RE: Anti-Obesity Implants

From: Dickey, Michael F (michael_f_dickey@groton.pfizer.com)
Date: Thu Mar 06 2003 - 07:49:36 MST

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    -----Original Message-----
    From: Adrian Tymes [mailto:wingcat@pacbell.net]

    "Actually, I think I may have been the one to describe the device you
    mention."

    If so, I do think it an excellent idea.

    > A cheap, simple implant anyone could get. Ideally,
    > it would be even better
    > if such a device could power external electronic
    > devices.

    "It'd produce miniscule amounts of power - but then, many devices only need
    miniscule amounts of power.
    So, no using yourself as a battery for an electric car, but you could maybe
    use this to run (or at least
    trickle-recharge, when it's not actively being used) a PDA."

    It would be nice, at least with later versions, if you could alter the rate
    at which it is processing carbs. But to start with, a very simple, small
    egg like device is implanted that burns around 100 Calories per day.

    "though what energy they do generate would have to be disposed of somehow
    (possibly via an inductive loop, the second part of which is placed on or
    near the skin near the implant every day, maybe week, to activate the
    discharge so as to avoid needing wires or sockets permanently sticking out
    of the skin)."

    I am no electrical engineer, but I think the inductive loop method is the
    best way to go as well for tapping any energy created by the device. For
    starters though, 100 Cals per day isnt much, an average adult male has an
    RDA of ~2200 Cal, and disapates all the heat readily from that. I don't
    think an additional 100 Cals will make a big difference, in fact the body
    will probably be able to dissapate that heat quicker than it is generated
    from the device. Coupling that with the fact that the bodies normal
    diffusion processes will remove all the by products of such a device, it
    should end up being cheap, simple, and small.

    "It's the biochemical parts that present the biggest challenge. But the
    biggest challenge, at least to us, would seem to be the practical matters of
    actually doing it."

    Of course, but with the various backgrounds on the extropy list, and the
    collected intelligence of it, there is no reason it shouldn't be doable.
    Quite frankly I am surprised it has not generated more interest, here we
    have a perfect example of an extropian piece of technology, that no one
    appears to be working on, that will likely be readily accepted by the
    average Joe, will clearly demonstrate that technology can be used to
    direclty solve individual humans problems. Imagine the press this could
    generate for extropian ideals if it brandished the logo of the EXI
    institute. People would start to realize that the business of using
    technology to better our lives has some potential. Here they have some real
    technology that directly makes *my life* better, *right now*... (I know all
    technology has a significant impact on our lives, but the average Joe
    doesn't think about it or recognize the value of electricity or combustion
    engines, etc.)

    "How would we test it? (Yes, it's great to say, "in theory, one could do
    animal testing". Does
    any of us have the appropriate equipment or licenses for this? If not, how
    could we obtain such?)"

    Well thousands of companies do similar things all the time, so it should be
    doable. Besides, those two egregiously overweight cats that spike posted
    would probably volunteer if we could explain it to them, if not their owners
    might be volunteer them.

    "Granted, one could start up a business around this product alone, so that
    presents one possible source of
    funding (VCs)."

    I think one could as well, and I think it could be quite profitable. I plan
    to pursue it once I finish laying the foundation for my current venture, but
    a collected extropy member effort could bring about such a device much
    quicker.

    Michael Dickey

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