Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
FIELD OF INVENTION
This relates -to an apparatus and a method for reducing
sensations of hunger in order to assist in securing bodily weight
loss.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Numerous methods and apparatuses have been suggested and
employed to ach:ieve wei~ht :Ioss. ~lany of these methods result
ln discomfor-t to the user or require substan-tial ].evels of self
control or sorne times present a risk to the heal.-th oE the user.
In the case of grossly overweight persons it is sometimes
necessary to resort to medical -treatment such as the use of drugs
or hospitalization or to surgical treatment such as intestinal
by-pass surgery, in order to achieve weight loss.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The presen-t invention provides a device for reducing
sensations of hunger, which is capable of being readily emplaced
and which avoids the potential risks of medical and surgical
procedures discussed previously. The device is also relatively
inexpensive to produce and permits the user to function normally
during its use.
In accordance with the present inventioll there is pro-
vided a device for reducing sensations of hunger comprising a
distensible airtight envelope capable of expanding to accommodate
fluid therein, a flexible tubular mealls having first and second
ends, said first end of said tubular means communicating with an
internal cavity within said envelope, said tubular means being
adapted to conduct fluid from said second end thereof to said
., - 'I - '~
internal cavi-ty of said envelope when said envelope is positioned
in a useris stomach wherein said envelope is inflated by the
presence of both liquid and air in said cavity, wherein said
cavity o:E said envelope contains between approximately 200 and
300 cubic centimete:rs o:E air, -to provide upward buoyancy to said
envelope when in a user's stomach.
In accordance with -the preserlt invellt:ioll there is further
provided a oethod of reduci.ng sensations of hunger in a user
compri.sing the steps of causing said user to swallow an expandable
flexible envelope attached -to one end of a tube while maintaining
the other end of the tube outside the body, inflating said
flexible envelope by introducing water and air through said tube
into said envelope situated within said user's stomach, sealing
said water and air in said envelope, introducing into said
envelope between approximately 200 and 300 cubic centimeters
of air and between approximately 200 and 300 cubic centimeters
of water, the total quantity of air and water having a volume of
up to 550 cubic centimeters.
DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the
invention:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in an
uninflated condition.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the device in an
inflated condition, situated within the user's stomach.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
Re~erence is made to Figure 1 of the drawings whicll shows
a perspective view of -the device in its uninflated condition,
2~
the device being indica-ted generally by reference numeral 16.
The device 16 consists of a thin walled flexible envelope 10
having a thin flexible tube 11 connected therewith. The envelope
10 is a distensible body composed of airtight material. The
envelope 10 has the capaci-ty to expand to contain approximately
550 cubic centimeters o:E fluid therein and at the same time when
in its unexpanded condition, is suf:Eiciently compact and :Elexible
that it is capable oE being swallowed by the user.
The tube 11 i s composed o:E a flexible ai.rtight matexial
and is sufficiently flexible and of sufficiently small
outside diameter that it may be retained in the user's
esophagus over an extended period of time, without interfering
with the swallowing process and without undue discomfort. At
the same time the walls of the tube 11 are sufficiently
inelastic as -to be capable of preventin~ expansion of the tube
when internal fluid pressure is applied thereto, during use. The
envelope 10 has an openin~ therein which provides communication
between the inside of the envelope and the bore of the tube
11 at the point of connection of the tube 11 and the envelope
10. The tube 11 is sufficiently firmly connected to the
envelope to permit the envelope to be removed from the
user's stomach (following removal of the fluids) by applying
tension to the end of the tube extending outside the user's
body. It has been found that a tube of approximately 36
inches in length having an inside diameter of 4 or 5 French
and an outside diameter of 5 to 6 French is suitable for the
purpose. Such a tube is of sufficient length that when the
envelope is in place in the user's stomach, the end of the
tube will protrude from the user's mouth and of sufficiently
large bore as to enable water and air to flow therethrough
to inflate the envelope. ~t the end 17 of the tube 11 a
small plug 12 is removably fitted to the tube 11. Plug 12
is adapted to seal the end of the tube 11 to prevent the
escape of fluid from the envelope, during use.
In order to place the device into its operative
position, the envelope 10 is swallowed by the user together with a
generous quantity of water to assist its passage. The end
17 of the tube 11 remote from the envelope 10 is held in
place outside the user's mouth, during this step. When the
envelope 10 is in place in the user's stomach 13, water is
introduced into the end 17 of -the tube 11 protruding from
the user's mouth. This water passes through the tube 11 and
into the envelope 10. The amount oE water used may vary
from one user to another depending Oll what is most comfortable
for the particular user~ It has been Eound that generally a
quantity between 200 and 300 cubic centimeters achieves the
desired results without undue discomfort. In addition to
the water 14, a quantity of air 15 is also introduced into
the envelope 10 r via tube 11. The volume of air used may vary
between approximately 200 to 300 cubic centimeters. This volume
may also be varied to suit the user's comfort, while maintaining
the maximum total quantity of air and water in the envelope in
the range of approximately 500 to 550 cubic centimeters.
It has been found that the use of air in the
envelope provides huoyancy to the envelope which tends to retain
it in the upper area of the user's stomach. Such positioning
of the envelope together with the pressure against the user's
body, created by the fluids in the envelope, tends to give
the user a full feeling, thereby reducing his or her desire
for food.
AEter the envelope 10 has been filled with fluids~ the
plug 12 is inserted into the end 17 of the tube 11. The end
17 of the tube emerging from -the users body may be held in place
by a small piece of tape or plastic.
The device 16 is carried by the user in this manner
during the period in which he or she desires to reduce food in-take
by reducing sensations of hunger.
When it is desired to remove the device 16 the plug 12
is removed and the fluid 14 and 15 in the envelope 10 is
removed by suction. The envelope 10 is then removed through
the user's mouth by applyin~ ~entle tension to the tube 11.
In the event the envelope should rupture while in
place it has been found that the fluids together with any loose
pieces of the envelope, will pass from the body during
normal bowel movements. The tube and whatever remains of
the envelope attached to it may be removed through the
user's mouth.
