Helioscopie

NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT OF OBESITY

HEALTH – NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT OF OBESITY
DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTRAGASTRIC AIR BALLOON

The Heliosphere intragastric balloon developed by
Helioscopie weighs 30 grams and offers a real alternative
to patients not wishing or not able to benefit from surgery for obesity.

Continuing on from the gastric band, Helioscopie, a French
company based in Rhône Alpes, is committed to developing new
products with a view to providing a response at the various
stages of obesity. The Heliosphere intragastric balloon is aimed
at people suffering from severe obesity, i.e. excess weight varying
between 20 and 40kg.

It is also possible to remove polyps through the endoscope.

 

 

A gastric balloon of innovative design

The principle of the intragastric balloon is not new. The first balloon was produced in the United States at the end of the 1980s and was abandoned because of the multiple complications it engendered (migration by fracture, gastric ulceration or perforation) due to its poor design.

A liquid gastric balloon has existed for several years. It weighs about 600g and its use causes significant side effects in patients.

The Heliosphere intragastric balloon is totally innovative in its design. It is, in fact, filled with air and weighs less than 30g. Three years of research were necessary to perfect it and no less than 7 patents have been registered. The side effects described in the scientific literature (nausea, vomiting) have been reduced by 80%! The intragastric air balloon is much better tolerated by the patient.

Functioning of the Heliosphere intragastric balloon

The principle is to introduce the balloon into the stomach and then fill it with air so that it occupies part of the internal surface of the organ, near the mechanoreceptors for satiety. It is implanted via the natural pathways.

Implantation by the gastroenterologist The implantation of the Heliosphere intragastric balloon is performed by a previously trained gastroenterologist, under general anaesthetic with endoscopic monitoring. The operation lasts less than an hour. Explantation is performed in the same conditions. Duration of implantation The duration of implantation of the Heliosphere intragastric balloon is 6 months.

Multi-disciplinary care of the patient during the implantation and after explantation

Within the context of the implantation of an intragastric balloon, the patient is cared for by a multi- disciplinary team consisting of the gastroenterologist, a nutritionist (or a dietician), and a psychologist.

This team plays a major role in the loss of weight, stabilisation and cure of the patient. In fact, the causes of obesity are multiple and the patient must be cared for in a global manner.