US 12,310,593 B2
Implantable sphincter device with bead orientation control based on bead interactive geometry
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US); and Kevin M. Fiebig, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Assigned to Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed by Cilag GmbH International, Zug (CH)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/552,488.
Prior Publication US 2023/0190299 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/12 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/12013 (2013.01) [A61B 2017/00827 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00876 (2013.01); A61B 17/1215 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
(a) a plurality of beads comprising:
(i) a first bead, wherein the first bead comprises a first housing and a first external contact surface, wherein the first bead defines a first through hole, and
(ii) a second bead located adjacent to the first bead, wherein the second bead comprises a second housing and a second external contact surface, wherein the second bead defines a second through hole; and
(b) a linking assembly coupling the plurality of beads together, wherein the linking assembly extends within the first through hole of the first bead and the second through hole of the second bead to thereby couple the first bead with the second bead;
wherein the beads and the linking assembly are configured to be arranged in an annular arrangement, wherein the annular arrangement is sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient, wherein the loop is configured to move between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the loop in the contracted configuration is configured to prevent fluid flow through the anatomical structure, wherein the loop in the expanded configuration is configured to permit fluid flow through the anatomical structure, wherein the loop is magnetically biased toward the contracted configuration by a magnetic bias of the beads;
wherein the first external contact surface and the second external contact surface are configured to engage each other as the loop transitions into the contracted configuration to thereby drive the first bead and the second bead into a predetermined orientation relative to each other about the linking assembly in the contracted configuration, wherein the first external contact surface and the second external contact surface are configured to prevent rotation of the first bead relative to the second bead when the first external contact surface is engaged with the second external contact surface, wherein the first through hole is positioned within the first external contact surface such that the engagement of the first external contact surface with the second external contact surface is annular to the first through hole.