Variable Size Intragastric Implant Preventing Stomach Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transoral obesity treatment devices lack effectiveness in preventing body compensation and long-term weight loss, as they often require surgical placement and may not adequately stimulate the stomach to reduce appetite and food intake.
Innovation Solution
Development of self-actuating transoral obesity treatment devices that can change shape and volume using internal motors or actuators, exert pressure on the stomach walls, and are designed for easy placement and long-term use without surgery, featuring adjustable lengths, collapsible atraumatic feet, and mechanisms to stimulate the stomach and occupy space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional intragastric balloons are used, then the device occupies space in the stomach to reduce appetite, but the device requires surgical placement and cannot be easily removed
Solution Approach 1:
The intragastric device incorporates an adjustable length mechanism that allows the device to dynamically change its dimensions. The device can be extended to a first length for effective stomach occupancy and compression, then collapsed to a second, shorter length for easy transoral removal without surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The device features a collapsible structure where the body can be compressed into a compact form factor that fits through the esophagus for removal, while expanding to a larger functional size when deployed in the stomach
2Reliability
If static intragastric devices are used, then the device occupies space in the stomach, but the stomach compensates for the implant over time reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates an adjustable length mechanism that allows the device to dynamically change its dimensions. The device can be extended to a first length for effective stomach occupancy and compression, then collapsed to a second, shorter length for easy transoral removal without surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The device can be periodically adjusted in length to maintain optimal therapeutic effect. By cycling between extended and collapsed states, the device prevents the stomach from adapting and compensating, thereby maintaining long-term effectiveness
3Duration of action of stationary object
If intragastric balloons are left in place beyond designed lifetime, then the balloons self-deflate due to acid erosion, but this causes uncontrolled deflation and potential digestive issues
Solution Approach 1:
The intragastric device incorporates an adjustable length mechanism that allows the device to dynamically change its dimensions. The device can be extended to a first length for effective stomach occupancy and compression, then collapsed to a second, shorter length for easy transoral removal without surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed with a predetermined maximum residence time in the stomach. Before acid erosion can cause damage, the device is intentionally removed by collapsing it to a compact size and extracting it transorally, preventing harmful effects
Data Source
AI summary
Transoral obesity treatment devices and related methods for operation thereof are described which occupy space within a stomach and/or stimulate the stomach wall. The transoral obesity treatment devices and related methods are intended to assist a patient in maintaining a healthy body weight. Features of the devices include insertion transorally and without invasive surgery, without associated patient risks of invasive surgery, and without substantial patient discomfort. The life span of these devices may be material-dependent upon long-term survivability within an acidic stomach, but is intended to last one year or longer. The devices have the capacity to vary in size and are desirably self-actuating in that they change shape and/or volume using internal motors or actuators. The changing character of the devices helps prevent the person's stomach from compensating for the implant, such as sometimes happens with static intragastric devices.