Shape-Memory Pyloric Implant for Controlled Gastric Emptying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current obesity treatment devices are invasive, costly, and ineffective, with high morbidity and mortality rates, and are limited to morbidly obese patients, lacking a less invasive and effective alternative for earlier stages of obesity.
Innovation Solution
A pyloric implant is developed that anchors in the distal stomach and proximal duodenum, spanning the pylorus to slow gastric emptying, optionally with a duodenal sleeve to prevent nutrient absorption, using shape memory materials for expansion and anchoring, and includes features to restrict food passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If surgical weight loss procedures are performed, then weight loss effectiveness is improved, but invasiveness and morbidity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive surgical mechanical systems with a less invasive endoscopic implant system. The pyloric implant is deployed through the pylorus using endoscopic guidance, avoiding the need for open surgery, laparotomy, or complex surgical reattachment procedures while achieving similar weight loss effects through mechanical restriction of food passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the pyloric implant with restrictor) that mediates between the stomach and duodenum. This intermediary structure restricts food passage through the pylorus, slowing gastric emptying and promoting weight loss without requiring direct surgical modification of the gastrointestinal tract anatomy.
2Productivity
If expandable balloon-like implants are placed in the stomach, then weight loss is promoted, but device complexity and potential complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the weight loss mechanism from complex expandable balloon systems and focuses on a simpler pyloric restriction mechanism. The implant comprises a pyloric portion with a restrictor that creates a controlled opening, eliminating the need for complex expansion mechanisms, inflatable chambers, or multiple anchoring systems required by balloon-like devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the implant into distinct functional portions: a stomach portion, a pyloric portion with restrictor, and a duodenal portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall device design compared to integrated balloon systems that require coordinated expansion and anchoring.
3Productivity
If duodenal sleeve is implanted to prevent nutrient absorption, then weight loss is enhanced, but device complexity and migration risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pyloric restriction function and duodenal nutrient absorption prevention function into a single integrated implant device. The duodenal sleeve is attached to the distal end of the pyloric implant, combining both weight loss mechanisms (pyloric restriction and nutrient absorption blockage) in one device, thereby reducing the complexity of multiple separate procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the pyloric implant as an intermediary anchor point for the duodenal sleeve. The duodenal sleeve is attached to the distal end of the pyloric portion, using the pyloric implant's position and structure as a mediator to securely place and stabilize the duodenal component, reducing migration risk.
4Productivity
If traditional obesity surgery is performed, then sustained weight loss is achieved, but post-operative care requirements and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the pyloric implant to be self-contained and self-sustaining, eliminating the need for extensive post-operative care, monitoring, or adjustment procedures. The implant is deployed endoscopically and maintains its position through its own structural features (expandable portions anchoring to stomach and duodenal walls), freeing patients from lengthy hospital stays and post-operative care requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the lengthy post-operative recovery period and hospitalization phase of traditional surgery by using a minimally invasive endoscopic deployment method. The procedure is performed through the pylorus using endoscopic guidance, rushing through the surgical process to achieve weight loss effects without the associated time-consuming post-operative care and hospitalization.
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 slows gastric emptying, promotes weight loss, and can be used in earlier stages of obesity, is less invasive, and reduces the need for extensive post-operative care, with easy removal when desired weight loss is achieved.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the stomach portion, the pyloric portion and the duodenal portion includes a support member and an implant material attached to the support member. The first maximum diameter and the third maximum diameter are both larger than the second maximum diameter
Data Source
AI summary
A pyloric implant generally includes a stomach portion, a duodenal portion and a pyloric portion extending between the two. A channel extends through the implant to allow food to pass from the stomach, through the pylorus, into the duodenum. The stomach and duodenal portions expand from a delivery configuration to a deployed configuration, upon release from a delivery device, in order to anchor the implant within the stomach, pylorus and duodenum. The pyloric implant slows the passage of food out of the stomach, through the pylorus, thus promoting weight loss.