Patent ID: 8858496

Claim:
A compacted, swallowable, self-expanding, temporary gastric implant comprising: a. at least one expandable envelope having an interior and an exterior, the exterior of the envelope including at least one bioerodible material, the envelope configured to temporarily seal, after the implant has been swallowed by a human being, the interior of the envelope from gastric fluid in a stomach of the human being at least until an integral, gas-producing composition in fluid communication with the interior of the envelope produces a gas to expand the envelope to a pre-selected size, and wherein the envelope is configured such that the envelope, when expanded, contacts walls of the stomach sufficiently to produce a sensation of fullness in the stomach; and wherein the envelope is operable to maintain expansion for a pre-selected period of time; and, b. an integral, frangible gas-producing composition configured to produce a gas after being swallowed by the human being; wherein the integral, gas-producing composition is adapted to produce the gas upon application of an external stimulus, wherein the external stimulus is selected from the group consisting of physical manipulation of the frangible, gas-producing composition, digestive movements in the stomach, application of radio-frequency energy, and predetermined values of conditions within the stomach, including pH, water activity (aw), water availability in the stomach, and availability of digestive enzymes in the stomach, the external stimulus causing fracture of at least a portion of the integral, gas-producing composition and inflating the expandable envelope.