Stomach Lining Patch with Anchoring Arms for Endoscopic Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, such as lifestyle and medical therapies, are less effective than bariatric surgeries in achieving weight loss and diabetes remission, and there is a need for minimally invasive solutions that can limit nutrient contact to promote weight loss.

Innovation Solution

A stomach lining patch with a collapsible frame, membrane, and anchoring arms is delivered endoscopically to the stomach, expanding to line the gastric wall and limit nutrient contact, allowing for significant weight loss without major surgery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If bariatric surgeries are performed to achieve significant weight loss and diabetes remission, then weight loss effectiveness is improved, but surgical invasiveness and tissue trauma increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight loss effectivenessVSAvoidsurgical trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical surgical interventions (incisions, stapling, resection) with an endoscopic delivery system that implants a stomach lining patch through a minimally invasive transoral approach. The patch is delivered via a catheter-based delivery device that navigates the GI tract and deploys the patch at the target gastric location, substituting major surgery with a less invasive endoscopic procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The stomach lining patch utilizes a thin film membrane structure that conforms to the gastric wall surface. This flexible film design allows the patch to be delivered in a collapsed state through the endoscopic catheter and then expand to line the internal surface of the gastric wall, creating a barrier that limits nutrient contact while avoiding the need for extensive surgical dissection or tissue removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a stomach lining patch is delivered endoscopically to limit nutrient contact, then surgical invasiveness is reduced, but anchoring stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical traumaVSAvoidpatch anchoring stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anchoring mechanism is segmented into multiple independent anchoring arms that extend from the collapsible frame. These arms can be individually deployed through the gastric wall to provide distributed anchoring points, ensuring stable fixation of the patch without requiring a single large incision or extensive tissue manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The collapsible frame acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates the transition between the compressed delivery state and the expanded anchored state. The frame provides structural support during delivery and then transforms to support the membrane and anchoring arms in the deployed configuration, enabling stable anchoring without direct manipulation of the membrane itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a collapsible frame structure is used for endoluminal delivery, then delivery feasibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveendoluminal delivery feasibilityVSAvoidframe structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collapsible frame employs dynamic structural elements that can transition between compressed and expanded configurations. The frame includes articulated joints and flexible segments that allow it to collapse for delivery through the endoscopic catheter and then expand self-propelled or with minimal actuation to provide structural support for the membrane and anchoring mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The delivery system utilizes a nested configuration where the collapsible frame and membrane are contained within the endoscopic delivery catheter in a compressed state. The anchoring arms are nested within or attached to the frame structure, allowing the entire assembly to be delivered through the catheter lumen and then deployed in sequence at the target site

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11564822B2Stomach lining patch with central fixation

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 WL GORE & ASSOC INC

AI summary

A stomach lining patch includes a collapsible frame, a membrane covering the collapsible frame, collapsible frame and the membrane providing a collapsed configuration suitable for endoluminal delivery to a stomach of a patient and an expanded configuration suitable for lining an internal surface of a gastric wall of the stomach, and a set of anchoring arms extending from the collapsible frame and being configured to pass through a puncture in the gastric wall and lay flat against an outer surface of the gastric wall when the collapsible frame and the membrane are in an expanded configuration lining the internal surface of the gastric wall.