Abstract: A fluid reservoir for use in a remotely adjustable gastric banding system comprises a housing and a flexible reservoir pouch positioned within the housing. The flexible reservoir pouch is coupled to an inflatable portion of a gastric band via flexible tubing. A pump coupled to the flexible reservoir pouch facilitates filling and draining the inflatable portion of the gastric band. The pump may be located within or outside of the housing. A receiving coil may be coupled to the housing, and the receiving coil forms a loop around the housing. The receiving coil receives radio frequency signals to drive the pump. A circuit board may be disposed in the housing for driving the pump to move the fluid between the flexible reservoir pouch and the inflatable portion of the gastric band. A portion of the circuit board may be a flexible circuit board to allow the housing to flex.

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.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a biocompatible and biostable implantable medical device. The present invention can include an implantable medical device including an electro-mechanical component. The electro-mechanical component can be coated with various novel and nonobvious coating combinations designed to promote biocompatibility and biostability. One layer of the coating combinations can be a tie layer. Another layer of the coating combinations can be a layer formed on top of the tie layer, and having biocompatible and biostable properties.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir for use in a remotely adjustable gastric banding system comprises a housing and a flexible reservoir pouch positioned within the housing. The flexible reservoir pouch is coupled to an inflatable portion of a gastric band via flexible tubing. A pump coupled to the flexible reservoir pouch facilitates filling and draining the inflatable portion of the gastric band. The pump may be located within or outside of the housing. A receiving coil may be coupled to the housing, and the receiving coil forms a loop around the housing. The receiving coil receives radio frequency signals to drive the pump. A circuit board may be disposed in the housing for driving the pump to move the fluid between the flexible reservoir pouch and the inflatable portion of the gastric band. A portion of the circuit board may be a flexible circuit board to allow the housing to flex.

Abstract: An implantable system comprises a housing that includes a flexible reservoir. The flexible reservoir is coupled to an inflatable portion of a gastric band via a fluid inlet/outlet. The flexible reservoir contains a fluid and has an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration. An access port may be coupled to the flexible reservoir and/or the gastric band to facilitate filling and draining the reservoir and/or the gastric band. A movable wall is slidably positioned around the flexible reservoir to move the flexible reservoir between the expanded configuration and the contracted configuration to move the fluid into and out of the inflatable portion of the gastric band. A driving mechanism is positioned around the movable wall and is capable of changing the size of the movable wall to compress or expand the flexible reservoir. A motor, coupled to the driving mechanism, may actuate the driving mechanism.

Abstract: A fluid reservoir for use in a remotely adjustable gastric banding system comprises a housing and a flexible reservoir pouch positioned within the housing. The flexible reservoir pouch is coupled to an inflatable portion of a gastric band via flexible tubing. A pump coupled to the flexible reservoir pouch facilitates filling and draining the inflatable portion of the gastric band. The pump may be located within or outside of the housing. A receiving coil may be coupled to the housing, and the receiving coil forms a loop around the housing. The receiving coil receives radio frequency signals to drive the pump. A circuit board may be disposed in the housing for driving the pump to move the fluid between the flexible reservoir pouch and the inflatable portion of the gastric band. A portion of the circuit board may be a flexible circuit board to allow the housing to flex.

Abstract: An implantable system comprises a housing that includes a flexible reservoir. The flexible reservoir is coupled to an inflatable portion of a gastric band via a fluid inlet/outlet. The flexible reservoir contains a fluid and has an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration. An access port may be coupled to the flexible reservoir and/or the gastric band to facilitate filling and draining the reservoir and/or the gastric band. A movable wall is slidably positioned around the flexible reservoir to move the flexible reservoir between the expanded configuration and the contracted configuration to move the fluid into and out of the inflatable portion of the gastric band. A driving mechanism is positioned around the movable wall and is capable of changing the size of the movable wall to compress or expand the flexible reservoir. A motor, coupled to the driving mechanism, may actuate the driving mechanism.

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.

Abstract: A self-adjusting gastric band is automatically adjustable without complicated fluid control mechanisms, flow rate limiting devices, and/or valves. The self-adjusting gastric band may automatically adjust to allow a large bolus of food to pass through a constriction in the patient's stomach formed by the gastric band. The self-adjusting gastric band comprises an inflatable portion that is disposable about an esophageal-gastric junction of the patient. A first compliant portion is coupled to the inflatable portion. The first compliant portion automatically relaxes the constriction formed by the self-adjusting gastric band and allows the large bolus to pass through the constriction. After the bolus passes through the constriction, the self-adjusting gastric band automatically returns to its previous state.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a biocompatible and biostable implantable medical device. The present invention can include an implantable medical device including an electro-mechanical component. The electro-mechanical component can be coated with various novel and nonobvious coating combinations designed to promote biocompatibility and biostability. One layer of the coating combinations can be a tie layer. Another layer of the coating combinations can be a layer formed on top of the tie layer, and having biocompatible and biostable properties.

Abstract: A programmable signal analysis device for detecting and counting neurological and muscular events in living tissue that incorporates one or more signal threshold levels to identify an event, a counter to count events, and a timer to determine event frequency as events per unit time. The threshold levels and counter/timer operating modes/parameters are digitally programmable to identify and count events, i.e., electrical signals having defined parameters. Such a circuit is of particular use in a microstimulator/sensor which is capable of being injected into living tissue at the site of interest. The microstimulator/sensor is used to stimulate a neural pathway or muscle and/or to block a neural pathway to alleviate pain or block stimulation of a muscle.

Abstract: A programmable signal analysis device for detecting and counting neurological and muscular events in living tissue that incorporates one or more signal threshold levels to identify an event, a counter to count events, and a timer to determine event frequency as events per unit time. The threshold levels and counter/timer operating modes/parameters are digitally programmable to identify and count events, i.e., electrical signals having defined parameters. Such a circuit is of particular use in a microstimulator/sensor which is capable of being injected into living tissue at the site of interest. The microstimulator/sensor is used to stimulate a neural pathway or muscle and/or to block a neural pathway to alleviate pain or block stimulation of a muscle.

Abstract: A device adapted to be worn around the waist of a tree planting person for ergonomically carrying a set of conventional planting trays. The trays having a plurality of recessed cells into which tree sprouts are grown. The carrying device has a main structural plate consisting of a relatively flat plate of rigid material bent integrally into a rear segment and two symmetrically disposed segments. A set of spacers consisting of a relatively flat plate of rigid material are suspended to the belt at one of their ends and rigidly attached to the main structural plate at their other end. A set of anchoring components consisting of a relatively flat piece of rigid material having a central relatively straight segment extending integrally at each end into an inwardly bent substantially arcuate segment are attached to the main structural plate. The belt is worn around the waist of the tree planting person with the main structural plate hanging from the belt by the spacers.