Bariatric Care System Using Segmented Interfaces for Weight Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bariatric treatment methods for obesity lack comprehensive support systems for both patients and medical practitioners, particularly in managing weight loss and gastric band procedures, leading to inefficiencies and complications.

Innovation Solution

A computer-based weight loss system that integrates a central server with patient and medical practitioner interfaces, providing tools for data sharing, behavioral modification planning, fitness tracking, nutritional information, and alerts, as well as personalized plans and progress monitoring, facilitating proactive intervention and improved patient outcomes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a comprehensive bariatric treatment system is implemented to provide support for both patients and medical practitioners, then the quality of care and treatment effectiveness is improved, but the system complexity and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of careVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into distinct functional modules including a central server for data management, a patient interface for user interaction and self-monitoring, and a medical practitioner interface for clinical oversight. This segmentation allows each component to be developed, maintained, and scaled independently while working together to provide comprehensive care.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The central server acts as an intermediary between patients and medical practitioners, facilitating secure data exchange, automated alert generation, and coordinated care management. This intermediary layer enables communication and coordination without requiring direct interaction between all system components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If real-time monitoring and alert systems are implemented to proactively manage patient weight loss and detect complications, then patient outcomes and safety are improved, but the use of energy and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors patient data including weight, dietary intake, and exercise patterns, then provides automated feedback through alerts to both patients and medical practitioners. This feedback mechanism enables proactive intervention when weight loss targets are not met or potential complications are detected, improving patient safety through timely responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically processes patient-submitted data, generates alerts when thresholds are exceeded, and notifies appropriate parties without requiring manual review. This self-service approach to monitoring reduces the need for continuous human oversight while maintaining high standards of patient safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If integrated information sharing between patients and medical practitioners is implemented, then treatment coordination and effectiveness are improved, but data security and privacy protection requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment coordinationVSAvoiddata security
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The central server serves as a secure intermediary that manages all data exchanges between patients and medical practitioners. It implements authentication, authorization, and encrypted communication protocols to protect sensitive health information while enabling necessary coordination for effective treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8036912B2Interactive web based system in support of bariatric procedures
Publication Date: 2011.10.11 ETHICON ENDO SURGERY INC
  • US8036912B2 patent drawing
  • US8036912B2 patent drawing
  • US8036912B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention is directed to a computer-based weight loss system for supporting bariatric treatment of obesity that is accessible to both the patient and the medical practitioner. The system has a central server maintaining a library of information related to the treatment of obesity and a patient interface and a medical practitioner interface linked to the central server for uploading and downloading of information. The patient interface also provides access to information selected from the group consisting of bariatric care pathway, behavioral modification planning, fitness, preoperative diet, postoperative diet, monitoring of a gastric band, monitoring of a patient's weight, monitoring caloric intake and nutritional information. The uploaded information is processed by the central server and then made available to the medical practitioner and the patient.