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.

Apparatus (10) for forming a plication (64) in a wall of internal tissue of a patient. The apparatus (10) comprises an elongated instrument (11) for insertion into a patient close to the tissue wall, optionally through a natural body opening. The apparatus (10) comprises one or more of (a) a traction device (20) configured to engage tissue of the wall and to pull on tissue of the wall to create a protrusion of wall tissue; (b) a ligating device (30) configured to at least partially circumscribe the or a protrusion in tissue of the wall to form the plication (64) in the tissue wall; (c) a fixation device (40) for fixing the plication (64) in the tissue wall.

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.

The present invention relates to a reflux disease treatment apparatus, apparatus, comprising an implantable movement restriction device that maintains cardia in the correct position and an implantable stimulation device adapted to engage with the cardia sphincter of a patient. The invention further comprises a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the cardia sphincter. The invention can be combined with various methods for treating obesity, in particular methods that creats satiety by stretching the wall of the stomach or fills out a volume of the stomach.

The present invention relates to a reflux disease treatment apparatus, apparatus, comprising an implantable movement restriction device that maintains cardia in the correct position and an implantable stimulation device adapted to engage with the cardia sphincter of a patient. The invention further comprises a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the cardia sphincter. The invention can be combined with various methods for treating obesity, in particular methods that creates satiety by stretching the wall of the stomach or fills out a volume of the stomach.

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.

The present invention relates to a reflux disease treatment apparatus, apparatus, comprising an implantable movement restriction device that maintains cardia in the correct position and an implantable stimulation device adapted to engage with the cardia sphincter of a patient. The invention further comprises a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the cardia sphincter. The invention can be combined with various methods for treating obesity, in particular methods that creates satiety by stretching the wall of the stomach or fills out a volume of the 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, or the greater and lesser curvatures in the middle of the stomach, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Some devices may 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 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, or the greater and lesser curvatures in the middle of the stomach, to stimulate satiety-inducing nerves. Some devices may 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 gastrointestinal device for implanting within a patient's gastrointestinal tract, the device having a central axis and a first expandable portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire and having a first cylinder extending parallel to the central axis, the first cylinder having a length and a first face; a neck portion extending from the first face of the first expandable portion parallel to the central axis, the neck portion having a first end, a second end, a wall extending between the first end and second end, and a diameter sized to fit within a pylorus; and a second expandable portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire and having a second cylinder extending parallel to the central axis, the second cylinder having a second face located at the proximal end of the second cylinder and oriented transverse to the central axis.