Intestinal Flow Modulator for Obesity Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current obesity treatment methods, such as surgery and device implantation, are ineffective in modulating nutrient absorption in the gastrointestinal system to achieve significant weight loss.

Innovation Solution

A device with an adjustable flow modulator and anchor system is implanted in the gastrointestinal tract to modulate chyme flow, reducing nutrient absorption by increasing flow speed and retaining food in the stomach, while an intestinal sleeve with porous regions allows selective nutrient absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If space occupiers are placed in the stomach to reduce volume and increase satiety, then feelings of fullness are improved, but nutrient absorption is not sufficiently reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesatietyVSAvoidweight loss effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the flow modulation function from the stomach space-occupier concept and applies it specifically to the intestine. The intestinal flow modulator selectively modulates chyme flow without occupying stomach space, thereby reducing nutrient absorption while maintaining satiety mechanisms separately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the obesity treatment function into two distinct components: stomach space occupation for satiety and intestinal flow modulation for nutrient absorption reduction. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If intestinal sleeves are implanted to prevent chyme contact, then nutrient absorption is reduced, but the device structure becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenutrient absorption reductionVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The intestinal flow modulator employs dynamic flow modulation rather than static prevention. The modulator can adjust chyme flow characteristics (speed, distribution) dynamically, achieving nutrient absorption reduction with a simpler structure that relies on flow physics rather than complete anatomical bypass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the flow parameters (velocity, distribution pattern, contact time) of chyme through the intestine using the flow modulator. By adjusting these parameters, nutrient absorption is reduced without requiring complex surgical anatomical modifications or multi-component devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the flow modulator cross-sectional area is reduced to increase flow speed, then nutrient absorption is reduced, but chyme flow resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow speedVSAvoidflow resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The flow modulator applies local flow modulation at specific intestinal locations rather than uniformly reducing cross-sectional area throughout. This localized approach increases flow speed where needed to reduce absorption while maintaining adequate cross-sectional area elsewhere to minimize overall flow resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11517460B2Devices and methods for modulating intestinal flow

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 LIFESPAN CORP

AI summary

A device for implanting in a gastrointestinal system of a patient may include an elongate flow modulator configured to be inserted in an intestine, wherein the flow modulator defines an enclosed interior space to hold a fill material.