Inductively Powered Remotely Adjustable Gastric Banding System

Abstract

A power management system provides wireless power to operate components of a remotely adjustable gastric banding system. The power management system comprises an external power component transmitting power, and an implantable power management component receiving power and converting the power for use in powering one or more components of the remotely adjustable gastric banding system, such as a pump. The internal power management component and the external power component may be tunable. By utilizing the power management system, implantable batteries may be eliminated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for facilitating obesity control, the system comprising:
 an implantable gastric banding device including an inflatable member for containing fluid and restricting a patient's cardia;   an implantable fluid reservoir;   an implantable pump unit for controlling pressure within the inflatable member, wherein the implantable pump unit is in communication with the fluid reservoir and the gastric banding device via a tubing;   an implantable access port coupled to the implantable pump unit, wherein the implantable pump unit is in communication with the fluid reservoir and the gastric banding device via a tubing;   a pressure sensor disposed at least partially within the tubing; and   a power management system for providing power to the implantable pump unit and the pressure sensor, wherein the power management system comprises:
 an external remote control device capable of communicating with and powering an implantable power management component and a pressure sensor via inductive coupling; and 
 the implantable power management component, wherein the implantable power management component supplies power received from the external remote control device to the implantable pump unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system does not comprise an implantable battery. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein all power to operate the implantable pump unit and the pressure sensor is wirelessly delivered by the external remote control device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor comprises:
 a housing defining a cavity and having an open top portion;   a flexible membrane covering the open top portion of the housing and having an inner surface facing the cavity and an outer surface capable of contacting a fluid within the tubing;   a pressure transfer fluid located within the cavity;   a sensing element, positioned within the cavity of the housing and positioned adjacent to the flexible membrane, for measuring a pressure on the flexible membrane, the pressure being caused by the fluid contacting the outer surface of the flexible membrane, for converting the pressure to a pressure signal; and   a microcontroller positioned within the cavity of the housing and coupled to the sensing element, the microcontroller configured to process the pressure signal received from the sensing element and transmit the processed pressure signal to the external remote control device.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the external remote control device comprises:
 an inductive power transmitter configured to transmit an electromagnetic power signal;   a switchable tuning circuit coupled to the inductive power transmitter, wherein the switchable tuning circuit is configured to vary at least one parameter associated with the electromagnetic power signal;   a drive circuit coupled to the switchable tuning circuit;   a first microcontroller coupled to the drive circuit, wherein the first microcontroller is configured to issue a command configured to cause the switchable tuning circuit to vary at least one parameter associated with an inductive power signal transmitted by the inductive power transmitter; and   a first communication circuit coupled to the first microcontroller, wherein the first communication circuit wirelessly receives information from and transmits information to the implantable power management component via a first communication antenna using an electromagnetic communication signal.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the implantable power management component comprises:
 a tunable inductive power receiver for receiving power from the electromagnetic power signal;   a voltage rectifier coupled to the inductive power receiver, wherein the voltage rectifier outputs a direct current (DC) voltage responsive to an alternating current (AC) voltage received from the inductive power receiver;   a voltage conditioner coupled to the voltage rectifier;   a sampling circuit coupled to the voltage rectifier for assessing an amount of power received at the inductive power receiver;   a voltage regulator coupled to the voltage conditioner for supplying at least one fixed DC voltage;   a second microcontroller coupled to the sampling circuitry, wherein the second microcontroller is coupled to a second communication circuit coupled to a second communication antenna, and wherein the second microprocessor is configured to report an amount of power received at the inductive power receiver to the external remote control device via the electromagnetic communication signal;   a positive high voltage generator coupled to the voltage regulator and to the second microcontroller, wherein the positive high voltage generator is configured to generate a positive output voltage of at least 60 volts responsive to a command from the second microcontroller; and   a negative high voltage generator coupled to the voltage regulator and to the second microcontroller, wherein the negative high voltage generator is configured to generate a negative output voltage of at least 60 volts responsive to a command from the second microcontroller, and wherein the positive output voltage and the negative output voltage are utilized to operate the implantable pump unit.