Device and method for reducing calorie intake

Abstract

Devices and methods for substantially reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract by capturing food being digested in the stomach 10 and/or anywhere else in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, absorbing or encapsulating the captured food into multiple capturing members and moving such multiple capturing members containing the ingestible encapsulated food down the GI tract, practically out of reach of the GI absorption organs, thus excluding the entrapped ingredients from being involved in the digestion and\or absorption process. The device is designed for oral delivery. The system can be comprised of liquid, food bars or a capsule system. The capsule system is comprised of an external capsule that dissolves in accordance with a temporal or ph dependent preset, which allows the food intake to be at least partially fluidic. The capsule system is further comprised of a mechanism designed to capture and isolate a portion of the food being digested.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract, comprising of:
 a. Capturing means for capturing food ingredients or ingredients participating in food digestion in the gastrointestinal (GI) system, whereas said capturing means has high absorption capacity;   b. Shielding means for shielding said captured food ingredients inside said device; and   c. Moving means for moving said captured food ingredients through the gastrointestinal tract without said food ingredients being substantially digested.   
     
     
         2 . A device as in  claim 1  where the shielding of said captured food ingredients is achieved by a prolonged active absorption period. 
     
     
         3 . A device as in  claim 1  comprising a mixture of non soluble hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic agents. 
     
     
         4 . A device as in  claim 1  where the capturing agents are gels and/or hydrogels. 
     
     
         5 . A device as in  claim 1  where the capturing agent is Polypore. 
     
     
         6 . A device as in  claim 1  where said capturing and shielding of said captured food ingredients is achieved by mechanical means. 
     
     
         7 . A device as in  claim 1  where said capturing of said captured food ingredients is achieved by one member and said shielding of said captured food ingredients is achieved by a another member. 
     
     
         8 . A device as in  claim 1  further comprising decomposing means for decomposing at least part of food ingredients or ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system; 
     
     
         9 . A device as in  claim 1 , further comprising decomposing means for decomposing at least part of food ingredients or ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system, whereas the means for decomposing at least part of ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system are emulsifying agents. 
     
     
         10 . A device as in  claim 1 , further comprising decomposing means for decomposing at least part of food ingredients or ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system, whereas the means for decomposing at least part of ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system is the emulsifying agent Gantrez which interferes with the micelles and decomposes them. 
     
     
         11 . A device for reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract, comprising of:
 a. Capturing means for capturing food ingredients or ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system, whereas said capturing means is in compressed form and opens and is activated in the GI system;   b. Competing means for competing with the absorption mechanism of the GI system; and   c. Moving means for moving with the food through the gastrointestinal tract without said food ingredients being substantially digested.   
     
     
         12 . The device of claim  111  whereas said device can encapsulate said captured food. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11  whereas said device further comprises multiple small devices that expand and are activated in the GI system, to capture some of the GI system content. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11  whereas said device further comprises multiple small devices that are capable of encapsulating the captured content. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11  whereas said device further comprises multiple small devices that each of which in its open form is still small enough to pass through the GI tract. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11  whereas said device further comprises multiple small devices that disintegrates after a preset time, incase they are not able to pass through the GI tract. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11  whereas said device further comprises multiple small devices, where the compressed members comprise of a gel. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11  whereas said device further comprises multiple small devices, where the compressed members are Polypore or contain Polypore. 
     
     
         19 . A method for reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract, including:
 a. Capturing food ingredients or ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system, whereas said capturing means has high absorption capacity;   b. Shielding said captured food ingredients from being digested; and   c. Moving said captured food ingredients through the gastrointestinal tract without said food ingredients being substantially digested.   
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 19  where the shielding of said captured food ingredients is achieved by a prolonged active absorption period. 
     
     
         21 . A method as in  claim 19  comprising a mixture of non soluble hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic agents. 
     
     
         22 . A method as in claimsl 9 , where the capturing agents are gels and/or hydrogels. 
     
     
         23 . A method as in  claim 19 , where the capturing agent is Polypore. 
     
     
         24 . A method as in  claim 19  where said capturing and shielding of said captured food ingredients is achieved by mechanical means. 
     
     
         25 . A method as in  claim 19  where said capturing of said captured food ingredients is achieved by one member and said shielding of said captured food ingredients is achieved by a another member. 
     
     
         26 . A method as in  claim 19  also comprises of decomposing at least part of food ingredients or ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system. 
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 19 , also comprises of decomposing at least part of food ingredients or ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system wherein said decomposing at least part of the ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system is done by emulsifying agents. 
     
     
         28 . A method as in  claim 19 , also comprises of decomposing at least part of food ingredients or ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system wherein said decomposing at least part of the ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system are done by emulsifying agents whereas the emulsifier agent is Gantrez. 
     
     
         29 . A method for reducing the caloric efficiency of the digestive tract, comprising of:
 a. Capturing food ingredients or ingredients participating in food digestion in the GI system, whereas said method provides capturing agents which are in compressed form and open and are activated in the GI system;   b. Competing with the absorption mechanism of the GI system; and   c. Moving with the food through the gastrointestinal tract without said food ingredients being substantially digested.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  whereas the capturing device can encapsulate said captured food. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  whereas said capturing device further comprises of providing multiple small devices that expand and are activated in the GI system, to capture some of the GI system content. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  whereas said capturing device further comprises of providing multiple small capturing devices that are further capable of encapsulating the captured content. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  whereas said capturing device further comprises of providing multiple small capturing devices that each of which in its open form is still small enough to pass through the GI tract. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29  whereas said capturing device further comprises of providing multiple small capturing devices that disintegrate after a preset time, incase they are not able to pass through the GI tract. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29  whereas said capturing device further comprises of providing multiple small capturing devices that are comprised of a gel. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29  whereas said capturing device further comprises of providing multiple small capturing devices that are comprised of a gel which is Polypore.