WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS — A gastric balloon that can be swallowed has proven to be able to help people lose a significant amount of weight without surgery.
The device is called the Elipse Balloon, and was developed by Allurion Technologies in Massachusetts.
The balloon can be swallowed like a pill. Once in the stomach, it is filled with water through a long thin tube. After the balloon is filled, the tube is detached and pulled out of the body. The balloon remains in the body for 16 weeks. After that, the water is released and the balloon is excreted through the digestive system.
A study conducted in Portugal shows that the device helped 38 patients lose a mean weight of 15.2 kg by the end of the 16 weeks, which is about a third of their excess weight.
The device is available in Europe, but it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
