Importance

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Abstract

An intragastric balloon device adapted to be inserted into the stomach for treating obesity in humans by reducing the stomach volume. The intragastric balloon device includes a flexible, inflatable balloon having an interior chamber defining a volume. A portion of the balloon has a self-sealing valve thereon to facilitate the introduction of an insufflation catheter into the interior chamber and to facilitate sealing of the catheter track upon removal of the insufflation catheter. The volume of the interior chamber, and the volume occupied by the balloon within the stomach of a patient, is adjusted by injecting an inflation fluid into the balloon's interior chamber. The balloon further includes a deflation valve in a portion thereof. The deflation valve is a patch that has a bioabsorbable or biodegradable portion. The patch forms a portion of the wall of the balloon and is in leakproof engagement therewith. After the balloon has resided within the stomach for a predetermined period of time, the deflation valve becomes leaky due to disintegration of the bioabsorbable or biodegradable material and the balloon deflates within the stomach, thereafter to be passed through the patient's digestive tract and excreted. The residence time of the balloon within the stomach depends upon the choice of biodegradable material incorporated into the patch and the construction of the deflation valve.

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First Claim