Intragastric Balloon Pressure Control via Segmented Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intragastric volume-occupying devices for obesity treatment face challenges such as complex insertion procedures, lack of control over inflation timing, and potential for premature deflation or uncontrolled device failure, which can lead to inadequate weight management and discomfort for patients.
Innovation Solution
A free-floating intragastric volume-occupying device that maintains a predetermined volume and internal pressure over time, allowing for self-inflation or manual inflation via a tether, using a gas-impermeable material with preselected gas diffusion properties to ensure controlled expansion and contraction, and can be swallowed without invasive procedures, with optional tracking and visualization components for monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex gastric procedures are used to insert intragastric devices, then the device can be implanted, but the insertion procedure becomes complex and invasive
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate components: an intragastric balloon that can be swallowed and an external inflation system. This segmentation allows the balloon to be easily administered orally without complex gastric procedures, while the inflation control remains external and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
A catheter serves as an intermediary component connecting the external inflation system to the intragastric balloon. The catheter allows fluid communication between the external dispenser and the internal balloon, enabling non-invasive inflation while maintaining reliable device implantation.
2Productivity
If intragastric devices are inflated to occupy stomach space, then weight management is improved, but control over inflation timing and pressure is lost leading to premature deflation
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates pressure sensors and control mechanisms that monitor intragastric balloon pressure and provide feedback to the external dispenser. This feedback loop enables automatic maintenance of predetermined pressure ranges, preventing premature deflation while ensuring effective weight management.
Solution Approach 2:
The intragastric balloon system is designed to maintain its own inflation status through automated pressure regulation. The control mechanism automatically adjusts fluid delivery to maintain predetermined pressure, reducing the need for manual intervention and ensuring reliable inflation control throughout the treatment period.
3Productivity
If intragastric devices maintain high internal pressure to occupy space, then satiety is achieved, but stress on the device increases leading to structural failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts intragastric balloon pressure to maintain it within a predetermined safe range. Rather than maintaining constant high pressure, the control mechanism modulates pressure to achieve satiety while preventing excessive stress that could lead to structural failure of the balloon or surrounding tissues.
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 device provides controlled and sustained volume occupation in the stomach, minimizing stress on the device and ensuring safe operation, allowing for effective weight management without invasive procedures and with enhanced monitoring capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
using a gas-impermeable material with preselected gas diffusion properties to ensure controlled expansion and contraction
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. More particularly, intragastric devices and methods of fabricating, deploying, inflating, monitoring, and retrieving the same are provided.