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.

An implantable device for the treatment of acid reflux disease has a body including an outer surface adapted to rest against a patient's fundus wall. The device, when implanted in the patient, fills a volume in the patient's abdomen in the cardia area and above the cardia of the patient, when standing. The body prevents the cardia from moving through the diaphragm opening into the thorax, thereby preventing reflux by keeping the abdominal pressure supporting the cardia sphincter muscle. The device may be affixed to stomach tissue. The device may also be invaginated or otherwise indirectly secured in position.

An obesity treatment device is provided, the device comprising: 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.

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 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 patients 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 patients 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 patients stomach towards the patients diaphragm is restricted, to thereby prevent the cardia from sliding through the patients diaphragm opening into the patients thorax, so as to maintain the supporting pressure against the patients cardia sphincter muscle exerted from the patients abdomen.

An apparatus for treating obesity in a human or animal mammal patient. The apparatus comprising a first volume filling device segment and a second volume filling device segment. The first and second volume filling device segments are adapted to be assembled into an implantable volume filling device of a controlled size. Each one of the first and second volume filling device segment comprises at least one interconnecting structure. The interconnecting structure of the second volume filling device segment is adapted to be formed fitted, such that the first and second volume filling device segment can be assembled into the volume filling device. The assembled volume filling device is adapted to be at least substantially invaginated by a stomach wall portion of a patient, with the outer surface of the device resting against the stomach wall, such that the volume of the food cavity is reduced in size.

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.

The invention relates to novel a high-volume swelling hydrogel which comprises a plurality of pores which are defined by an interpenetrating network, and/or a semi-interpenetrating network and/or simple cross-linked arrangement of a plurality of one or more species of hydrophilic polymers, optionally together with one or more biocompatible polymers and optionally together with one or more plasticising agents, characterised in that at least some of the pores are at least partially collapsed and/or flattened, and further characterised in that the interpenetrating network and/or semi-interpenetrating network and/or cross-linked arrangement which defines the collapsed and/or flattened pores is substantially unbroken. The invention also relates to a process for preparing such hydrogels, and to their use as an appetite suppressant.

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.

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.