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.

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

An apparatus for treating obesity comprises a volume filling device formed by 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 patients appetite.

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.

A suture instrument comprising an elongated outer sleeve (3) and a cannula (9) terminating in a distal piercing tip (12) is slideable within a cannula bore (7) extending through the outer sleeve (3). A plurality of sutures (15), are located in a suture bore (14) extending longitudinally through the cannula (9). Each suture (15) comprises a suture thread extending between a pair of anchor bars (20), and a cinch clip (24), which is located on a loop (22) of the suture thread (7) formed between the anchor bars (20), and is slideable along the loop (22) for reducing the effective length of the suture thread (17) between the anchor bars (20). The anchor bars (20) and the cinch clips (24) of the sutures (15) are aligned end-to-end sequentially along the suture bore (14) of the cannula (9) with the cinch clip (24) of each suture (15) located between the anchor bars (20) thereof. A pusher rod (35) slideable in the suture bore (14) is operable by a linear actuator for sequentially urging the anchor bars (20) and the cinch clip (24) of each suture (15) from the suture bore (14) through the distal piercing tip (12) of the cannula (9).

A device (10) for treatment of obesity or diabetes comprises a duodenal tube (12), first anchor (14) arranged at a pre-defined distance (D) from a proximal end (15) of the duodenal tube (12). The first anchor (14) is adapted for anchoring the tube (12) distally to the pylorus (P) without mucosal involvement. A second anchor (17) in the form of a conical, inflatable balloon is used for anchoring the device (10) in the stomach (S) of the patient. The duodenal tube (12) is flexible and can be arranged in the duodenum (D) and in the jejunum (J) of the patient.

An obesity treatment apparatus comprises at least one operable stretching device (10) implantable in an obese patient and adapted to stretch a portion (12a) of the patient's stomach wall (12), and an operation device (16, 18) for operating the stretching device when implanted to stretch the stomach wall portion such that satiety is created.

A system includes an adjustable implant configured for implantation internally within a subject and includes a permanent magnet configured for rotation about an axis of rotation, the permanent magnet operatively coupled to a drive transmission configured to alter a dimension of the adjustable implant. The system includes an external adjustment device configured for placement on or adjacent to the skin of the subject having at least one magnet configured for rotation, the external adjustment device further comprising a motor configured to rotate the at least one magnet and an encoder. Rotation of the at least one magnet of the external adjustment device effectuates rotational movement of the permanent magnet of the adjustable implant and alters the dimension of the adjustable implant. Drive control circuitry is configured to receive an input signal from the encoder.

A method for modifying the eating behavior of a patient equipped with a gastric restriction apparatus includes the steps of: a. providing an adjustable gastric band (AGB); b. providing a pressure sensor to measure pressure within the AGB; c. providing a processing unit containing instructions to collect a set of pressure measurement and to analyze the set pressure measurement; d. providing a data base comprising data concerning pressure exerted within the AGB by a bolus of liquid food, a bolus of semiliquid food, and a bolus of solid food; e. recording the sets of pressure measurements; f. recording the results; g. communicating the results; h. placing the AGB in position; i. measuring the pressure within the AGB; j. using the distinction of the current eating pattern to modify the eating behavior of the patient.