Intragastric space filler

Abstract

A gastric space filler device for treating obesity in a patient by reducing the stomach volume comprising an inflatable space filler and a safety element secured to the space filler, wherein the safety element yields a noticeable signal for causing removal of the space filler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gastric space filler device for treating obesity in a patient by reducing the stomach volume comprising an inflatable space filler and a safety element secured to said space filler, wherein the safety element comprises a mechanism to yield a noticeable signal for causing a removal of said space filler. 
     
     
         2 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the safety element comprises a pressure sensor element for sensing an internal pressure of said inflatable space filler. 
     
     
         3 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 3 , wherein the pressure sensor clement further comprises a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the sensed internal pressure to a receiver outside a body of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the safety element comprises a pH sensor element for sensing a pH of a stomach of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 5 , wherein the pH sensor element further comprises a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the sensed pH to a receiver outside a body of the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the space filler and the safety element are configured to be in tandem or substantially parallel to each other inside a stomach pouch of the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the safety element is anchored to an inner wall of a stomach pouch of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein either the safety element or the space filler is ultrasonically visible. 
     
     
         9 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein an ultrasonic transducer is provided for emitting an ultrasonic signal. 
     
     
         10 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the gastric space filler is configured to be deliverable through an esophagus of the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the space filler device is treated with an anti-acid substance. 
     
     
         12 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the space filler device is treated with a corrosion-resistant substance. 
     
     
         13 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the space filler device is treated with an anti-adhesion substance. 
     
     
         14 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the space filler device is treated with albumin or melatonin. 
     
     
         15 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the space filler device is treated with phosphorylcholine. 
     
     
         16 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the space filler comprises a central opening extending therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the space filler is sized to occupy at least 90% of a stomach volume of the patient. 
     
     
         18 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the space filler has an adjustable volume and is sized and configured to occupy up to 90% of a stomach volume of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the space filler comprises a volume-adjusting mechanism for adjusting the space filler over time to allow initial acceptance by the stomach and increasing volume to get a right balance of weight loss and lack of nausea and vomiting. 
     
     
         20 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the safety element is an inflatable balloon made of a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         21 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 20 , wherein the biodegradable material is selected from a group consisting of polymers or copolymers of lactide, glycolide, caprolactone, polydioxanone, trimethylene carbonate, polyorthoesters, and polyethylene oxide. 
     
     
         22 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 20 , wherein the biodegradable material is selected from a group consisting of collagen, chitosan, elastin, gelatin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 1 , wherein the space filler is made of a non-biodegradable material selected from a group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, Nylon, polyethylene, silicone, latex, polyethylene, and copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         24 . A gastric space filler device for treating obesity in a patient by reducing a stomach volume comprising an inflatable space filler with a first reference shape at an inflated state and means for substantially maintaining said first reference shape at a deflated state. 
     
     
         25 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 24 , wherein the means for substantially maintaining said first reference shape at the deflated state is to provide a spiral supportive ridgeline onto said space filler. 
     
     
         26 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 25 , wherein the spiral ridgeline comprises a material similar to material of the space filler. 
     
     
         27 . The gastric space filler device of  claim 24 , wherein the means for substantially maintaining said first reference shape at the deflated state is to provide a plurality of cross bars inside an interior space of said space filler. 
     
     
         28 . A gastric space filler device for treating obesity in a patient by reducing a stomach volume comprising an inflatable space filler with a first cross-sectional circumference dimension at an inflated state and means for maintaining a second cross-sectional circumference dimension with at least 75 percentage of said first circumference dimension at a deflated state.