Medical technology firm Medtronic has introduced a new bariatric surgery device, GastriSail gastric positioning system, in the US.
The device has been developed to promote more consistent sleeve creation and better procedural efficiency within the sleeve gastrectomy procedure, the commonly performed weight loss procedure in the US.
In February this year, the US Food and Drug Administration granted 510(k) approval for the GastriSail system.
Medtronic minimally invasive therapies group, surgical innovations business president and senior vice-president Chris Barry said: "The GastriSail system is a first-of-its-kind in the bariatric industry, and demonstrates our continued commitment to fight obesity with specialized solutions that provide better patient outcomes and have the potential to increase adoption of this well-established procedure."
GastriSail system aggregates the benefits of three devices into one, helping surgeons to consistently size and decompress the stomach pouch and test for leaks without removing and reinserting another device.
It is said to help guide the surgeon’s staple lines to ensure consistent shape of the stomach pouch from procedure to procedure.
When the surgeon places the GastriSail system in the stomach, its LED lights illuminate through the stomach tissue, allowing the surgeon to see a clear line delineating where the stomach should be dissected, stapled and divided.
The company is also introducing the GastriSail system in the Europe and Middle East and is planning to make the device available across the globe by the end of this year.