Methods and devices to curb appetite and/or reduce food intake
AssigneeEndosphere, Inc.
InventorKenneth F. Binmoeller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and devices that help to curb appetite and/or reduce food intake. In one embodiment, the methods and devices of the present invention include a small intestinal/duodenal insert comprising an elongated member with at least one flow reduction element that can cause the stimulation of one or more biological signals of satiety.
Claims50
A duodenal/small intestinal insert comprising:
- an elongated solid central shaft member, the elongated solid central shaft member having a proximal end and a distal end and a curved longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein the elongated solid central shaft member has a pre-set shape prior to insertion in the gastrointestinal tract such that a portion of the curved longitudinal axis mimics an angulation of the duodenum of a human being and returns to the pre-set shape after insertion into the gastrointestinal tract;
- an anchoring member engaged with the proximal end of the elongated solid central shaft member;
- at least one flow reduction element coupled to the elongated solid central shaft member at a distance from the anchoring member such that when the anchoring member is in an antrum of the stomach, the at least one flow reduction element is within a small intestine;
- and
- a bioactive material on or within the solid shaft member or the at least one flow reduction element.
A method of using a duodenal insert to deliver a bioactive material, the duodenal insert including an elongated solid central shaft member having a proximal end and a distal end and a curved longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the duodenal insert further including an anchoring member engaged with the proximal end of the elongated solid central shaft member, at least one flow reduction element coupled to the elongated solid central shaft member, and a bioactive material on or within the solid shaft member or the at least one flow reduction element, wherein the elongated solid central shaft member has a pre-set shape such that a portion of the curved longitudinal axis mimics an angulation of a duodenum, the method comprising:
- straightening the elongated solid central shaft member from the pre-set shape;
- after straightening, advancing the duodenal insert along an alimentary canal of a human being until the distal end of the elongated solid central shaft member is in the duodenum of the human being;
- returning the elongated solid central shaft member to the pre-set shape after the advancing;
- and
- expanding the flow reduction element when the flow reduction element is distal to a pylorus of the human being;
- wherein the returning step or the expanding step places the bioactive material in the duodenum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.