Implantable Tastemaker with Multiple Reservoirs and/or Substances for Automatic Taste Modification

摘要

This invention is a device and method for automatic and selective modification of the taste and/or smell of one or more selected nutrient or food types as food is being digested within a person's mouth. This invention can comprise: multiple taste and/or smell modifying substances; multiple reservoirs for these substances that are implanted within the person's body; and a flow control mechanism that automatically and selectively increases flowable communication between these substances and the person's oral cavity or nasal cavity when a selected nutrient or food is being digested within the person's mouth. This invention can help a person to moderate their consumption of unhealthy food and to limit their overall caloric intake as part of a comprehensive system for improved nutrition, energy balance, and weight management.

主权项

1. An implanted device that modifies the taste and/or smell of food as the food is digested within a person's mouth comprising:
a nutrient or food sensor that automatically and selectively detects when a person is digesting a selected nutrient or food type within the person's mouth, wherein this sensor is configured to be attached to or implanted within the person's body, and wherein this sensor is in fluid and/or gaseous communication with the person's oral cavity and/or nasal cavity; a taste and/or smell modifying substance that modifies, masks, or blocks the taste and/or smell of food as food is digested within the person's mouth when the substance is brought into fluid and/or gaseous communication with the person's oral cavity and/or nasal cavity; multiple substance reservoirs and/or compartments in which the taste and/or smell modifying substance is stored until it is brought into fluid and/or gaseous communication with the person's oral cavity and/or nasal cavity, wherein these reservoirs and/or compartments are configured to be attached to or implanted within the person's body; and a flow control mechanism that automatically increases the fluid and/or gaseous communication between the taste and/or smell modifying substance and the person's oral cavity and/or nasal cavity when the nutrient or food sensor detects that the person is digesting a selected nutrient or food type within their mouth.