Intragastric Device with Dynamic Weight for Obesity Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intragastric devices for obesity treatment either fail to effectively reduce gastric volume and slow gastric emptying, leading to inadequate weight loss and significant side effects such as gastric ulcers, erosions, and small bowel obstruction, or are limited by short-term efficacy due to balloon deterioration.
Innovation Solution
An intragastric device with a dynamic shape-changing structure, made of shape memory metal or polymer, that expands from a pre-deployment to a post-deployment configuration with varying openings to occupy gastric volume, slow gastric emptying, and induce satiety, while being non-invasively deployable and removable, optionally with a sleeve for malabsorptive diversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a gastric restrictive procedure is performed to reduce gastric volume, then weight loss is achieved, but side effects such as gastric outlet obstruction and marginal ulceration occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane that can be expanded and contracted to occupy gastric volume without rigid structural constraints. This flexible approach reduces the risk of gastric outlet obstruction compared to rigid restrictive procedures while still achieving satiety through volume occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device utilizes changes in membrane permeability parameters to control gastric emptying. By adjusting the permeability of the membrane, the device can slow gastric emptying to induce satiety without creating the rigid obstruction that leads to marginal ulceration and other complications.
2Quantity of substance
If a malabsorptive procedure is performed to divert intestinal flow, then weight loss is enhanced, but protein malnutrition and vitamin deficiency occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device implements partial malabsorption by selectively diverting a portion of intestinal flow through the sleeve while allowing continued absorption of essential nutrients. This partial action achieves weight loss benefits without the excessive nutrient diversion that causes protein malnutrition and vitamin deficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve is positioned to create localized malabsorption in specific intestinal segments while preserving absorption function in other areas. This localized approach allows selective nutrient diversion for weight loss while maintaining adequate absorption of essential proteins and vitamins.
3Quantity of substance
If an intragastric balloon is used to occupy gastric volume, then satiety is induced, but the device deteriorates over time leading to short-term efficacy
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates self-diagnostic capabilities that automatically detect membrane integrity and functional status. This self-monitoring system allows for early detection of deterioration and timely intervention, extending the effective duration of the device by preventing catastrophic failure from undetected degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device includes feedback mechanisms that monitor its own structural integrity and performance over time. This continuous feedback allows for adjustment of operational parameters and early warning of deterioration, significantly extending the functional lifespan compared to passive balloons without monitoring capabilities.
4Speed
If gastric emptying is slowed to induce satiety, then weight loss is achieved, but gastric outlet obstruction may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs dynamic control of gastric emptying through adjustable membrane permeability rather than fixed restriction. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt the emptying rate in real-time, slowing emptying sufficiently to induce satiety while maintaining enough patency to prevent obstruction.
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 effectively reduces gastric volume, slows gastric emptying, and induces prolonged satiety, leading to sustained weight loss while minimizing side effects by dynamically changing weight and releasing nutrients, and can treat both obesity and type II diabetes.
Implementation Method 1
made of shape memory metal or polymer, that expands from a pre-deployment to a post-deployment configuration
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed toward an intragastric device used to treat obesity that includes a wire mesh structure capable of changing from a compressed pre-deployment shape to an expanded post-deployment shape with a greatly increased volume. The post-deployment shape contains a light weight at the top and a heavier weight at the bottom to ensure proper positioning within the stomach. In the post-deployment shape, the device contains larger spaces in the upper portion and smaller spaces in the lower portion to sequester food and delay gastric emptying. Alternatively, the device can be enveloped by a membrane containing larger holes at the top and smaller holes at the bottom to sequester food and delay gastric emptying. The device has a dynamic weight where the weight of the device in the pre-feeding stage is less than the weight of the device in feeding or post-feeding stage.