Could a New Gut Implant Help Curb Obesity?

BAROnova, a venture backed company developing technologies to treat obesity, said it has submitted a premarket approval (PMA) application to FDA for its TransPyloric Shuttle (TPS) device, a non-surgical treatment option for obese patients. The TPS device is an intragastric implant that is trans-orally placed into the stomach during a standard endoscopic procedure. The device was designed to reside in the stomach for 12 months before being removed with another endoscopic procedure. During those 12 months, the device works to delay gastric emptying, a frequently used mechanism for weight loss that helps patients feel full much quicker during meals. “While the device resides in the stomach, it works to slow the passage of food from the stomach into the intestine by intermittently blocking and releasing the pylorus,” says David Thrower, president and CEO of BAROnova. “This is called delayed gastric emptying, which is a known mechanism for weight loss. It helps people feel full more quickly and for a longer period of time when compared to eating without the device. The TPS also does not alter the patient’s anatomy, and therefore preserves future treatment options.” Thrower said the safety and effectiveness of the device has been evaluated in a multicenter clinical trial called the ENDObesity II study. Now that the study has been completed, the company plans...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Implants Source Type: news