In vivo use of water absorbent polymers
AssigneeSorbent Therapeutics, Inc.
InventorsJaime Simon, Alan D. Strickland
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Abstract
The subject invention is a method and material for removing fluid from the intestinal tract of a host and may be useful in treating animals or human patients suffering from fluid overload states. In one embodiment, the subject method involves ingesting an enterically coated non-systemic, non-toxic, non-digestible, water absorbing polymer which absorbs fluid while passing through the intestinal tract. The polymer is excreted in the feces wherein the polymer and absorbed fluid is removed from the body. Preferred polymers include super absorbent acrylic acid polymers, preferably provided in bead form. The polymers may include functional groups for selectively removing blood borne waste products, e.g. urea, from the G.I. tract.
Claims13
A method for treating a fluid overload state in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising directly delivering to the intestinal tract of the host an effective amount of a water-absorbent polymer, wherein the water-absorbent polymer is capable of absorbing at least 10 times its weight in physiological saline, wherein the water-absorbent polymer is not directly exposed to the stomach prior to delivery to the intestinal tract and wherein the fluid overload stat is congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, nephrosis, ascites, renal disease, edema associated with chemotherapy, pre-menstrual fluid overload, or preeclampsia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.