Janna M. Burrell,Randal T. Byrum,Robert Louis Koch, Jr.,Larry D. Pool,Christopher W. Widenhouse
申请号：
US12712466
公开号：
US08608642B2
申请日:
2010.02.25
申请国别(地区):
US
年份:
2013
代理人:
摘要：
An environmentally sensitive hydrogel material swells or collapses in response to a parameter such as pH level associated with consumption of food by a patient. This swelling or collapsing is harnessed to treat morbid obesity or some other condition of the patient. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may be used to tighten a gastric band or gastric valve when the patient starts eating then loosen the band or valve when the patient is between meals. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may also be used to increase the size of a space occupying device in the patients stomach when the patient starts eating then decrease the size of the space occupying device when the patient is between meals. The swelling or collapsing of the hydrogel may also be used to selectively restrict the absorption of nutrients within a patients gastrointestinal tract, such as in the duodenum.
