Swallowable Intragastric Balloon With Controlled Inflation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current intragastric volume-occupying devices for weight control require complex gastric procedures for insertion and lack control over inflation timing, leading to discomfort and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A swallowable, self-inflating intragastric balloon system with a self-sealing valve and inflation catheter, allowing for non-invasive deployment and controlled inflation using a needle assembly, followed by detachment and deflation through hydraulic pressure or moisture exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex gastric procedures are used for insertion, then the device can be deployed, but patient discomfort and procedural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice deploymentVSAvoidprocedural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The balloon is designed to self-inflate automatically after insertion into the stomach, eliminating the need for complex gastric procedures or external inflation equipment. The self-sealing valve allows the balloon to maintain inflation without continuous external control, and the device can be inserted through simple oral or nasal routes rather than requiring surgical gastric access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the balloon is inflated immediately after insertion, then volume occupation is achieved, but patient discomfort increases due to lack of control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume occupationVSAvoidinflation control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The balloon is pre-assembled with the self-sealing valve and inflation catheter in a compact, swallowable configuration. The inflation catheter remains in place after insertion, allowing controlled inflation at the desired time rather than immediate inflation. This preliminary preparation enables delayed inflation control, reducing patient discomfort while ensuring reliable volume occupation when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the inflation catheter remains attached throughout treatment, then controlled inflation is possible, but patient comfort decreases due to foreign object presence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinflation controlVSAvoidpatient discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inflation catheter is designed to be temporarily attached only during the inflation process, then removed from the balloon system. The self-sealing valve maintains the inflation without requiring the catheter to remain in place, allowing the catheter to be extracted after serving its purpose. This eliminates the continuous foreign object discomfort while preserving inflation control capability during the critical inflation phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Measurement precision

If surgical implantation is used, then precise placement is achieved, but invasiveness and recovery time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement accuracyVSAvoidinvasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device replaces surgical mechanical implantation with a swallowable, non-invasive insertion method. The balloon and catheter assembly is designed to be ingested orally or inserted nasally, eliminating the need for surgical incisions or endoscopic procedures. Placement accuracy is achieved through the natural anatomical route and device design rather than surgical precision, reducing invasiveness while maintaining effective positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables safe, controlled inflation and deflation of the balloon within the stomach without invasive procedures, providing effective weight management with minimal patient discomfort and improved safety.

Implementation Method 1

a self-sealing valve system for addition of fluid to the lumen of the balloon

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelf-sealing:

Implementation Method 2

The catheter is designed such that a portion of the catheter can be bundled or wrapped upon itself for delivery with the encapsulated balloon, allowing the patient to swallow both catheter and balloon for delivery to the stomach. After ingestion or placement in the stomach, the device is inflated with a preselected gas or mixture of gases, to a preselected volume.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiercing:

Implementation Method 3

detachment of the catheter after inflation has been completed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 4

Intragastric volume-occupying devices provide the patient a feeling of satiety after having eaten only small amounts of food. Thus, the caloric intake is diminished while the person is satisfied with a feeling of fullness.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVolume occupation:

Data Source

PatentUS20260069843A1Intragastric device

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 RESHAPE LIFESCIENCES INC

AI summary

Devices and methods for treating obesity are provided. More particularly, intragastric devices and devices for inflating and methods of fabricating, deploying, inflating, monitoring, and retrieving the same are provided.