Bariatric Device Lower Stomach Element Gastric Emptying
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for weight loss, such as gastric bypass and gastric banding, are invasive and carry significant risks, with a need for less invasive or non-invasive devices that can induce substantial weight loss without complications.
Innovation Solution
A bariatric device that engages the lower stomach, applying pressure or altering peristalsis to replicate a fed state pattern, delaying gastric emptying, and featuring a self-seating design with a lumen or valve to allow food passage, constructed from materials resistant to stomach acids and capable of self-expansion or fixation to maintain position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical procedures such as gastric bypass or gastric banding are used, then substantial and lasting weight loss is achieved, but the procedures are invasive and carry significant surgical risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive surgical mechanical interventions (gastric bypass surgery, gastric banding) with a less invasive mechanical device that can be introduced endoscopically. The device uses mechanical pressure and peristalsis alteration rather than surgical cutting or permanent structural modification, thereby achieving weight loss effectiveness while reducing surgical risks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the bariatric device with lower stomach element) that mediates between the stomach and the weight loss objective. This device applies pressure to the lower stomach and alters peristalsis without requiring direct surgical intervention on gastric structures, thus achieving therapeutic效果 while minimizing harmful surgical effects
2Reliability
If a device applies pressure to the lower stomach to alter peristalsis and delay gastric emptying, then weight loss is induced, but the device must be resistant to stomach acids and maintain position without migrating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials for the lower stomach element that combine acid resistance with appropriate mechanical properties. The material composition is designed to withstand the harsh gastric environment while maintaining the structural integrity needed to apply pressure and alter peristalsis effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic elements such as the lower stomach element that can expand or change shape in response to gastric peristalsis. This dynamic behavior allows the device to maintain contact with the stomach wall and apply pressure effectively while accommodating natural stomach movements, preventing migration
3Ease of operation
If the device is designed to be self-seating using peristaltic motion, then deployment is simplified, but the device must navigate the esophagus in a compressed state and expand properly in the stomach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the dynamic properties of the device structure to enable it to transition from a compressed delivery state to an expanded functional state. The device is designed to be flexible and collapsible for passage through the esophagus, then automatically expands in the stomach using peristaltic forces, eliminating the need for complex manual deployment mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs self-seating mechanisms where peristaltic motion of the stomach naturally propels and positions the device in its intended location. The device structure itself facilitates its own deployment and positioning without requiring external manipulation or complex control systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively induces weight loss by altering gastric emptying and satiety responses, reducing the risk of complications associated with invasive surgical procedures while maintaining functionality and safety within the stomach environment.
Implementation Method 1
The lower stomach element would be in constant or intermittent contact with the mid to lower stomach based on movement of the stomach
Data Source
AI summary
A bariatric device 10 for use in inducing weight loss, comprising a lower stomach element 26 which contacts the lower stomach at least intermittently to produce a satiety signal to the user, giving a feeling of fullness and reducing hunger. The lower stomach element 26 may be combined with a positional element 25 extending into the upper stomach to maintain the device's position for at least intermittent contact with the lower stomach. Alternatively, first and second elements 12, 13 may be symmetrically attached to the positioning element 25, so that the device can orient itself either way in the stomach. The lower stomach, first, or second elements 26, 12, 13 may have a restriction element to slow gastric filling or emptying, to produce a satiety signal. In any of the embodiments, the bariatric device may be adjustable, either manually, automatically or remotely, to optimally size and/or position the device.