USPTO Patent Grant for Implantable Sphincter Assistance Device

ChangeBridge: Patent Grants - Diagnosis & Surgery (A61B)

Published March 24th, 2026

Detected March 24th, 2026

Summary

The USPTO has granted a patent (US12582402B2) for an implantable sphincter assistance device with a single-use emergency release mechanism. The patent was assigned to Cilag GmbH International and filed on December 16, 2021.

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What changed

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted patent US12582402B2 for an "Implantable sphincter assistance device with single use emergency release decoupling interconnection link." The patent, assigned to Cilag GmbH International, describes an apparatus comprising beads with magnets and interconnection elements designed to form an expandable loop around an anatomical structure. A key feature is a decoupling element that releases a portion of the loop in response to a threshold force, providing an emergency release mechanism.

This patent grant signifies the USPTO's recognition of novel technology in the medical device sector, specifically for implantable devices. While not a regulatory rule or enforcement action, it impacts the intellectual property landscape for medical device manufacturers. Companies operating in this space, particularly those developing implantable devices for sphincter assistance or similar applications, should be aware of this granted patent to ensure they do not infringe on the assignee's rights. The filing date was December 16, 2021, and the grant date is March 24, 2026.

Source document (simplified)

← USPTO Patent Grants

Implantable sphincter assistance device with single use emergency release decoupling interconnection link

Grant US12582402B2 Kind: B2 Mar 24, 2026

Assignee

Cilag GmbH International

Inventors

Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Kevin M. Fiebig, Tylor C. Muhlenkamp, Nicholas J. Ross, Matthew D. Cowperthwait

Abstract

An apparatus includes a plurality of beads. Each bead includes a housing and a magnet positioned within the housing. The apparatus also includes a plurality of interconnection elements. Each interconnection element movably joins together a corresponding pair of beads. The plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements are sized and configured to form an expandable loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The apparatus further includes a decoupling element. The decoupling element is positioned along the loop and is configured to selectively release a first portion of the loop from a second portion of the loop in response to application of a threshold force to the at least one decoupling element in a circumferential direction relative to the loop.

CPC Classifications

A61B 17/12013 A61B 2017/00477 A61B 2017/00482 A61B 2017/00876 A61B 2017/00115 A61B 2017/00221 A61B 2017/00411 A61B 2017/00827 A61B 2090/3945 A61B 2050/0063 A61B 2050/0067 A61B 2050/0076 A61B 2050/0082 A61B 2050/0084 A61F 2/0004 A61F 2/04 A61F 2002/044