Medical or veterinary digestive tract utilization systems and methods
First Claim
1. A medical or veterinary system comprising:
- a module body small enough for a subject to swallow;
an earlier-acting attachment feature operable for coupling the module body to a first portion of a mucous membrane, the earlier-acting attachment feature including at least;
one or more attachment elements including at least one of a piercing element, a gripping element, a magnetic-flux-guiding element, or an adhesive material;
a first delay-inducing element responsive to an apparent ingestion of the module body;
a first actuator operable for coupling the module body to the first portion of the mucous membrane at least partially using the one or more attachment elements; and
a later-acting attachment feature operable for coupling the module body to a second portion of the mucous membrane at least one minute after the earlier-acting attachment feature couples the module body to the first portion of the mucous membrane, the later-acting attachment feature including at least;
a second delay-inducing element that is slower than the first delay-inducing element by at least an hour; and
the later-acting attachment feature including at least a second actuator operable for injecting a polymer-containing binding agent into a binding location suitable for coupling the module body to the second portion of the mucous membrane responsive to the second delay-inducing element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for implementing or deploying medical or veterinary utility modules (a) operable for mooring at least partly within a digestive tract, (b) small enough to pass through the tract per vias naturales and including a wireless-control component, (c) having one or more attachment protrusions positionable adjacent to a mucous membrane, (d) configured to facilitate redundant modes of attachment, (e) facilitating a “primary” material supply deployable within a stomach for an extended and/or controllable period, (f) moored by one or more adaptable extender modules supported by a subject'"'"'s head or neck, and/or (g) configured to facilitate supporting at least a sensor within a subject'"'"'s body lumen for up to a day or more.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medical or veterinary system comprising:
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a module body small enough for a subject to swallow; an earlier-acting attachment feature operable for coupling the module body to a first portion of a mucous membrane, the earlier-acting attachment feature including at least; one or more attachment elements including at least one of a piercing element, a gripping element, a magnetic-flux-guiding element, or an adhesive material; a first delay-inducing element responsive to an apparent ingestion of the module body; a first actuator operable for coupling the module body to the first portion of the mucous membrane at least partially using the one or more attachment elements; and a later-acting attachment feature operable for coupling the module body to a second portion of the mucous membrane at least one minute after the earlier-acting attachment feature couples the module body to the first portion of the mucous membrane, the later-acting attachment feature including at least; a second delay-inducing element that is slower than the first delay-inducing element by at least an hour; and the later-acting attachment feature including at least a second actuator operable for injecting a polymer-containing binding agent into a binding location suitable for coupling the module body to the second portion of the mucous membrane responsive to the second delay-inducing element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A medical or veterinary system comprising:
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a sensor-containing module that includes at least one or more of a carbohydrate sensor or a pH sensor; a reservoir containing a therapeutic material that includes at least one or more of an appetite suppressant or an anti-hyperglycemic-medication; an earlier-acting attachment feature that includes one or more attachment elements operable for coupling the sensor-containing module to a first portion of a mucous membrane; a first delay-inducing element responsive to apparent ingestion of the sensor-containing module; a second delay-inducing element being slower than the first delay-inducing element by at least an hour; and a later-acting attachment feature including at least an actuator operable for injecting a polymer-containing binding agent into a binding location suitable for coupling the sensor-containing module to a portion of the mucous membrane responsive to the second delay-inducing element. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification