The present invention relates to a reflux disease treatment apparatus, comprising an implantable movement restriction device with an elongated shape that maintains cardia in the correct position and an implantable stimulation device adapted to engage with the cardia sphincter of a patient. The movement restriction device has a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal end is adapted to stabilize and hold the distal end. The invention further comprises a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the cardia sphincter. The distal end can be further adapted to treat obesity, for example by stretching the wall of the stomach or filling out a volume of the stomach.

An apparatus for treating obesity and reflux disease of an obese patient has a volume filling device to be invaginated by a stomach wall portion with the outer surface of the volume filling device resting against the stomach wall, such that the volume of the food cavity is reduced in size by a volume substantially exceeding the volume of the volume filling device. An implantable movement restriction device to be invaginated by the stomach fundus wall has an outer surface to be rested against the stomach wall in a position between the patient's diaphragm and the lower part of the invaginated stomach fundus wall, such that movement of the cardiac notch of the patient's stomach towards the patient's diaphragm is restricted, to thereby prevent the cardia from sliding through the patient's diaphragm opening into the patient's thorax.

The invention relates surgical abdominal methods of treating obesity in a patient by implanting a volume filling device that, when implanted in a patient, reduces the food cavity in size by a volume substantially exceeding the volume of the volume filling device. Also disclosed is a laparoscopic instrument for providing a volume filling device to be invaginated in the stomach wall of a human patient to treat obesity.

The present invention relates to a reflux disease treatment apparatus, comprising an implantable movement restriction device with an elongated shape that maintains cardia in the correct position and an implantable stimulation device adapted to engage with the cardia sphincter of a patient. The movement restriction device has a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal end is adapted to stabilize and hold the distal end. The invention further comprises a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the cardia sphincter. The distal end can be further adapted to treat obesity, for example by stretching the wall of the stomach or filling out a volume of the stomach.

An obesity treatment apparatus comprises at least one operable stretching device implantable in an obese patient and adapted to stretch a portion of the patient's stomach wall, and an operation device for operating the stretching device when implanted to stretch the stomach wall portion such that satiety is created.

Methods and systems for detecting wall breach in inflatable prostheses rely on intrusion of a body fluid or inflation medium to electrically alter a signaling circuit. In one embodiment, an open portion of a circuit is closed to enable or modify a transmitted signal In another embodiment, electrical current is generated to power an electrical transmission.

An apparatus for treating obesity comprising a volume filling device assembled from at least two segments and is provided and following implantation, the device is placed resting against the stomach wall of the patient to reduce the inner volume of the stomach, thereby affecting the patient's appetite.

A variety of passive intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. Such passive implants do not autonomously change shape, but instead react within the stomach to induce satiety. The implants may take up volume within the stomach, thus reducing the digestive capacity. Additionally, the implants may contact areas within the stomach, such as the cardia surrounding the esophageal sphincter, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Also, a number of implants slow gastric emptying by blocking or otherwise impeding flow through the pyloric sphincter. Other implants delay digestion by providing a duodenal sleeve. A number of implants combine two or more of these satiety-inducing features. Methods of implant are disclosed including compressing the implants within a delivery tube and transorally advancing the implants through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the implants occurs in the reverse.

A bariatric device for use in inducing weight loss, comprising a cardiac element, a pyloric element, and a connecting element between the two other elements, wherein the connecting element provides structure between the cardiac and pyloric elements, keeping them largely in place and at least intermittently touching and applying pressure to the stomach's cardiac, adjacent fundic and pyloric regions, respectively, which produces a satiety signal to the user, giving the recipient a feeling of fullness and reducing his or her hunger feelings.

An apparatus for the treatment of acid reflux disease has an implantable movement restriction device adapted to be at least partly invaginated by a patient's stomach fundus wall. A substantial part of the outer surface of the movement restriction device is adapted to rest against the stomach wall without injuring the latter in a position between the patient's diaphragm and at least a portion of the lower part of the invaginated stomach fundus wall, such that movement of the cardiac notch of the patient's stomach towards the patient's diaphragm is restricted, to thereby prevent the cardia from sliding through the patient's diaphragm opening into the patient's thorax, so as to maintain the supporting pressure against the patient's cardia sphincter muscle exerted from the patient's abdomen. The movement restriction device has a size of at least 125 mm.sup.3 and a circumference of at least 15 mm.