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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . 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 positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the valve seat being in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, 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, wherein the valve seal is directly seated on the valve seat in a closed position that blocks fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and wherein the valve seal is not seated on the valve seat in an open position that does not block the valve seat and does not block fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet; and   an actuator including 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.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable device of  claim 1  further comprising a motor, positioned within the actuator body, for moving the screw within the threaded screw hole. 
     
     
         3 . The implantable device of  claim 2  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. 
     
     
         4 . The implantable device of  claim 3  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. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable device of  claim 4  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. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable device of  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable device of  claim 6  wherein the coupling mechanism is selected from a group consisting of a tappet, a ball bearing, a bellows unit, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable device of  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         9 . The implantable device of  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable device of  claim 1  wherein the remote transmitter transmits the telemetric signal to the actuator. 
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling an implantable device that controls the movement of fluid to an inflatable portion of a gastric band, the method comprising:
 providing an implantable device that includes:
 a body having an inlet, an outlet and a valve seat positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the valve seat being in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, 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, wherein the valve seal is directly seated on the valve seat in a closed position that blocks fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and wherein the valve seal is not seated on the valve seat in an open position that does not block the valve seat and does not block fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and 
 an actuator including 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; 
   receiving the telemetric signal; and   responsive to the telemetric signal, turning the screw in one of two rotational directions.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein turning the screw in a first rotational direction increases a force on the valve seal to close the valve and turning the screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction decreases the force on the valve seal to open the valve. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein turning the screw in a first rotational direction increases a force on the valve seal to displace the valve seal in a direction towards the closed position and turning the screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction decreases the force on the valve seal to displace the valve seal in a direction towards the open position. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein turning the screw in a first rotational direction translates the screw and the valve seal in a direction towards the valve seat, and turning the screw in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction translates the screw and the valve seal in a direction away from the valve seat.