Device for Selectively Reducing Absorption of Unhealthy Food

• US 20140276546A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medibotics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Connor
• Inventors: Connor, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,456,916 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/503
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0016 comprising measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0076 preventing normal digestion, e.g. Bariatric or gastric sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1726 the body parameters being measured at, or proximate to, the infusion site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/08 Lipoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3324 PH measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1053 Stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1057 Duodenum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00

Abstract

This invention is a device and method for selectively and automatically reducing absorption of unhealthy food in a person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, while allowing normal absorption of healthy food. In an example, such a device can comprise: a food-identifying sensor; an absorption-reducing substance; an implanted reservoir; and a release-control mechanism that selectively and automatically releases the substance into the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract when the sensor detects that the person is consuming unhealthy food.

Claims

1. A device for selectively and automatically reducing the absorption of selected types of food in a person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract comprising:

a food-identifying sensor that selectively detects when the person is consuming and/or digesting selected types of food;

an absorption-reducing substance that is released into the interior of the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract to temporarily reduce absorption of nutrients from food by the gastrointestinal tract;

an implanted reservoir that contains a quantity of the absorption-reducing substance, wherein this reservoir is configured to be implanted within the person'"'"'s body and wherein there is an opening or lumen through which the absorption-reducing substance is released from the reservoir into the interior of a portion of the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract; and

a release-control mechanism that controls the release of the absorption-reducing substance from the reservoir into the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, wherein this release-control mechanism can selectively and automatically increase the release of the absorption-reducing substance when the food-identifying sensor detects that the person is consuming and/or digesting selected types of food.

2. The food-identifying sensor in claim 1 wherein this sensor can selectively discriminate between consumption and/or digestion of unhealthy food and consumption and/or digestion of healthy food.

3. The unhealthy food in claim 2 wherein unhealthy food is identified as having a high concentration of one or more nutrients selected from the group consisting of:

sugars, simple sugars, simple carbohydrates, fats, saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium.

4. The unhealthy food in claim 2 wherein unhealthy food is identified as having a large amount of one or more nutrients selected from the group consisting of:

sugars, simple sugars, simple carbohydrates, fats, saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium.

5. The unhealthy food in claim 2 wherein unhealthy food is identified as food with an amount of one or more nutrients selected from the group consisting of sugars, simple sugars, simple carbohydrates, fats, saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium that is more than the recommended amount of such nutrient for the person during a given period of time.

6. The food-identifying sensor in claim 1 wherein this sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

chemical sensor, biochemical sensor, accelerometer, amino acid sensor, biological sensor, camera, chemoreceptor, cholesterol sensor, chromatography sensor, EGG sensor, electrolyte sensor, electromagnetic sensor, electronic nose, EMG sensor, enzyme-based sensor, fat sensor, flow sensor, particle size sensor, peristalsis sensor, genetic sensor, glucose sensor, imaging sensor, impedance sensor, infrared sensor, interferometer, medichip, membrane-based sensor, Micro Electrical Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor, microfluidic sensor, micronutrient sensor, molecular sensor, motion sensor, muscle activity sensor, nanoparticle sensor, neural impulse sensor, nutrient sensor, optical sensor, osmolality sensor, pH level sensor, pressure sensor, protein-based sensor, reagent-based sensor, smell sensor, sound sensor, strain gauge, taste sensor, and temperature sensor.

7. The absorption-reducing substance in claim 1 wherein this substance coats food, food particles, nutrients, and/or chyme in the gastrointestinal tract.

8. The absorption-reducing substance in claim 1 wherein this substance temporarily coats a portion of the interior walls of the intestine.

9. The absorption-reducing substance in claim 1 wherein this substance binds to food, food particles, nutrients, and/or chyme in the gastrointestinal tract.

10. The absorption-reducing substance in claim 1 wherein this substance temporarily binds to a portion of the interior walls of the intestine.

11. The absorption-reducing substance in claim 1 wherein this substance temporarily increases the viscosity, increases the thickness, and/or decreases the nutrient permeability of the mucus that covers a portion of the interior walls of the person'"'"'s intestine.

