GERD Fundus-Wall Implant for Cardia Movement Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical treatments for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) face complications such as device migration and tissue damage due to the fragile nature of the esophagus, necessitating a more effective and complication-free long-term treatment.
Innovation Solution
An implantable movement restriction device with a biocompatible material is positioned against the stomach fundus wall, restricting the movement of the cardiac notch to prevent the cardia from sliding into the thorax, using fixation devices like sutures or staples to secure the device indirectly, minimizing tissue contact and promoting tissue ingrowth for long-term attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an implantable device is placed around the esophagus to treat GERD, then the device can restrict cardiac movement and prevent reflux, but the device migrates through and damages the fragile esophageal tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the stomach fundus wall as an intermediary structure between the device and the esophagus. The device is positioned against the fundus wall rather than directly on the esophagus, allowing the fundus wall to act as a protective mediator that prevents direct contact and damage to the fragile esophageal tissue while still enabling the device to restrict cardiac movement effectively
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing the device directly on the esophagus as in conventional approaches, the patent inverts the placement strategy by positioning the device against the stomach fundus wall. This inversion allows the stronger fundus wall to bear the device's weight and contact forces, reversing which tissue structure interacts directly with the device
2Reliability
If sutures are used to secure the device to the esophagus, then the device can be held in place short-term, but the sutures do not hold over the long term and the device migrates
Solution Approach 1:
The stomach fundus wall serves as an intermediary attachment site, replacing the esophagus as the anchor point for sutures. The fundus wall's stronger tissue structure allows sutures to hold securely over the long term, preventing device migration while the esophagus remains protected from direct suture contact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the attachment location parameter from the esophagus to the stomach fundus wall. This parameter change exploits the fundamental difference in tissue strength between the two structures, enabling long-term secure fixation that would be impossible with esophageal attachment
3Reliability
If the device is placed directly on the esophagus, then it can restrict cardiac movement, but the esophageal muscle tissue is easily damaged or migrated through
Solution Approach 1:
The stomach fundus wall acts as a protective intermediary that absorbs the mechanical stress and contact forces from the device. This mediator approach allows movement restriction to be achieved while the fragile esophageal tissue is shielded from direct device contact and potential damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts which tissue structure bears the mechanical load by placing the device against the fundus wall instead of the esophagus. This inversion transfers the mechanical stress to the stronger fundus wall, protecting the weaker esophageal tissue from damage
Data Source
AI summary
A biocompatible implant for a method of treating a reflux disease in a patient by preventing the cardia sphincter from sliding through the patient's diaphragm hiatus opening into the patient's thorax, so as to maintain a pressure support from the patient's abdomen that supports the patient's cardia sphincter. The biocompatible implant has a rigid shape, a circumference of at least 15 mm and is configured to be introduced into the patient's abdomen through a trocar, be fully invaginatable in the patient's fundus wall, and function as an implantable movement restricting device preventing the cardia sphincter from sliding through the patient's diaphragm, when implanted.