Feedback systems and methods to enhance obstructive and other obesity treatments, optionally using multiple sensors
First Claim
1. A therapeutic implant system for treating an overweight patient, the patient having a gastrointestinal tract and an unhealthy ingestion pattern, the therapeutic implant system comprising:
- an ingestion restricting implant body deployable along the gastrointestinal tract so as to separate the gastrointestinal tract into a restricted portion of the gastrointestinal tract and a gastric pouch portion of the gastrointestinal tract upstream of the restricted portion, the implant body comprising a gastric band defining a channel therethrough, the gastrointestinal tract extendable through the channel of the implant body, wherein the gastric band comprises a fluid-filled pressure bladder disposed between the channel and a support structure such that changes in a fluid pressure within the fluid pressure bladder correspond with changes in an engagement force between the gastrointestinal tract and the gastric band;
a sensor coupleable to the gastric pouch portion of the gastrointestinal pouch so that signals are generated in response to transient changes in the gastric pouch and the signals indicate an ingestion event;
a processor coupled to the signal generator and the implant body;
a display coupled to the processor, the display showing eating events identified in response to the signals during a plurality of days and configured for communicating feedback to the patient, a peer group member, a health care professional, or a lifestyle coach;
an actuator coupled to the processor so as to alter the fluid pressure within the bladder in response to the ingestion event; and
at least two electrodes coupled to the processor so as to stimulate tissue of the gastrointestinal tract such that, in response to the signals, the unhealthy ingestion pattern by the patient is inhibited in use sufficiently to modify the unhealthy ingestion pattern toward a healthier ingestion pattern.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Feedback systems and methods enhance obstructive and other obesity treatments by presenting feedback regarding patients'"'"' actual eating. An ingestion restricting implant body can be deployed along the gastrointestinal tract. In some embodiments, ingestion alters the implant body, which, in turn, generates signals. The generated signals can be used to inhibit unhealthy ingestion by the patient. In other embodiments, the implant body can be altered by signals so as to selectable change the restriction imposed on the gastrointestinal tract, optionally in response to ingestion events, an eating schedule, or the like. The implant body may comprise a gastric band. Sensor signals may be processed to identify ingestion and/or characterize ingestion material, and the results may be displayed on a screen for a patient or coach to view.
317 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A therapeutic implant system for treating an overweight patient, the patient having a gastrointestinal tract and an unhealthy ingestion pattern, the therapeutic implant system comprising:
-
an ingestion restricting implant body deployable along the gastrointestinal tract so as to separate the gastrointestinal tract into a restricted portion of the gastrointestinal tract and a gastric pouch portion of the gastrointestinal tract upstream of the restricted portion, the implant body comprising a gastric band defining a channel therethrough, the gastrointestinal tract extendable through the channel of the implant body, wherein the gastric band comprises a fluid-filled pressure bladder disposed between the channel and a support structure such that changes in a fluid pressure within the fluid pressure bladder correspond with changes in an engagement force between the gastrointestinal tract and the gastric band; a sensor coupleable to the gastric pouch portion of the gastrointestinal pouch so that signals are generated in response to transient changes in the gastric pouch and the signals indicate an ingestion event; a processor coupled to the signal generator and the implant body; a display coupled to the processor, the display showing eating events identified in response to the signals during a plurality of days and configured for communicating feedback to the patient, a peer group member, a health care professional, or a lifestyle coach; an actuator coupled to the processor so as to alter the fluid pressure within the bladder in response to the ingestion event; and at least two electrodes coupled to the processor so as to stimulate tissue of the gastrointestinal tract such that, in response to the signals, the unhealthy ingestion pattern by the patient is inhibited in use sufficiently to modify the unhealthy ingestion pattern toward a healthier ingestion pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A system for treating an obese patient, the patient having a gastrointestinal tract, the system comprising:
-
an ingestion restricting implant body deployable along the gastrointestinal tract; at least two sensors so as to transmit signals in response to ingestion into the patient in use, wherein the at least two sensors include a transgastric probe having a probe body and a transgastric wall traversing portion, the at least two sensors separated along the probe body from the transgastric wall traversing portion so as to be disposed within an interior of the gastrointestinal tract; and a processor coupled to the at least two sensors, the processor, in response to the signals, generating output comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of; ingestion display signals based on ingestion into the patient, and patient treatment signals. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A therapeutic implant system for treating a patient, the patient having a gastrointestinal tract and an unhealthy ingestion pattern, the therapeutic implant system comprising:
-
an ingestion restricting implant body implantable along the gastrointestinal tract so as to separate the gastrointestinal tract into a restricted portion of the gastrointestinal tract and a gastric pouch portion of the gastrointestinal tract upstream of the restricted portion; at least two sensors configured to engage the gastric pouch portion, wherein the sensor is included in a transgastric probe having a probe body and a transgastric wall traversing portion, the sensor separated along the probe body from the wall traversing portion so as to be disposed within an interior of the gastric pouch; and a processor coupleable to the sensor so as to transmit signals therebetween, wherein the signals are transmitted in correlation with transient changes in the gastric pouch potion of the gastrointestinal tract in use. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for treating an obese patient, the patient having a gastrointestinal tract, the method comprising:
-
deploying at least a portion of an implant along the gastrointestinal tract, the implant having a body, at least three sensors and a processor; identifying, during a day and in response to signals sent from the sensors to the processor, a candidate characterization of an ingested material;
wherein the at least three sensors of the deployed implant include a transgastric probe having a probe body and a transgastric wall traversing portion, the sensor separated along the probe body from the wall traversing portion so as to be disposed within an interior of the gastrointestinal tract;determining whether the ingested material constitutes an allowed ingestion in response to the candidate characterization, and if so, allowing the ingested material to traverse the body of the implant along the gastrointestinal tract; determining whether the ingested material constitutes an unhealthy ingestion in response to the candidate characterization, and if so, transmitting signals from the processor to the body so as to alter a shape, compliance, and/or size of the body such that the body restricts the unhealthy ingestion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A therapeutic implant system for treating an overweight patient, the patient having a gastrointestinal tract and an unhealthy ingestion pattern, the therapeutic implant system comprising:
-
an ingestion restricting implant body deployable along the gastrointestinal tract so as to separate the gastrointestinal tract into different portions;
wherein the implant comprises a first gastric band and a second gastric band;
the first gastric band located superior relative to the second gastric band, each gastric band defining a channel through the gastrointestinal tract;
wherein the first gastric band comprises a fluid-filled pressure bladder disposed between the channel and a support structure such that changes in a fluid pressure within the bladder correspond with changes in an engagement force between the gastrointestinal tract and the first gastric band;at least two sensors coupleable to the first and/or second gastric bands, the sensors capable of generating signals in response to transient changes in the gastrointestinal tract indicative of an ingestion event; a processor coupled to a signal generator and the implant body; a display coupled to the processor, the display showing ingestion events identified in response to the signals during a plurality of days and configured for communicating feedback to the patient, a peer group member, a health care professional, or a lifestyle coach; an actuator coupled to the processor so as to alter the fluid pressure within the bladder in response to the ingestion event; and at least two electrodes coupled to the processor so as to stimulate tissue of the gastrointestinal tract such that, in response to the signals, the unhealthy ingestion pattern of the patient is inhibited in use sufficiently to modify the unhealthy ingestion pattern toward a healthier ingestion pattern. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification