Devices, systems, and methods to control stomach volume

• US 8,986,337 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• 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:
  US13/385,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20130226221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 600/37, 604/8, 604/9, 604104-109, 606/191, 623/23.64, 623/23.68
• US Class Current: 606/191
• 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 housing configured to reversibly expand or contract and encasing at least one intelligent responsive matrix that is responsive to at least one environmental condition in the stomach of a subject;

at least one entry port; and

at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve operably connected to the at least one port, and operably coupled to control circuitry.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is operably coupled to the at least one entry port.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the reversibly responsive expandable device housing is passively expandable based on the at least one environmental condition in the stomach of the subject.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the matrix can be re-used for several feeding cycles of the subject.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the matrix can be used for only one feeding cycle of the subject.

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

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the container includes a reversibly responsive expandable mesh.

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

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one chemical sensor is configured to detect at least one chemical present in the subject.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the port is responsive to the sensed chemical by the at least one chemical sensor.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one controllable micropump is responsive to the sensed chemical by the at least one chemical sensor.

12. The device of claim 1, further including at least one hunger control delivery reservoir including at least one fluid for activating the responsive matrix, and at least one reservoir port in fluid communication with the responsive matrix.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the at least one fluid for activating the responsive matrix includes acidified water.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the at least one port includes at least one intelligent responsive matrix.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured for wireless control of the at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve is operably connected to at least one transmitter.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve is operably connected to at least one receiver.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve is operably connected to at least one energy storage device.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the responsive matrix includes at least one hydrogel.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the responsive matrix includes at least one responsive intelligent polymerized crystalline colloid.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the responsive intelligent polymerized crystalline colloid is configured to release at least one active agent.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the at least one active agent includes at least one enzyme.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the responsive matrix is formulated for gradual release of at least one appetite suppressant from the matrix.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the responsive matrix is formulated to release at least one appetite suppressant by way of diffusion or dissolution of the matrix.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the responsive matrix is coated in at least one appetite suppressant.

26. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

32. A system, comprising:

circuitry configured to operate at least one stomach-volume-reducing device;

the stomach-volume-reducing device including a reversibly responsive expandable housing configured to reversibly expand or contract and encasing at least one intelligent responsive matrix that is responsive to at least one environmental condition in the stomach of a subject;

at least one port; and

at least one controllable micropump or controllable valve operably connected to the at least one port and

at least one sensor and one or more detection processors configured to determine changes in the concentration of pH or change in nerve signaling from the subject relative to time.

33. The system of claim 32, further including a timer.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the device is programmable for expansion at different rates at different time points.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the device is programmable for expansion at different levels at different time points.

36. The system of claim 32, further including at least one sensor operably coupled to at least one transmitter coupled to the circuitry, the transmitter configured to transmit information at least related to data encoded in one or more sensed signals from the sensor.

37. The system of claim 36, further including a memory module configured to store data encoded in the one or more sensed signals from the sensor.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the device includes one or more appetite suppressant delivery control units that are operably coupled to the circuitry and configured to operate the delivery control units responsive to one or more signals received from the sensor.

39. The system of claim 32, further including the circuitry operably coupled to the at least one port.

40. The system of claim 32, further including the circuitry operably coupled to one or more energy storage devices.