Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation Device for GERD
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Solution Overview
Problem
Biological lumens such as the esophagus often experience compromised functionality due to defects or diseases, leading to conditions like GERD, where the lower esophageal sphincter fails to regulate the passage of food and acidic fluids, resulting in reflux symptoms, and existing treatments are invasive and may not effectively maintain proper sphincter function.
Innovation Solution
A sphincter augmentation device comprising a series of beads with rare-earth permanent magnets and links that securely fasten around the lower esophageal sphincter, using magnetic attraction to maintain a closed state and allow expansion for food passage, while resilient members like springs or an elastomeric jacket facilitate transition between contracted and expanded states to prevent reflux.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surgical procedures (open or endoscopic fundoplication) are used to treat GERD, then sphincter function may be improved, but the treatment becomes invasive with associated surgical risks and recovery time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive surgical mechanical procedures (suturing, tissue manipulation) with a non-invasive magnetic mechanical system. Permanent magnets are positioned around the LES to provide magnetic compression forces that augment sphincter function without requiring surgical incisions or tissue suturing, thereby eliminating surgical risks while maintaining therapeutic effect
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary between the treatment device and the LES. Instead of direct mechanical contact through surgery, magnetic forces serve as the mediating mechanism to compress and support the sphincter, allowing treatment without direct surgical intervention and reducing harmful invasive effects
2Ease of operation
If the LES is allowed to expand naturally for food passage, then normal swallowing function is maintained, but gastric contents can reflux back into the esophagus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic magnetic compression system where the strength of magnetic forces can be adjusted in response to physiological conditions. During normal swallowing, magnetic compression is reduced to allow expansion; during reflux events or at rest, magnetic compression is increased to prevent gastric contents from rising, thus dynamically balancing ease of operation with harmful factor prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the magnetic field parameters (strength, distribution, timing) to control LES behavior. By varying magnetic compression parameters, the system allows the LES to expand sufficiently for food passage while maintaining enough tone to prevent reflux, effectively using parameter modulation to resolve the contradiction between ease of operation and harmful factor generation
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 prevents gastric reflux by maintaining a closed state of the lower esophageal sphincter while allowing normal passage of food, reducing symptoms associated with GERD and other reflux conditions without the need for invasive surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
using magnetic attraction to maintain a closed state
Implementation Method 2
resilient members like springs or an elastomeric jacket facilitate transition between contracted and expanded states
Data Source
AI summary
A sphincter augmentation device includes a plurality of interlinked bodies and a pair of device ends configured to releasably couple together to secure the bodies in a loop formation sized to fit around an internal anatomical passageway of a patient. The device further includes a plurality of resilient members, with each resilient member extending between an adjacent pair of the bodies. The resilient members are configured to elastically deform to permit the device to transition between a radially contracted state and a radially expanded state. The resilient members bias the device toward the radially contracted state in which the device exerts an inwardly directed force on the anatomical passageway to selectively limit passage of fluids therethrough. The device further includes an expansion limiting member that extends between and is slidably received by an adjacent pair of the bodies, and is configured to limit radial expansion of the device.