Blood Flow Control Device for Weight Loss via Vasoconstriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current obesity treatment methods, including bariatric surgeries and less invasive procedures, face limitations in efficacy and suitability for diverse patient populations, with a need for more effective and culturally unbiased approaches to manage morbid obesity and its associated health risks.

Innovation Solution

The method involves controlling blood flow to the stomach and/or small bowel by sensing food ingestion and reducing blood flow through mechanical constriction, cooling, or ablating blood vessels and nerves to limit nutrient absorption and increase feelings of satiety, using devices such as perfusion balloons, pneumatic compression, and electroporation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If bariatric surgeries such as Roux-en-Y procedure are performed to reduce stomach volume and alter nutrient absorption, then weight loss efficacy is improved, but surgical risk and morbidity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight loss efficacyVSAvoidsurgical risk and morbidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical surgical interventions (staples, sutures, physical restructuring) with a physiological control mechanism involving blood flow modulation. The device uses sensing elements to detect food intake and triggers blood flow reduction to the gastrointestinal tract, substituting physical alteration with a dynamic physiological response system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physiological parameter of blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract dynamically. By reducing blood flow in response to food intake detection, the system alters nutrient absorption efficiency and satiety signals without permanent structural modification, enabling reversible and adjustable weight loss management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If less invasive procedures such as gastric banding are used to reduce surgical risk, then surgical morbidity is reduced, but weight loss efficacy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical morbidityVSAvoidweight loss efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dynamic control system that responds to real-time physiological conditions. The device continuously monitors food intake through sensing elements and dynamically adjusts blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract, transitioning from static mechanical restriction to an adaptive physiological response that optimizes both safety and efficacy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements a feedback mechanism where sensing elements detect food intake and trigger a physiological response through blood flow modulation. This closed-loop system adjusts nutrient absorption and satiety signals based on actual dietary intake, providing adaptive weight loss management without the limitations of fixed mechanical restriction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If gastric volume reduction procedures are performed to reduce caloric intake, then weight loss is improved, but device complexity and invasiveness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight lossVSAvoidsurgical complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the weight loss mechanism from permanent structural modification and isolates it into a discrete, implantable device. The sensing elements and blood flow control components are separated from the gastrointestinal anatomy, allowing the device to be introduced and removed without complex surgical reconstruction of stomach or intestinal structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This approach potentially offers a more effective and culturally unbiased method for weight loss by reducing caloric intake and nutrient absorption, addressing the limitations of existing treatments by promoting early satiety and reducing the risk of complications associated with surgical interventions.

Implementation Method 1

cooling an exterior surface of one or more blood vessels that supply the stomach and/or small bowel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVasoconstriction:

Implementation Method 2

ablating one or more blood vessels that supply the stomach and/or small bowel to limit dilation of the blood vessels to increase flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAblation: Ablation

Implementation Method 3

electroporation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroporation:

Data Source

PatentUS10123896B2Apparatus and methods of inducing weight loss using blood flow control

Publication Date: 2018.11.13 MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH

AI summary

Methods and apparatus for inducing weight loss using blood flow control are described herein. The apparatus and methods operate by controlling blood flow to the stomach and/or small bowel.