A medical device may include a tubular sleeve configured for implantation in a body lumen, the sleeve having a first configuration with a first rigidity and a second configuration with a second rigidity greater than the first rigidity, the sleeve including: a flexible membrane defining an interior lumen; and a channel extending along the membrane.

A device for treating obesity of a patient, the device comprising: at least one operable stretching device implantable in the patient and adapted to stretch a portion of the patient's stomach wall, and an implantable control unit for automatically controlling the operable stretching device, when the control unit and stretching device are implanted, to stretch the stomach wall portion in connection with the patient eating such that satiety is created.

The disclosed wearable device modulates a patient's gastric emptying time and/or gastric retention time. The wearable device includes a microprocessor, electrical stimulator and at least one electrode configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the epidermis, through a range of 0.1 mm to 10 mm or a range of 0.1 mm to 20 mm of the dermis, of a T2 dermatome to a T12 dermatome or meridian of the patient, a C5 to a T1 dermatome across the hand and/or arm, and/or the upper chest regions. The device is adapted to provide electrical stimulation as per stimulation protocols and to communicate wirelessly with a companion control device configured to monitor and record appetite patterns of the patient. The control device is also configured to monitor, record, and modify stimulation parameters of the stimulation protocols.

A variety of passive intragastric implant devices for obesity treatment are disclosed. Such passive devices do not autonomously change shape, but instead react within the stomach to induce satiety. The devices may provide slowed entry into the stomach, thus reducing the intake capacity. Additionally, the devices may contact areas within the stomach, such as the cardia surrounding the esophageal sphincter, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Some devices combine two or more of these satiety-inducing features. Methods of implant are disclosed including compressing the devices within a delivery tube and transorally advancing the devices through the esophagus to be deployed within the stomach. Removal of the devices occurs in the reverse. The implants are formed of materials that permit the implant to be compressed into a substantially linear transoral delivery configuration and that will resist degradation over a period of at least six months within the stomach.

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.

A bariatric device and method of causing at least partial satiety in a recipient includes positioning a body in a recipient, the body having a wall defining a lumen, the wall configured to generally conform to the shape and size of the proximal cardiac portion of the stomach. Force is exerted with the wall on the proximal cardiac portion of the stomach in the absence of food thereby activating receptors located in the proximal cardiac portion of the stomach, thereby influencing a neurohormonal feedback mechanism of the recipient to cause at least partial satiety by augmenting fullness caused by food and simulating fullness in the absence of food.

An intraluminar method of treating a reflux disease in a patient by implanting a device comprising a non-encircling implantable movement restriction device that, when implanted in a patient, restricts the movement of the cardiac notch in relation to the diaphragm muscle, preventing the cardia from sliding through the esophageal hiatus. The intraluminar method comprises introducing an instrument through the esophagus and into the stomach of the patient, introducing the non-encircling implantable movement restriction device through the esophagus using said instrument, affixing the non-encircling movement restriction device to the fundus wall, such that it does not encircle the esophagus or stomach, thereby preventing the cardia from sliding through the esophageal hiatus and thus reducing reflux disease without encircling the esophagus or stomach.

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

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 patient'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.

This invention is an arcuate wearable device with a circumferential or annular array of spectroscopic sensors which measures a person's body hydration. In an example, this invention can be embodied in a modular smart watch band, a specialized hydration-monitoring band, or a finger ring. A circumferential or annular array of spectroscopic sensors helps to ensure continuous measurement of body hydration, even if a wearable device shifts and/or rotates on a person's wrist, arm, or finger.