Apparatus and methods for corrective guidance of eating behavior after weight loss surgery

• US 8,740,768 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2010
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fleischer Lior, Tavori Isaac
• Original Assignee: Fleischer Lior, Tavori Isaac
• Inventors: Lior, Fleischer, Isaac, Tavori
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): KUHLMAN, CATHERINE BURK
• Application Number:
  US12/954,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20110130625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 31, 600/37, 606139-158
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0016 comprising measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/002 for sensing mechanical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/003 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0053 remotely adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0056 using injection ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0059 with wireless means

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for corrective guidance of eating behavior of a patient equipped with a gastric restriction device. The apparatus provides continuous monitoring or one or more parameters related to food passing through the gastric restriction device. Each monitored parameter is processed to provide a visual indication of the current eating behavior. The visual indication is used as input to the patient or a caregiver to modify the eating behavior. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an emergency relief mechanism that automatically relieves excess pressure developing in the gastric restriction device. In some embodiments, the apparatus is enabled to deliver an appetite suppressant to modify the eating behavior.

Claims

1. A method for modifying eating behavior of a patient equipped with a gastric restriction apparatus (GRA), comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one external sensor in communication with a patient'"'"'s hand;

b) determining motion of said patient'"'"'s hand by means of said external sensor;

c) monitoring a parameter related to food currently passing through said GRA;

d) increasing the signal received from said external sensor by filtering the influence of esophagus and lower esophagus sphincter (LES) so as to gather food passage events; and

e) processing said parameter and said motion of said patient'"'"'s hand, thereby providing an indication of a current eating pattern,

wherein said steps of determining motion of said patients'"'"' hand and said step of providing an indication of a current eating pattern provides differentiation between at least two eating behavior patterns selected from a group consisting of;

eating, vomiting, swallowing saliva, drinking directly from a glass, drinking via a straw, and eating liquid food with a spoon and any combination thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising step of providing at least one second-type external sensor;

further wherein said at least one second-type external sensor is selected from a group consisting of a vertical position sensor, thermometer, thermal sensor, force transducer, or a strain gauge, weighing, oscillating sensor for mass detection or any combination thereof.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said step (d) of increasing the signal received from said external sensor additionally comprises filtering the influence of patient posture while eating on food passage through the GRA.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of using the indication of said current eating pattern to modify the eating behavior of said patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said parameter related to food is pressure;

further wherein said step of processing said parameter related to food is performed by determining at least one selected from a group consisting of volumetric flow, mass flow and Reynolds number.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of indicating current eating behavior through a display to the patient.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of calibrating the GRA to a desired restriction based on the monitored parameter.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one step selected from (a) monitoring said parameter on a standard food substance to obtain at least one standard food parameter;

(b) comparing said monitored parameter to the at least one standard food parameter;

or any combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of indicating said eating behavior pattern to at least one selected from a group consisting of (a) said patient;

(b) predetermined physician;

or any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of indicating is performed by at least one selected from a group consisting of (a) the patient;

(b) said physician through appropriate instructions to the patient;

or any combination thereof.

11. The method according to claim 1, additionally comprising a step of selecting said parameter from a group consisting of total size of meal, average volume of meal, average time of meal, volumetric consumption by time, shifting to liquid food consumption, vomiting events, type of food consumed, times of meals during the day, duration of meals, new adjustment validation data, short term change of pressure events as a result of new adjustment, long term change of pressure events as a result of new adjustment, and any combination thereof.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of processing said parameter and said motion of said patient'"'"'s hand, thereby providing an indication of a current eating pattern comprises a step of indicating if said patient is at least one selected from a group consisting of a constant speed eater, a fast or accelerated speed eater, a night eater, a binge eater, and any combination thereof.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein said external sensor is mounted in a position between the fingers and the elbow.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said external sensor is embodied in at least one element selected from a group consisting of a bracelet, hand watch belt, ring, elastic band wrapped around the arm, patch with one adhesive side, an add-on to a utensil, as an integral part of a utensil, and any combination thereof.

15. A method of modifying eating behavior of a patient equipped with a gastric restriction apparatus (GRA), comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring a parameter related to food currently passing through the GRA by means of at least one first-type external sensor;

b) increasing signal received from said at least one sensor by filtering the influence of esophagus and lower esophagus sphincter (LES) so as to gather food passage events; and

c) processing said parameter, thereby providing an indication of a current eating pattern, wherein said processing of said parameter is obtained according to a modification to the Navier-Stokes equation;

formula (a);

16. The method according to claim 15, additionally comprising step of providing at least one second-type external sensor;

further wherein said at least one second-type external sensor is selected from a group consisting of a vertical position sensor, thermometer, thermal sensor, force transducer, or a strain gauge, weighing, oscillating sensor for mass detection or any combination thereof.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising a step of using the indication of said current eating pattern to modify the eating behavior of said patient.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said step (c) of increasing said signal received from said at least one sensor further comprises filtering the influence of patient posture while eating on food passage through the GRA.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of providing an indication of said current eating pattern is performed through a display to the patient.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising a step of calibrating the GRA to a desired restriction based on the monitored parameter.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising at least one step selected from (a) monitoring said parameter on a standard food substance to obtain at least one standard food parameter;

(b) comparing said monitored parameter to the at least one standard food parameter;

or any combination thereof.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of providing an indication of said current eating pattern is performed to at least one selected from a group consisting of (a) said patient;

(b) predetermined physician;

or any combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said step of providing an indication of said current eating pattern is performed by at least one selected from a group consisting of (a) the patient;

(b) said physician through appropriate instructions to the patient;

or any combination thereof.

24. The method according to claim 15, further comprising a step of selecting said parameter from a group consisting of total size of meal, average volume of meal, average time of meal, volumetric consumption by time, shifting to liquid food consumption, vomiting events, type of food consumed, times of meals during the day, duration of meals, new adjustment validation data, short term change of pressure events as a result of new adjustment, long term change of pressure events as a result of new adjustment, and any combination thereof.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step of providing further comprises a step of indicating if said patient is at least one selected from a group consisting of a constant speed eater, a fast or accelerated speed eater, a night eater, a binge eater, and any combination thereof.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein said at least one first-type-external sensor is mounted in a position between the fingers and the elbow.

27. The method according to claim 15, wherein said at least one first-type external sensor is embodied in at least one element selected from a group consisting of a bracelet, hand watch belt, ring, elastic band wrapped around the arm, patch with one adhesive side, an add-on to a utensil, as an integral part of a utensil, and any combination thereof.