Intragastric Balloon Internalized Components Nesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intragastric balloons face issues with tissue trauma, difficulty in finding and grasping external components, and balloon migration leading to obstruction due to external protrusions, which are not adequately addressed by existing systems.

Innovation Solution

The system internalizes external components of the intragastric balloon by using an internal rigid catheter that houses a stretchable inflation tube, allowing it to stretch and return within the balloon, and incorporates a recess to accommodate the valve and cap, reducing external protrusions and facilitating smooth operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If external components (inflation tube, valve, cap) are positioned outside the balloon, then ease of operation for inflation and adjustment is improved, but tissue trauma and difficulty in finding/grasping components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of inflation and adjustmentVSAvoidtissue trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent places the inflation tube inside the balloon cavity, with the tube's proximal end extending through the balloon wall to the exterior. The valve and cap are positioned within the balloon or at its opening, nesting previously external components inside the balloon structure to eliminate tissue trauma while preserving accessibility for inflation operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The balloon wall acts as an intermediary structure that allows the inflation tube to pass through, enabling fluid transfer from the exterior to the interior without requiring external protruding components. This mediator approach resolves the conflict between needing external access and avoiding tissue trauma

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If external components protrude from the balloon, then accessibility for inflation and adjustment is improved, but balloon migration leading to obstruction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for inflationVSAvoidrisk of balloon migration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By nesting the inflation tube and valve within the balloon structure, the patent eliminates external protrusions that could cause mechanical interference or migration. The tube extends through the balloon wall rather than protruding externally, maintaining accessibility while improving reliability by preventing migration-related obstructions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having components extend outward from the balloon, the patent inverts the arrangement by placing components inside the balloon with controlled access points. This inversion resolves the migration issue by eliminating external protrusions while maintaining operational accessibility through the balloon wall

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If inflation tube is contained entirely within the balloon, then tissue trauma and migration risk are reduced, but ease of operation for inflation and adjustment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue traumaVSAvoidease of inflation and adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inflation tube is nested within the balloon cavity for most of its length, eliminating tissue trauma, while its proximal end extends through the balloon wall to provide external access for inflation operations. This partial nesting approach balances both requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The inflation tube is segmented into an internal portion (within the balloon) and an external portion (extending through the wall), with each segment serving different functions. The internal portion minimizes tissue trauma while the external portion enables ease of operation, resolving the contradiction through functional segmentation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 design minimizes tissue trauma, improves the ease of handling, and reduces the risk of balloon migration by keeping external components mostly within the balloon, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of intragastric balloon systems.

Implementation Method 1

a stretchable inflation tube that can stretch from a stomach to a mouth of the subject, about 2.5-10 times its length

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9974680B2System and methods for internalization of external components of adjustable intragastric balloon

Publication Date: 2018.05.22 SPATZ FGIA INC

AI summary

An apparatus for use in a stomach of a subject includes a balloon adapted for placement in the stomach and having an opening to an interior of the balloon, an internal tube in the interior of the balloon with a proximal end coupled to the opening of the balloon, and an inflation tube. The inflation tube has a distal end in the interior of the balloon and a proximal end that can receive a fluid on an exterior of the balloon. The inflation tube can stretch from the stomach to a mouth of the subject to facilitate inflation of the balloon and has a resting position that is substantially within the interior of the balloon. The internal tube is disposed around at least a portion of the inflation tube that is in the interior of the balloon.