Gastric banding for morbid obesity is theoretically an attractive meth
od, since it is easily reversible, does not require opening of the sto
mach or intestines, and is associated with a very low surgical risk. T
he disadvantage is the high rate of reoperation because of the difficu
lty to obtain an optimal stoma diameter. This led us to develop a new
gastric balloon band in which it is possible to regulate the inner dia
meter between 0 and 40 mm. In this study of the technical properties,
we have investigated the inner pressure of the band during filling, th
e breaking point of the balloon when overfilling, the strength of the
band and finally the degree of diffusion through the system. We found
that there is no pressure with filling up to 10 ml. The band is thus a
low pressure system. It can be filled with five times its normal volu
me before breaking. A pressure of 300 mmHg can be applied inside the s
ystem without breaking it. Finally, when the system was filled with so
ya oil, there was no detectable diffusion through the system in a one-
year trial. These findings are consistent with our preset specificatio
ns. Clinical trials have therefore been started.