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Ideas or Inventions anyone?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/23/2013 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
It would appear to me that there are 3 main types of operations for curing Gerd - the nissen, the tif and the linx - however as there are so many variants to Gerd itself - including LPR and NERD - Hiatus hernia - motility problems, swallowing problems and alike - surely we as the sufferers of this rather hideous illness might like to come up with a few ideas of our own? Anybody interested?

Has anyone else got any suggestions? turn

 

Post Edited (GC1pink) : 8/7/2013 6:05:29 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/23/2013 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting thought, but it's not that simple. While you might be able to implant a pacemaker type device to stimulate a nerve or a muscle, that's not all there is to it. It's not necessarily stimulation that's needed.

If you google how does the lower esophageal sphincter work you can find a lot of interesting articles such as: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1190666

Not to discourage you though, maybe your idea will spark an invention for those few of us who had polio and have dying nerves in our throats making swallowing difficult.
Posted 7/23/2013 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Alcie,

I do understand that it's a simplistic idea - but I also meant for the wires to actually open and close the LES Sphincter manually if required - to help motility impaired patients like myself. Where are all the engineers in this world? - how difficult can it be in this day and age with all the technology that there is out there - to create something that actually opens and shuts the LES sphincter?

I'm also so sorry to hear that you have had polio and that you also have swallowing difficulties x

Posted 7/23/2013 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
There is already a device being tested that is very similar to your idea. I forget the name right off though.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/23/2013 7:13 PM (GMT 0)

Lookup

http://www.endostim.com/

Posted 7/23/2013 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I've read of the endostim - but I can foresee shortcomings with it - the control pack is implanted in your abdomen - what if food gets stuck in your throat - surely a better idea would be to have a hand held controller which would enable you to manually over-ride the problem. Again the endostim is only stimulating the les to make it stronger - it is not actually a device that would actually open the les sphincter and close it again, to help a wider variety of people. What you need is a cross between the Linx and the endostim.

 

Posted 7/23/2013 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
GC1pink, As I understand things, the default/normal position for the LES is closed, opening only when swallowing, belching or vomiting. There is no need for a switch to open the les as this is taken care of naturally in most people. [except those with swallowing or other problems]

Endostim stimulates the LES to restore this 'nearly always closed' position in patients where weakness in the les has led to reflux/gerd. From what I have read it seems to work very well.

There is an interesting history on the net, of different devices that have be made to deal with our problem, I will try and dig it out for you.

Post Edited (phil-uk) : 7/23/2013 4:23:09 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/23/2013 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
I like this idea but what if you forgot to take your box out with you?
It sounds a bit like the pacemaker thing for gastoparesis.

Forget being an author, you need to go into biophysics turn
Posted 7/24/2013 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
I have always contemplated just adding a one way valve to my stomach. Food goes in and nothing comes up... How hard could it be? I was thinking that it would be easy to place also, maybe just an endoscopy would do and possibly if you puke... you puke out the device and can have it easily replaced.

just think though. If you come up with an Idea that works... you would be quite wealthy and could help a lot of people.
Posted 7/24/2013 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
I don't get why we can't create a mechanical sphincter. We have hearts that are mechanical now days, why can't sphincters be?

Or what about LES replacements? Is it possibly to transfer sphincters from one person to another? Or what about from like a pig to a human?

Another Idea that I had would be an inflatable device that rests in your lower esophagus. It could be external filled or internal. The external filled idea would just be like a little pump that you could use to inflate the balloon. Just pump the balloon up enough to block the esophagus when your having heartburn or at night while sleeping. You could also adjust how much of the esophagus you want blocked. lets say 50 % blockage gives you heartburn relief. Just having something in the way could prevent stomach contents from reaching higher up in the esophagus and causing pain in easily damaged areas like your throat.

For the internal idea. I was thinking of having the balloon programmable, so when you fall asleep or after the meal you could increase the amount of the esophagus you want to be blocked. Not sure how practical it could be, but if you don't prevent the entire esophagus from being block, I don't see why It couldn't help. Any mucus still would be able to get down. I think positioning would be the big issue seeing how your muscles in your esophagus are pushing everything down.

Post Edited (TheSixness) : 7/23/2013 7:23:25 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/24/2013 11:44 AM (GMT 0)
Sixness - Ideas are great. I like the valve one - its simple. The only problem I can see is that foreign bodies rejection by the human body. Linx is trying to solve from outside with less intervention
Posted 7/24/2013 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
Sixness - I also like the idea of the one way valve - it just sounds so simple - however when you look on the patents site there are numerous valves and not a single one seems to be successful - I do think it's because it's a foreign body and our own tissues can reject it or sometimes even grow around it.

I still think the answer lies in fixing the faulty valve that we all seem to have - I think endostim seem to be on the right track, it just doesn't help people with motility problems or those who have already had failed surgeries like the nissen.

There must be a way to keep that valve closed and also be able to open it - so that everyone benefits.

Anyone out there an engineer? rolleyes

Posted 8/1/2013 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hmm...

Controlling GERD is a difficult issue.

When you are dealing with something so sophisticated as the GI tract, it is very, very difficult, if not impossible for the current state of medicine to resolve it. The LES is a valve, but a very special one when teamed up with the esophagus and stomach. For just a few drops of water, it opens a bit to let the slight bolus down. I really marvel at the creator's sophistication. It's more than just mechanical - you feel it. I think that the GI tract has it's own nervous system.

Now, let's take a bad heart valve. which needs to open and close tight without causing blood clots for a lifetime. This is something generally within our reach, yet the LES and associated functionality is so much more complex.

Oh, well. Just my mini-rant.

GM :)

 

Posted 8/1/2013 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
There already is a mechanical LES. It's the linx. If that's not mechanical I don't know what is. I know it's considered an augmentation but it creates enough pressure to replace a non functional LES. Why look for a new invention when a proven one already exists? This isn't a rhetorical question. Other than insurance considerations (which is a considerable consideration, mine cost $22,000), why is there such resistance to the linx?

Post Edited (fishguy) : 8/1/2013 4:32:04 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/2/2013 10:20 AM (GMT 0)
Fishguy - there is not a huge resistance to having the Linx- if I could have it and it would cure all my problems, I'd have it in a heartbeat!

The problem with the Linx is that it just doesn't suit all sufferers. I have LPR, and spasms in my gullet, which when seen on the barium swallow - the barium just goes up and down - so how on earth would I manage to open the linx? I also have a hernia of 2-3cm.

Then there are the people who have larger hernias, failed surgeries, LPR? - most of these people cannot have the Linx because of their individual issues.

I think it would be great if there was a solution for everyone - that's all
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