SafeStitch

[Kevin]

Here is a new device on the horizon. It employs a purse-string stitch while removing a layer of mucosa to make the lumen smaller. Very little about it out there right now. Looks like an entirely new approach, however, since it will put stitches through the entire wall of the esophagus and stomach, rather than just through the mucosa, as was done with Endocinch, and does not use plastic implants. Very intriguing, if also a bit mysterious....

[url]http://www.safestitch.com/prod1b.asp[/url]

[Mark_in_Seattle]

If I'm understanding this correctly, wouldn't this approach tend to cause food to get stuck, to the extent that the opening is made smaller?

Create a tiny opening to have excellent reflux control -> but no food can get in.

Create a slightly smaller opening to slightly improve reflux control-> most food can get in, but reflux control is minimal.

Is that the deal?

[Kevin]

I think your last formulation is more likely--slightly smaller=better reflux control. But I guess we will have to wait and see. Apparently it works in animals....

[Kevin]

Here's an article, but I don't have access to it:

[url]http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0016510708004938[/url]