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 Technology Information 
TitleGastric stent for treatment of obesity
Case Number1182
AbstractLead Inventor: Marc Bessler, M.D.

STV Reference: IR 1182, IR 1860


Problem or Unmet Need:
Obesity is a major, and growing, healthcare problem in the US and throughout the world. Thus far, pharmaceutical treatment has shown limited success, offering only modest reductions in weight, and often with significant side effect profiles. Surgical interventions (e.g., gastric bypass surgery) are more effective, but due to their invasiveness, side effects, and irreversibility, are only used in a small subset of patients. Significant drawbacks include post-surgical mortality and complications such as stricture or ulceration of the surgical site. There is therefore a need for treatments that fill a middle-ground, balancing efficacy with tolerability.


Details of the Invention:
The invention consists of a device that impedes nutrient asborption, thereby leading to weight loss. Briefly, a tube with stents on either end connects the gastroesophageal junction to the small intestine, so that ingested food passes through the stomach and proximal intestine. Small, one-way valves allow a portion of gastric fluid to enter the lumen of the stent. In effect, the stent replicates many of the features of gastric bypass surgery, in a less invasive and reversible way.

Applications:
¥ Treatment of obesity


Advantages:
¥ Likely to be of similar efficacy to gastric bypass surgery
¥ Placement of a stent is less invasive than bariatric surgery:
o Reduced post-operative recovery time
o Reduced risk of post-surgical complications such as infection, hemorrhage, hernia, bowel obstruction, etc.
o General anesthesia may not be required for stent placement
¥ Unlike gastric bypass surgery, the stent can be easily removed if complications arise



Patent Status: One patent issued (US 7,211,114)
and pending (WO 2004/017863, US20080033574A1) ~ see links below.

Licensing Status: Available for Licensing and Sponsored Research Support


TaxonomyGastrointestinal
Medical & Surgical Devices
Surgery
Therapeutic/Healthcare
Other/Therapeutic
Keywordsmedical device, stent, obesity, gastric bypass, endoscopy, gastric fluid, digestive enzyme, , , Metabolic
 Licensing Contact 
The responsible technology licensing officer is Donna See but for more information on this technology, please contact stvinfo@columbia.edu .
 Web Links 
Name Description Open Link
Patent number: US20040039452 US patent Click Here
Patent pending WO 2004/017863 Click Here
USPTO_1 US 7,211,114 Click Here
USPTO_2 US20080033574A1 Click Here

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