Feedback systems and methods to enhance obstructive and other obesity treatments

Abstract

Feedback systems and methods enhance obstructive and other obesity treatments by presenting feedback regarding patients' actual eating and / or exercise habits. An ingestion restricting implant body can be deployed along the gastrointestinal tract. In some embodiments, ingestion alters the implant body, which, in turn, generates signals. The generated signals can be used to inhibit unhealthy ingestion by the patient. In other embodiments, the implant body can be altered by signals so as to selectable change the restriction imposed on the gastrointestinal tract, optionally in response to ingestion events, an eating schedule, or the like. The implant body may comprise a gastric band or an intragastric balloon. Sensor signals may be processed to identify ingestion and / or characterize ingestion of a solid or a liquid, and the results may be displayed on a screen for a patient or coach to view.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 166,636 filed Apr. 3, 2009; the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The subject matter of the present application is related to the following applications: U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 145,430 filed Jun. 24, 2008; U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 950,345 filed Sep. 23, 2004 (Allowed); U.S. Application No. 61 / 122,315 filed Dec. 12, 2008; U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 637,452 filed Dec. 14, 2009, and U.S. application Ser. No. ______, filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Feedback Systems and Methods for Communicating Diagnostic and / or Treatment Signals to Enhance Obesity Treatments” (Attorney Docket No. 026458-001210US), the full disclosures of each of which are also incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Since the mid-seventies, the prevalence of obesity...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The signals may comprise sensor signals and / or actuation signals. In some embodiments, ingestion alters the implant body, which, in turn, generates signals in the form of sensor signals. The generated sensor signals can be used to inhibit unhealthy ingestion by the patient by activating a stimulation electrode of the implant, enhancing the restriction, presenting documented ingestion events to the patient or a lifestyle coach, or the like. In other embodiments, the implant body can be altered by actuator signals so as to change the restriction imposed on the gastrointestinal tract, optionally in response to ingestion events, an eating schedule, or the like. The actuator signals may induce changes in the implant a plurality of times a day for a plurality of days, allowing the implant to adjust dynamically so as to facilitate healthy ingestion while inhibiting unhealthy ingestion.

[0050]In many embodiments, the therapeutic implant has two possible configurations that differ in size and shape; compared to the first configuration, the second configuration exhibits an enhanced inhibition of ingestion.

Problems solved by technology

Being overweight or obese may increase the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including: hypertension, dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides), type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and some cancers (such as endometrial, breast, and colon).

Medical costs associated with excess weight and obesity may involve direct and indirect costs.

Mortality costs are the value of future income lost by premature death.

To date, the widely used obesity treatments have not been shown to be ideal, particularly for those afflicted with severe obesity.

Unfortunately, patient compliance and the accuracy with which patients report their own activities can significantly limit the effectiveness of weight loss treatments.

One of the problems associated with the surgical procedures of gastric reduction, gastric bypass, gastric banding and intragastric balloons revolves around patient compliance.

Patients' self-reporting has very often proven to be inaccurate.

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