Methods, devices and systems for delivering a device assembly into a gastric or other space within the body, allowing the device to expand to occupy volume within the gastric space and, after an effective period of time, delivering a substance or stimulus to begin breakdown of the expanded device so that it may release from the body.

The invention relates to a transpyloric device for accepting chyme from the stomach and conducting said chyme on in a bypass-like manner through a patient's duodenum; said device is held in place by balloon segments which sit on a preferably radially collapsible and self-erecting transpyloric conducting element; the filling level of the balloon segments, and thus the axial sealing force acting primarily on the shoulder surfaces of the pylorus or the surrounding area thereof, can be adjusted by the user, and the force applied to the stomach and duodenum structures adjoining the pylorus is reduced to a level that is permanently bearable for the organs even when the filling pressure of the segments rolling against each other is elevated. The invention also relates to an applicator for putting a bypass device of said type in place in the region of the transition from the stomach to the duodenum.

A gastroscopic method and instrument for treating obesity of a patient, using a device adapted to stretch a part of the stomach wall of said patient. The method comprises the steps of: inserting the device into the stomach through the esophagus, placing the device in contact with the stomach wall, and fixating the device to the stomach wall such that the device can stretch a part of the stomach wall.

An apparatus for treating obesity of a patient having a stomach with a food cavity. The apparatus comprising a volume filling device adapted to be at least substantially invaginated by a stomach wall portion of the patient 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. The apparatus further comprises at least one adjustable stretching device adapted to be at least substantially invaginated by a stomach wall portion of the patient with the outer surface of the stretching device resting against the stomach wall and adapted to stretch a portion of stomach wall, and a fluid connection device interconnecting the volume filling device and the stretching device.

An volume filling device for treatment of obesity is placed outside the stomach wall of the patient to reduce the inner volume of the stomach, thereby affecting the patient's appetite. By providing the volume filling device outside the stomach wall, contact with stomach acids is avoided, thereby increasing the life of the device.

A bariatric balloon system for reducing the volume of the stomach, featuring a plurality of balloons each fluidly connected to a tube with a tube port at its end. The system is secured to the abdominal wall. The system can be implanted such that the port is outside the skin or is under the skin. The tube extends through the skin and/or muscle and fat to the stomach wherein the balloons are placed. The balloons can be inflated by introducing fluid such as saline to the tube via the port.

An apparatus for the treatment of acid reflux disease comprising two or more movement restriction device segments adapted to be movement restriction device of a controlled size. The movement restriction device can at least partly be 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.

A gastroscopic method and instrument for treating obesity of a patient, using a device adapted to stretch a part of the stomach wall of said patient. The method comprises the steps of: inserting the device into the stomach through the esophagus, placing the device in contact with the stomach wall, and fixating the device to the stomach wall such that the device can stretch a part of the stomach wall.

A biocompatible implant for a method of treating a reflux disease in a patient by preventing the cardia sphincter from sliding through the patient's diaphragm hiatus opening into the patient's thorax, so as to maintain a pressure support from the patient's abdomen that supports the patient's cardia sphincter. The biocompatible implant has a rigid shape, a circumference of at least 15 mm and is configured to be introduced into the patent's abdomen through a trocar, be fully invaginatable in the patient's fundus wall, and function as an implantable movement restricting device preventing the cardia sphincter from sliding through the patient's diaphragm, when implanted.

A method of deploying an intraluminal device to the cardiac region of the stomach and an intraluminal system used to deploy an intraluminal device to the cardiac region of the stomach, wherein the intraluminal device has a wall defining a surface and an open portion of the surface that is adapted to be aligned with the gastroesophageal (GE) junction. The surface and the cardiac portion of the stomach are conformable with each other. The method includes deploying the intraluminal device trans-orally to the stomach with an endoscopic deployment device and retaining the device against the cardiac region of the stomach with the open portion generally aligned with the GE junction. The intraluminal device is fastened to the stomach from the abdominal cavity with at least one laparoscopic instrument while concurrently visualizing the device with an endoscope in the stomach while it is being fastened. The laparoscopic instrument is adapted to respond to the endoscope in order to adjust location between the laparoscopic instrument and intraluminal device while the laparoscopic instrument is fastening the intraluminal device.