Surgeons at Southampton General Hospital, UK, have performed 15 implants of a new device EndoBarrier to treat type II diabetes and obesity.
Endobarrier is a small plastic sleeve which is placed into the small intestine through the mouth for up to 12 months.
The device works by acting as a barrier between the food entering the stomach and the intestine, so that it cannot be absorbed.
The barrier delays the mixing of digestive enzymes with the food and slows down the digestion process, which leads to greater control over metabolic rate and reduced sugar levels.
Reportedly, in a 12-month study, patients receiving the EndoBarrier achieved weight loss of more than 20% of their total body weight.
The study was conducted at Southampton General Hospital, as well as Trafford General Hospital, and St Mary’s Hospital, London.