Expandable Gastric Sponge for Endoscopic Obesity Treatment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for obesity, such as lifestyle modifications and medications, are ineffective and have high attrition rates, while surgical interventions are risky, leaving a need for a low-risk, effective strategy for weight reduction in obese patients.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive gastric device made of an open cell foam material that expands in volume upon fluid absorption, providing a sensation of satiety, and a system for its delivery and retrieval, allowing for endoscopic placement and removal without significant risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surgical intervention is used for obesity treatment, then weight reduction effectiveness is improved, but risk profile increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight reduction effectivenessVSAvoidrisk profile

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an endoscopic gastric device as an intermediary solution between lifestyle modifications and surgical intervention. The device is delivered endoscopically through the gastrointestinal tract without external incisions, serving as a mediator that provides surgical-level effectiveness with minimal invasiveness and reduced risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional surgical mechanical systems (incisions, external access) with an endoscopic delivery system that uses the natural gastrointestinal lumen as the access pathway. This substitution eliminates the need for external surgical incisions while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If endoscopic procedure is used for obesity treatment, then risk profile is reduced, but treatment effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverisk profileVSAvoidtreatment effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gastric device is nested within a delivery system that allows it to be transported through the endoscope's lumen in a compressed state and then deployed to its expanded functional configuration within the stomach. This nesting approach enables minimally invasive delivery while maintaining the device's therapeutic effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If sponge expands in volume upon fluid absorption, then sensation of satiety is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensation of satietyVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sponge is delivered in a compressed, low-volume state through the endoscope before deployment. Upon deployment in the stomach, it automatically expands upon contact with gastric fluids to its functional volume that provides satiety. This preliminary compression allows minimally invasive delivery while maintaining the expanded functional state for therapeutic effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sponge material undergoes a parameter change from a compressed low-volume state during delivery to an expanded high-volume state upon fluid absorption in the stomach. This parameter transformation enables the device to fit through small endoscopic lumens while achieving the larger volume needed for satiety effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 gastric device effectively induces weight loss by occupying stomach volume, providing a low-risk, repeatable, and reversible treatment option for obesity, suitable for patients not eligible for surgery, with minimal invasiveness and low risk profiles.

Implementation Method 1

a sponge which includes a core region composed of an open cell foam material that is substantially acid resistant and non-degradable, and which expands in volume upon absorption of fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10799380B2Gastric device and method of use thereof

Publication Date: 2020.10.13 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

AI summary

The present invention provides a low-risk, unobtrusive and noninvasive method and device for treatment of obesity and eating disorders. In embodiments, the device is a gastric device suitable for placement in a stomach of a subject. The device may be composed of a sponge material which absorbs fluid upon implantation and expands in volume, thereby functioning as a space occupying device in the stomach to cause early satiety.