摘要 |
A buoyant, expandable intragastric device is provided that can be inserted into the stomach of a patient. The device is inflated, or expanded, with gas or other low density material to partially fill the stomach and enabling the device, or implant, to be buoyant within the stomach by floating toward the highest location possible relative to the contents of the stomach and the configuration of the stomach walls. The implant moves around as the body changes orientation or as the stomach contents change. Therefore, continual impingement on the same tissues of the gastrointestinal tract is minimized. The implant, being buoyant and floating to the top of the stomach, can beneficially generate increased pressure on, or stretching of, the tissues at the top of the stomach and the vagal nerves causing signals to the brain indicating that the stomach is full. |