APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CORRECTIVE GUIDANCE OF EATING BEHAVIOR AFTER WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

• US 20150325144A1
• Filed: 06/11/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Isaac Tavori, Lorentz Fleischer
• Original Assignee: Isaac Tavori, Lorentz Fleischer
• Inventors: TAVORI, Isaac, FLEISCHER, Lorentz (Lior)
• Granted Patent: US 9,603,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/686 Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips A61B5/6861 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0833 involving detecting or locating foreign bodies or organic structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4483 characterised by features of the ultrasound transducer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/002 for sensing mechanical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0023 for sensing chemical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/005 Gastric bands
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

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 the eating behavior of a patient equipped with a gastric restriction apparatus (GRA), comprising steps of:

a) monitoring at least one physical parameter directly related to food currently passing through said GRA;

wherein said food currently passing through said GRA is characterized by said at least one physical parameter;

b) analyzing said monitored physical parameter to provide an indication of a current eating behavior pattern;

c) analyzing said indication of a current eating behavior pattern;

d) using said analysis of said indication of a current eating behavior pattern to induce long term modification of the eating behavior of said patient;

wherein said at least one physical parameter is selected from the group consisting of viscosity of a bolus of said food, density of a bolus of said food, quantity of a bolus of said food, the time of passage of a bolus of said food, interval between a pair of boluses of said food, duration of a meal, and pressure applied onto said GRA by said bolus of said food.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring includes monitoring based on a modified flow meter model.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one physical parameter is pressure and wherein said step of analyzing said monitored physical parameter includes processing monitored pressure into an indication selected from a group consisting of volumetric flow, mass flow and Reynolds number, analysis of eating behavior and any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring includes monitoring intra-corporally.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring includes monitoring extra-corporally.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of using said indication of said current eating pattern to modify said eating behavior of said patient and said step of analyzing said indication further comprise a step of indicating current eating behavior through a display to said patient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring includes ultrasonic monitoring of a stoma orifice'"'"'s state and wherein said step of analyzing said monitored physical parameter includes analyzing an acoustic impedance mismatch reflective of said stoma orifice'"'"'s state.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of calibrating said GRA to a desired restriction based on said at least one monitored physical parameter.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one monitored physical parameter is pressure, the method further comprising providing an emergency relief mechanism coupled to said GRA, and using said emergency relief mechanism to automatically release pressure in said GRA when an excessive pressure is indicated by said monitoring.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring is preceded by a step of monitoring the same parameter on a standard food substance to obtain at least one standard food parameter and wherein said step of processing said monitored parameter includes comparing said monitored parameter to said at least one standard food parameter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of monitoring is preceded by the a step of monitoring the same parameter on a standard food substance to obtain at least one standard food parameter and wherein the said step of processing the said monitored parameter includes comparing the said monitored parameter to the said at least one standard food parameter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said indication is provided to said patient and wherein said step of using said indication is performed by said patient.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said indication is provided to a physician and wherein said step of using said indication is performed by a physician through appropriate instructions to said patient.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said food passing through said GRA is at least one of a group consisting of solid and liquid comestibles.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of identifying ingested food as solid food, semi-solid food, or liquid food.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of identifying ingested food as solid food, semi-solid food, or liquid food;

further wherein said method additionally comprising the step of inducing the patient to restrict food passing through the GRA to at least one of a group consisting of solid food, semi-solid food and liquid food.

14. An apparatus for modifying the eating behavior, for data collection and interpretation of eating behavior patterns of a patient equipped with a gastric restriction apparatus (GRA) comprising:

a) monitoring means for monitoring at least one physical parameter directly related to food currently passing through said GRA;

wherein said food currently passing through said GRA is characterized by said at least one physical parameter; and

b) an intra-corporal emergency relief mechanism used to automatically relieve pressure developing due to said food currently passing through the GRA;

wherein said at least one physical parameter is selected from the group consisting of viscosity of a bolus of said food, density of a bolus of said food, quantity of a bolus of said food, the time of passage of a bolus of said food, interval between a pair of boluses of said food, duration of a meal, pressure applied onto said GRA by said bolus of said food.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said emergency relief mechanism includes a relief valve which is activated by a pressure input provided by said monitoring means.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one physical parameter is pressure applied onto said GRA by said bolus of said food, and wherein said monitoring means includes a pressure sensor operative to provide pressure-time data based on a modified flow meter model.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least one of the following is being held true (a) said monitoring means includes an ultrasonic transducer and an ultrasonic detector;

(b) said food passing through said GRA is at least one of a group consisting of solid and liquid comestibles; and

any combination thereof.