Biodegradable Anti-Reflux Valve for Esophageal Sphincter Repair

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle fails to function properly, allowing stomach acid to reflux into the oesophagus, causing damage and discomfort, and existing treatments often require lifelong management with frequent recurrence.

Innovation Solution

An anti-reflux system featuring a unidirectional, flexible mitral valve device secured to the stomach wall using an adhesive flange, which allows normal swallowing flow while preventing reflux, and can reverse flow under high pressure conditions, allowing for temporary or permanent replacement of the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle is replaced with a permanent device, then acid reflux is permanently prevented, but the device complexity and surgical intervention requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepermanent prevention of acid refluxVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a biodegradable valve device that is intentionally designed to be temporary rather than permanent. The valve is made from materials that will naturally degrade and be absorbed by the body over time, eliminating the need for complex permanent implants or surgeries. This temporary device provides sufficient protection during the critical healing period of the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle while avoiding the complexities of permanent device installation and long-term maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Duration of action of moving object

If a temporary device is used to replace the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle, then the muscle can heal naturally, but the device must be removed or degrade after a period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehealing period of lower oesophageal sphincter muscleVSAvoidduration of reflux prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes biodegradable materials with specific degradation parameters that match the healing timeline of the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle. The valve material is selected to maintain structural integrity and provide reflux protection during the critical healing period, then gradually degrade and be absorbed by the body. This parameter matching ensures the device provides protection exactly when needed - during muscle repair - while automatically becoming unnecessary after healing is complete.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the valve is made flexible and collapsible, then it can accommodate normal swallowing flow, but it may not provide sufficient resistance to reflux

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of swallowing flowVSAvoidresistance to reflux

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic valve design that transitions between open and closed states based on pressure differentials. During normal swallowing, the valve remains open to allow food passage. When stomach acid attempts to reflux upward, the pressure differential automatically closes the valve, creating a barrier to reflux. This dynamic behavior is achieved through the flexible, collapsible construction of the valve, which responds autonomously to physiological conditions without requiring external control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If adhesive is used to secure the device to the stomach wall, then the device can be easily attached, but the attachment may not be sufficiently strong for permanent retention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of device attachmentVSAvoidattachment strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 system effectively reduces or prevents acid reflux, allowing the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle to heal naturally or through surgery, providing a prolonged solution to GERD symptoms without the need for lifelong treatment.

Implementation Method 1

the flange is provided with an adhesive on a stomach contacting face of the flange

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a valve arranged to allow unidirectional flow through the valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectValve: Valve

Implementation Method 3

the positioning means comprises a distensible element adapted to clamp the device between the stomach wall and the distensible element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8915967B2Anti reflux system

Publication Date: 2014.12.23 LEAHY PATRICK

AI summary

The present invention is concerned with a system and method for preventing or substantially reducing the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux in a human or animal, in particular by the fixation of a valve based device (10) within the stomach of such a human or animal, about the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle, which device supersedes the operation of said lower oesophageal sphincter muscle, in particular in situations when the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle is damaged.