Methods and devices for treating morbid obesity using hydrogel
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a sensor device configured for implantation within a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, wherein the sensor device comprises;
(i) a hydrogel that senses a physiological parameter associated with consumption of food by the patient, wherein the hydrogel swells or collapses in response to sensing a physiological parameter associated with consumption of food by the patient, and(ii) a fluid reservoir containing an actuation fluid, wherein the fluid reservoir is defined by the hydrogel;
(b) a restriction forming device configured for implantation within the patient, wherein the restriction forming device is configured to form a restriction in an anatomical structure of the patient, wherein the restriction forming device is coupled with the sensor device via a conduit such that the restriction forming device and the sensor device are in fluid communication via the conduit, wherein the restriction forming device selectively varies the degree of restriction formed by the restriction forming device based at least in part on whether the hydrogel is in a swelled state or a collapsed state, wherein the restriction forming device contains a fluid, wherein the degree of restriction formed by the restriction forming device is based on an amount of fluid in the restriction forming device, wherein the hydrogel is formulated to swell in response to being exposed to gastric fluids indicating consumption of food by the patient such that swelling by the hydrogel forces actuation fluid from the reservoir toward the restriction forming device to add fluid to the restriction forming device to thereby increase the degree of restriction formed by the restriction forming device; and
(c) a catheter, wherein the catheter couples the restriction forming device with the fluid reservoir of the sensor device such that the fluid reservoir of the sensor device is in communication with the restriction forming device.
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Abstract
An environmentally sensitive hydrogel material swells or collapses in response to a parameter such as pH level associated with consumption of food by a patient. This swelling or collapsing is harnessed to treat morbid obesity or some other condition of the patient. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may be used to tighten a gastric band or gastric valve when the patient starts eating; then loosen the band or valve when the patient is between meals. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may also be used to increase the size of a space occupying device in the patient'"'"'s stomach when the patient starts eating; then decrease the size of the space occupying device when the patient is between meals. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may also be used to selectively restrict the absorption of nutrients within a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, such as in the duodenum.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a sensor device configured for implantation within a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, wherein the sensor device comprises; (i) a hydrogel that senses a physiological parameter associated with consumption of food by the patient, wherein the hydrogel swells or collapses in response to sensing a physiological parameter associated with consumption of food by the patient, and (ii) a fluid reservoir containing an actuation fluid, wherein the fluid reservoir is defined by the hydrogel; (b) a restriction forming device configured for implantation within the patient, wherein the restriction forming device is configured to form a restriction in an anatomical structure of the patient, wherein the restriction forming device is coupled with the sensor device via a conduit such that the restriction forming device and the sensor device are in fluid communication via the conduit, wherein the restriction forming device selectively varies the degree of restriction formed by the restriction forming device based at least in part on whether the hydrogel is in a swelled state or a collapsed state, wherein the restriction forming device contains a fluid, wherein the degree of restriction formed by the restriction forming device is based on an amount of fluid in the restriction forming device, wherein the hydrogel is formulated to swell in response to being exposed to gastric fluids indicating consumption of food by the patient such that swelling by the hydrogel forces actuation fluid from the reservoir toward the restriction forming device to add fluid to the restriction forming device to thereby increase the degree of restriction formed by the restriction forming device; and (c) a catheter, wherein the catheter couples the restriction forming device with the fluid reservoir of the sensor device such that the fluid reservoir of the sensor device is in communication with the restriction forming device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a sensor device configured for implantation within a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, wherein the sensor device comprises; (i) a hydrogel that senses a physiological parameter associated with consumption of food by the patient, wherein the hydrogel swells or collapses in response to sensing a physiological parameter associated with consumption of food by the patient, and (ii) a fluid reservoir containing an actuation fluid, wherein the fluid reservoir is defined by the hydrogel; (b) a restriction forming device configured for implantation within the patient, wherein the restriction forming device is configured to form a restriction in an anatomical structure of the patient, wherein the restriction forming device is coupled with the sensor device via a conduit such that the restriction forming device and the sensor device are in fluid communication via the conduit, wherein the restriction forming device selectively varies the degree of restriction formed by the restriction forming device based at least in part on whether the hydrogel is in a swelled state or a collapsed state, wherein the restriction forming device contains a fluid, wherein the degree of restriction formed by the restriction forming device is based on an amount of fluid in the restriction forming device, wherein the hydrogel reservoir is formulated to collapse in response to being exposed to gastric fluids indicating consumption of food by the patient such that collapsing by the hydrogel reservoir forces actuation fluid from the reservoir toward the restriction forming device to add fluid to the restriction forming device to thereby increase the degree of restriction formed by the restriction forming device; and (c) a catheter, wherein the catheter couples the restriction forming device with the fluid reservoir of the sensor device such that the fluid reservoir of the sensor device is in communication with the restriction forming device.
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Specification