Magnetic Sphincter Beads for Reflux Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for anatomical lumens, such as the esophagus, fail to effectively address the compromised ability to expand and contract due to defects or diseases like GERD, leading to reflux and esophageal damage, as existing solutions do not provide adequate sphincter augmentation.
Innovation Solution
A sphincter augmentation device comprising a series of beads linked by wires, with rare-earth permanent magnets sealed within, that magnetically biases the device to maintain a closed state while allowing expansion for food passage, using varying magnetic strengths to ensure uniform radial expansion and contraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sphincter augmentation device is placed within the esophagus to maintain a closed state and prevent reflux, then the ability to prevent reflux and esophageal damage is improved, but the ability to allow food passage through expansion is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs dynamic magnetic coupling between adjacent beads that can adjust the strength of magnetic interaction. The magnetic coupling force varies based on the distance between beads, allowing the device to automatically transition between a constrained closed state for reflux prevention and an expanded state for food passage, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining closure and enabling expansion.
2Stress or pressure
If the LES is reinforced to maintain higher pressure to prevent reflux, then the ability to contain gastric pressure is improved, but the ability to relax for food passage is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes self-regulating magnetic coupling forces between adjacent beads. When the esophagus is closed, magnetic attraction maintains high pressure to prevent reflux. When expansion is needed, the magnetic coupling naturally weakens as beads move apart, allowing automatic relaxation without external control, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining high pressure and enabling relaxation.
3Reliability
If magnetic coupling strength is increased to maintain closed state, then the ability to prevent reflux is improved, but the ability to allow uniform expansion is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device changes the magnetic coupling parameter dynamically based on the state of the esophagus. Strong magnetic coupling maintains closure and prevents reflux, while weaker magnetic coupling allows uniform expansion. The magnetic coupling strength is not fixed but varies with bead distance, enabling both strong closure maintenance and uniform expansion capability.
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 reflux and esophageal damage by maintaining a closed state during normal conditions and allowing food passage, while ensuring controlled expansion and contraction to accommodate varying pressures and food passage.
Implementation Method 1
rare-earth permanent magnets sealed within, that magnetically biases the device to maintain a closed state
Implementation Method 2
rare-earth permanent magnets sealed within
Implementation Method 3
using varying magnetic strengths to ensure uniform radial expansion and contraction
Implementation Method 4
fields of adjacent magnets
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes at least one link and a plurality of beads. The plurality of beads is joined using the at least one link. The housing includes a magnet chamber. The magnet is configured to emit a magnetic field to magnetically bias the loop toward the contracted configuration. The magnet is sized and configured to move within the magnet chamber. A consistent angular orientation of adjacent housings is determined by at least one of the following adjustment parameters: a magnitude of the magnetic fields of adjacent magnets disposed in the adjacent housings by altering a distance between the adjacent housings, a directionality of the adjacent magnets within adjacent magnet chambers by allowing for twist of the magnet within the magnet chamber, or a freedom of the adjacent magnets to move within the adjacent magnet chambers by allowing the magnets to move laterally within the respective magnet chambers.