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.

Systems and methods for treating eating disorders using electro-physiologically active transducer intragastric balloon system (“EAT system”) are described herein. The EAT System includes an intragastric balloon that is configured to operate in a typical fashion and further modified to include an integrated electro-physiological stimulation unit. The stimulation unit is configured to generate impulses using a transducer that are suitable for stimulating sensory receptors located around the stomach. In particular, transducer transmits mechanical waves through the fluid within the IG balloon and its outer shell to any receptors of the vagus nerve system that are located in the vicinity of the IG balloon. Controlled stimulation of the vagus nerve fibers using the stimulation unit can effectively produce appetite controlling sensations of satiety beyond the typical efficacy period of an unmodified IG balloon.

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 gastric outflow device is described. The gastric outflow device includes a ring having a ring aperture; and a topper having a topper aperture, the topper attachable to the ring, the topper aperture alignable with the ring aperture to form the gastric outflow device aperture. The gastric outflow device aperture can be adjusted wirelessly, percutaneously, by replacing the topper, and/or by including an expandable compartment surrounding the aperture, the expandable compartment increasing and decreasing the gastric outflow device aperture on being filled with filling material and having the filling material extracted, respectively.

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.

An ingestible gastric volume reduction device (100) is provided that is controllably adjustable between an expanded state and a contracted state. A control subsystem within the device is able to selectively transition the device between both states. Such control can be by way of a biological or chemical sensor (102) in the device, a wireless (RF) receiver (104), or timer. Thus activation of the device whether to expand and fill a gastric volume or to contract to open up the gastric volume may be achieved from internal control (within device) or external control (to the device). The device may be used for patient treatment, by administering the device (e.g., through ingestion) to a gastric region and then controllably increasing and/or decreasing the volume of the device during treatment.

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.