Devices, systems, and methods to control stomach volume

• US 8,979,887 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Smith, Michael A., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Zare, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): SEVERSON, RYAN J
• Application Number:
  US13/385,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20130226104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 600/37, 604/8, 604/9, 604104-109, 606/191, 623/23.64, 623/23.68
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0016 comprising measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0046 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0073 in the abdominal cavity, e.g. not attached to the stomach
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods, devices, and computer systems thereof for reducing stomach volume in a subject. In certain embodiments, a subject receives a stomach-volume-reducing device that optionally includes at least one reservoir configured to release at least one appetite suppressant. In an embodiment, the stomach-volume-reducing device is responsive to one or more environmental conditions of the subject, for example, pH or chemical chemicals in the stomach of the subject. In an embodiment, the stomach-volume-reducing device controls hunger in the subject.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a reversibly responsive expandable device housing configured to reversibly expand and contract, and wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing includes multiple layers of biodegradable material, at least one port; and

one or more glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogels with at least one appetite suppressant contained therein.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each layer of the reversibly responsive expandable device housing including multiple layers of biodegradable material is responsive to degradative chemicals.

3. The device of claim 1, further including a protease.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein degradation of one or more layers of the reversibly responsive expandable device housing including multiple layers of biodegradable material is predetermined or customized to a particular subject.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein degradation of one or more layers of the reversibly responsive expandable device housing including multiple layers of biodegradable material is directed by at least one of a sensor or wireless controller.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogels are equally dispersed between layers of the biodegradable material.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing includes a polymer formed by a three dimensional model.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the three dimensional model includes a computer generated model.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing is formed using a three dimensional printer.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing is operably coupled to the at least one port.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing is passively expandable based on the glucose or pH condition in the stomach of the subject.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing is controllably expandable based on a substance ingested by the subject.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogels a finite lifespan.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogels can be re-used several feeding cycles of the subject.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogels can be used for only one feeding cycle of the subject.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing is encased by a container.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the container includes a reversibly responsive expandable mesh.

18. The device of claim 1, further including at least one chemical sensor operably coupled to the port.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the at least one chemical sensor is configured to detect at least one chemical present in the subject.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the at least one port includes at least one intelligent responsive matrix.

21. The device of claim 1, further including at least one hunger control delivery reservoir including at least one fluid for activating the one or more glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogels.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the at least one fluid for activating the one or more glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogels include acidified water.

23. The device of claim 1, further including at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve operably connected to control circuitry.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the control circuitry includes wireless control of the at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve is operably connected to at least one transmitter.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein the at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve is operably connected to at least one receiver.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein the at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve is operably connected to at least one energy storage device.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the energy storage device includes a battery.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the battery includes at least one of a microbattery, thin film battery, or rechargeable battery.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel is formulated for gradual release of the at least one appetite suppressant from the one or more glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogels.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogels are formulated to release at least one appetite suppressant by way of diffusion or dissolution of the one or more glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogels.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel is coated in the at least one appetite suppressant.

33. The device of claim 1, further including at least two different responsive matrices, wherein at least one responsive matrix undergoes expansion and at least one different responsive matrix undergoes contraction responsive to the same stimulus.

34. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing is sized for eventual passage through the gastrointestinal tract of the subject.

35. The device of claim 1, further including at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve configured to control the flow of fluid into the reversibly responsive expandable device housing.

36. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing is sized for oral administration to the subject.

37. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing includes one or more energy storage devices.

38. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing includes one or more of a ratchet member, threaded member, or lever member.

39. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing is at least one of biodegradable or biocompatible.

40. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing includes chitosan on at least one external interface.

41. A method of hunger control in a subject, comprising:

activating a stomach-volume-reducing device located in a subject'"'"'s stomach, the stomach-volume-reducing device including a reversibly responsive expandable device housing wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing is configured to reversibly expand or contract and includes multiple layers of glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogel containing at least one appetite suppressant, and at least one port.

42. A system, comprising:

circuitry configured to operate at least one stomach-volume-reducing device with a reversibly responsive expandable device housing configured to reversibly expand or contract and that includes multiple layers of glucose-responsive, pH-sensitive hydrogel containing at least one appetite suppressant, and at least one port.