
    Abstract: Instruments, systems and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, and a mucosal resection device. Systems include a combination of one or more of such instruments with or without injectable agents. Embodiments of various methods for performing the procedures are also provided. In accordance with one aspect there is provided a submucosal implant device for diagnosing and treating disorders of the body. The submucosal implant device may take the form of a gastric stimulator in which signals are supplied to the muscular wall of a mammal to treat motility disorders. In accordance with yet another aspect there is provided a method for performing a submucosal medical procedure to deploy a submucosal implant device in the digestive tract of a mammal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Mitelberg, Donald K. Jones, Brett E. Naglreiter, Dennis L. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 8920447
    Abstract: Intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. The device is passive and does not autonomously change shape, but instead reacts to movement of the stomach to induce satiety. The device includes a series of connected, articulated clips that plicate the stomach wall nondestructively (no puncturing through the gastric wall) such that the overall volume of the stomach is reduced. Cam-shaped clamping surfaces prevent slippage of the stomach tissue from within the clips. Methods of implant are disclosed including delivering the device through a transoral delivery tube and advancing the device through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the device occurs in the reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary Dominguez
  • Patent number: 8911467
    Abstract: Instruments, systems and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, a mucosal resection device. Systems include a combination of one or more of such instruments with or without injectable agents. Embodiments of various methods for performing the procedures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System, Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Mitelberg, Donald K. Jones, David Y. Yuan, Brett E. Naglreiter, J. Landon Gilkey, Christopher J. Gostout, Pankaj J. Pasricha
  • Patent number: 8905915
    Abstract: A self-regulating gastric band apparatus for adjusting stoma size is disclosed. The apparatus includes an adjustable gastric band that has an expandable portion containing a volume of fluid. A band adjustment assembly is provided for implanting with the gastric band that includes a sensor for sensing fluid pressure in the expandable portion. The band adjustment assembly further includes a pump assembly connected to the expandable portion and to a controller that operates the pump assembly to adjust the volume of the fluid in the band based on the sensed fluid pressure. The band adjustment assembly includes memory storing an operating range relative to a target fluid pressure, and the pump assembly is operated to maintain the sensed band pressure within the operating range. The target pressure is set to maintain pressure variations below a predefined variation limit generally corresponding with satiated fill volumes for a particular patient and implanted band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventor: Janel A. Birk
  • Patent number: 8906051
    Abstract: Instruments, systems and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include a safe access needle injection instrument, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, a mucosal resection device. Systems include a combination of one or more of such instruments with or without injectable agents. Embodiments of various methods for performing the procedures are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignees: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc., Mayo Foundation For Medical Education and Research, The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventors: Vladimir Mitelberg, Donald K. Jones, Brett E. Naglreiter, Christopher J. Gostout, Pankaj J. Pasricha
  • Patent number: 8905916
    Abstract: An implantable injection port for use with a gastric band for treating obesity and for attaching to a tissue of a patient is disclosed. The implantable injection port includes a base having an anchor opening, a gear coupled to the base and rotatable about a central axis, the gear having a plurality of gear teeth, an anchor coupled to the gear, and a top portion spaced apart from the base and having a plurality of top teeth that engage with the plurality of gear teeth. The top portion is rotatable causing rotation of the gear such that the rotation of the gear causes movement of the anchor through the anchor opening of the base and into the tissue of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan Jacobs, Mark Orphanos, Chris Maurer, Kenneth A. Eliasen, Matthew B. Denardo
  • Publication number: 20140358062
    Abstract: An intraluminal sleeve system is provided, which generally includes an intraluminal sleeve capable of dispensing an active agent to a patient, for example, a metabolic agent or satiety inducing agent. The intraluminal sleeve may be structured to contain the active agent and permit controlled release of the active agent to the patient while the intraluminal sleeve is positioned within the patient's intestine. Methods for treating obesity are also provided which include positioning an intraluminal sleeve in a patient's intestine, the intraluminal sleeve being capable of dispensing an active agent to the patient. In one embodiment, the active agent may be contained in a reservoir and dispensed to a portion of the patient's body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Raven, Janel A. Birk
  • Patent number: 8900118
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Janel A. Birk, Robert E. Hoyt, Jr., Sean Snow
  • Patent number: 8900117
    Abstract: A releasably-securable gastric band (12) having a tail end (10a) and a head end (10b) for receiving the tail end (10a) is disclosed. The gastric band (12) also includes a releasable locking means (20) that releasably secures the head (10b) and tail ends (10a) together. The tail end (10a) may include a tooth (14) and the head end (10b) may include a notch (22) for engaging the tooth (14). Upon insertion of the tail end (10a) into the head end (10b), the tooth (14) mates with the notch (22) and releasably locks the tail end (10a) in the head end (10b). The releasably-securable gastric band (12) includes a release tab (24). When force is applied to the release tab (24) in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the gastric band (12), the tooth (14) is disengaged from the notch (22) to allow the gastric band (12) to be released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventor: Janel A. Birk
  • Patent number: 8888732
    Abstract: An intraluminal sleeve system is provided, which generally includes an intraluminal sleeve capable of dispensing an active agent to a patient, for example, a metabolic agent or satiety inducing agent. The intraluminal sleeve may be structured to contain the active agent and permit controlled release of the active agent to the patient while the intraluminal sleeve is positioned within the patient's intestine. Methods for treating obesity are also provided which include positioning an intraluminal sleeve in a patient's intestine, the intraluminal sleeve being capable of dispensing an active agent to the patient. In one embodiment, the active agent may be contained in a reservoir and dispensed to a portion of the patient's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph S. Raven, Janel A. Birk
  • Patent number: 8882655
    Abstract: An implantable injection port comprises a base. A first gear is coupled to the base, and a first anchor is coupled to the first gear. A second gear is coupled to the base, and a second anchor is coupled to the second gear. A top portion of the injection port is spaced apart from the base of the port and has a first plurality of top teeth that engage with a first plurality of gear teeth on the first gear. This engagement occurs prior to rotation of the second gear. The top portion rotates, which causes rotation of the first gear, which in turn causes movement of the first anchor through the anchor opening of the base and into the tissue of the patient. The first gear and the second gear rotate non-simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Nitka, Edwin J. Kayda
  • Patent number: 8882728
    Abstract: An implantable injection port facilitates filling and/or draining an inflatable portion of a gastric band. In an embodiment, the port comprises a movable cap that causes anchor wires to extend from anchor devices in order to implant the injection port in the tissue of a patient. In another embodiment, the port comprises a handle that rotates to implant curved anchors into the tissue of a patient. In yet another embodiment, a cap is configured to move towards a base of the port in order to cause the curved anchors to rotate into the tissue of a patient. The cap may also rotate with respect to the base in order to lock the cap and the anchors in position. Further, surfaces of the injection port may be textured to increase adhesiveness to the patient's tissue during installation and to facilitate simpler installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Harders, Joseph S. Raven, Dimitrios Stroumpoulis, Nikhil S. Trilokekar
  • Patent number: 8882798
    Abstract: A mechanism for removing a fluid-filled object such as an intragastric balloon from a patient. The apparatus includes a delivery tube having a lumen and a retrieval tool able to slide within the lumen that can both puncture and grasp the intragastric balloon. The retrieval tool may have sharpened graspers with either a sharp tip and/or knife-like edges. Alternatively, the delivery tube itself may have sharpened cutting blades that deploy outward to puncture the intragastric balloon. One embodiment utilizes a suction cup tip on the delivery sheath and a sharpened puncture rod that extends past the distal tip of the lumen, for rapid deflation of a balloon. Various embodiments hasten the deflation process and simplify the manipulation required by the surgeon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin J. Schwab, Tiago Bertolote, Zachary P. Dominguez, Mitchell H. Babkes, Richard Law
  • Patent number: 8876694
    Abstract: Generally described herein are apparatus, systems and methods related to utilizing a guiding tip to connect two open ends of respective tubes of a gastric banding system. More particularly, one of these tubes may include a barbed element at or near the point of connection which makes it difficult to connect the two tubes as the barbed element may be larger than an opening to receive the barbed element. The guiding tip provides a solution to this problem by acting as an interface between the barbed element and the receiving tube. In this manner, the sealing functionality of the barbed element may be retained while improving the ease of inserting the barbed element into the receiving tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak Honaryar, Sean Snow, Marcos Borrell
  • Patent number: 8870966
    Abstract: A transorally implanted intragastric balloon or treating obesity and for weight control including a variable size balloon with one or interconnected regions acting to exert a pressure on the stomach, to provide a stomach volume occupying effect, and/or to anchor the balloon within the stomach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Schwab, Zachary Dominguez, Joseph Raven, Mitchell H. Babkes, Christopher S. Mudd, Tiago Bertolote