Patent ID: 7699863

Claim:
A swallowable, self-expanding, temporary gastric implant comprising: a.) at least one expandable envelope, comprising at least one bioerodible material, that is generally toric-shaped upon expansion, the envelope having an interior and an exterior, having a selected diameter that, upon such expansion, contacts the walls of the stomach sufficiently to produce a sensation of fullness in that stomach, and the envelope being further operable to maintain such expansion for a selected period of time, b.) a gas-producing composition operable to produce carbon dioxide gas for the expansion of the at least one expandable envelope and further operable to produce the carbon dioxide after being swallowed by a human and the expansion being effected by the implant being present in the stomach, and c.) an enclosure comprising a bioerodible material, enclosing the envelope and gas-producing composition prior to such expansion, having a size suitable for swallowing by a human being.