12. The absorption-reducing substance in claim 1 wherein this absorption-reducing substance comprises one or more ingredients that are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) under Sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

13. The release-control mechanism in claim 1 wherein this release-control mechanism can:

start or increase the release of the absorption-reducing substance into the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract in response to detection of consumption or digestion of unhealthy types of food by the food-identifying sensor; and

/or stop or decrease the release of the absorption-reducing substance into the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract in response to detection of consumption or digestion of healthy types of food by the food-identifying sensor.

14. The unhealthy type of food in claim 12 wherein unhealthy food is identified as having a relatively large amount or concentration of one or more nutrients selected from the group consisting of:

sugars, simple sugars, simple carbohydrates, fats, saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium.

15. The release-control mechanism in claim 1 wherein this release-control mechanism can communicate wirelessly with a source external to the person'"'"'s body.

16. The release-control mechanism in claim 1 wherein this release-control mechanism can be programmed, or otherwise adjusted, to change the types of selected foods or nutrients to which it responds by releasing an absorption-reducing substance into the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract.

17. The release-control mechanism in claim 1 wherein this release-control mechanism can be programmed to adjust one or more of the following aspects of its response to the food-identifying sensor:

the type of food which triggers decreased food absorption;

the quantity of food which triggers decreased food absorption;

the time of day, day of the week, or other timing parameter concerning food consumption which triggers decreased food absorption;

the effect of the person'"'"'s past food consumption on decreased food absorption;

the effect of the person'"'"'s caloric expenditure on decreased food absorption; and

the effect of a personalized diet plan created for the person by a health care professional.

18. A device for selectively and automatically reducing the absorption of unhealthy food by a person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract comprising:

a food-identifying sensor that selectively detects when the person is consuming and/or digesting unhealthy food, wherein unhealthy food is identified as food that has a relatively large amount or concentration of one or more nutrients selected from the group consisting of;

sugars, simple sugars, simple carbohydrates, fats, saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium;

an absorption-reducing substance that is released into the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract to reduce absorption of nutrients from food in the gastrointestinal tract by one or more means selected from the group consisting of;

coating food, food particles, nutrients, and/or chyme in the gastrointestinal tract;

temporarily coating a portion of the interior walls of the gastrointestinal tract;

binding to food, food particles, nutrients, and/or chyme in the gastrointestinal tract;

temporarily binding to a portion of the interior walls of the gastrointestinal tract;

temporarily blocking nutrient-absorbing organelles on a portion of the interior walls of the person'"'"'s duodenum;

temporarily increasing the viscosity of the mucus on a portion of the interior walls of the person'"'"'s intestine; and

temporarily decreasing the nutrient permeability of the mucus on a portion of the interior walls of the person'"'"'s intestine;

an implanted reservoir that contains a quantity of the absorption-reducing substance, wherein this reservoir is configured to be implanted within the person'"'"'s body, and wherein there is an opening or lumen through which the absorption-reducing substance is released from the reservoir into a portion of the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract; and

a release-control mechanism that controls the release of the absorption-reducing substance from the reservoir into the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, wherein the amount of absorption-reducing substance released can be selectively and automatically increased when the food-identifying sensor detects that the person is consuming or digesting unhealthy food and wherein the amount of substance released can be selectively and automatically decreased when the sensor detects that the person is consuming or digesting healthy food.

19. A device for selectively and automatically reducing the absorption of selected types of food in a person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract comprising:

a food-identifying sensor that selectively detects when a person is consuming or digesting selected types of food, wherein this food-identifying sensor is configured to be implanted or attached within the person'"'"'s oral cavity, the person'"'"'s nasal cavity, or tissue surrounding one of these cavities; and

an absorption-reducing member that is implanted within the person'"'"'s body, wherein this absorption-reducing member can selectively and automatically reduce the absorption of food within the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract when the sensor detects that the person is consuming or digesting selected types of food.

20. A method for selectively and automatically reducing the absorption selected types of food in the gastrointestinal tract comprising:

selectively and automatically detecting when a person is consuming or digesting selected types of food by means of a sensor that is configured to be implanted or attached within the person'"'"'s oral cavity, the person'"'"'s nasal cavity, or tissue surrounding one of these cavities; and

selectively and automatically reducing the absorption of food within the person'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract by means of an implanted absorption-reducing member, wherein this member selectively and automatically reduces food absorption when the sensor detects that the person is consuming or digesting selected types of food.