Capsular Device Airbag Locking and Needle Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing and managing eosinophilic esophagitis, such as skin-based allergen testing and empiric elimination diets, have poor response rates and are restrictive, leading to non-compliance and unchecked inflammation.
Innovation Solution
A capsular device with airbags and needles is introduced to the gastrointestinal tract, allowing for precise injection of allergens or samples into the esophagus, while a pellet device and various apparatuses facilitate visualization and sample delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If skin-based allergen testing is used to diagnose food allergies, then the testing can be performed easily and non-invasively, but the response rate is poor and correlation with actual allergic reactions is weak
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an oral allergen challenge test as an intermediary method between skin testing and actual allergic reaction. The capsule delivers controlled amounts of allergens directly to the gastrointestinal tract, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between indirect skin testing and direct observation of allergic responses, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy while maintaining ease of administration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical skin puncture method with an oral ingestion method. Instead of mechanically penetrating the skin to introduce allergens, the system uses oral administration of encapsulated allergens that dissolve in the gastrointestinal tract, substituting a minimally invasive mechanical process with a physiological route that better reflects actual food allergy responses
2Ease of manufacture
If empiric elimination diets are used to manage EoE, then the treatment can be implemented without extensive testing, but the diets are very restrictive and long-term compliance is questionable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where oral allergen challenge tests provide objective data about which foods trigger allergic reactions. This feedback replaces guesswork with evidence-based information, allowing patients and clinicians to make informed decisions about dietary restrictions. The feedback loop enables personalized diet planning based on actual reaction data rather than empiric elimination, improving compliance by reducing unnecessary restrictions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of dietary restriction from broad empiric elimination to targeted avoidance based on measured allergic responses. By altering the approach from eliminating entire food groups to specifically avoiding only those foods that trigger positive reactions in oral challenge tests, the system maintains treatment effectiveness while improving patient compliance through more flexible diet options
3Measurement precision
If endoscopy-based testing is performed to diagnose EoE, then biopsies can be obtained to detect eosinophils, but the procedure is invasive and requires specialized equipment and facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the allergen challenge function from the complex endoscopic procedure. Instead of requiring endoscopy and biopsy to detect eosinophils as a proxy for allergy, the system directly administers allergens orally and observes clinical responses. This extracts the essential diagnostic function (detecting allergic reactions) while removing the need for complex invasive equipment and procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified model of the allergic response process. Rather than using endoscopy to visually inspect and biopsy tissue, the oral challenge test replicates the natural food allergy pathway by having patients ingest allergens and observe reactions. This copying approach provides equivalent diagnostic information through a simpler, less invasive method that mirrors actual allergic mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is one or more airbags (106A-106N), each airbag of the one or more airbags (106A-106N) is positioned on the capsular device (100), adapted to inflate such that one or more airbags (106A-106N) locks the capsular device (100) in a point of interest in a gastrointestinal tract and prevents the capsular device (100) to move from the point of interest, and one or more needles (108A-108N) are positioned in the shell (104), each needle of the one or more needles (108A-108N) is adapted to move in a substantially horizontal direction and adapted to inject at least one sample of one or more samples to the point of interest on the gastrointestinal tract. The present disclosure also relates to a system and method for administering a capsular device (100).