Ethicon Endo-Surgery Launches New Realize™ Adjustable Gastric Band-C

Continuing its commitment to long-term patient success, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. announced the launch of the REALIZE™ Adjustable Gastric Band-C, the newest addition to the REALIZE portfolio. REALIZE Band-C is a new gastric band with a streamlined design that eases placement and has an expanded adjustment range that can accommodate larger patients.


The REALIZE Band-C has the same clinically proven high-volume, low-pressure system as the original REALIZE Band, but in addition to its new design, it has a 14 percent greater stoma adjustment range to accommodate larger patients. 2 The REALIZE Band-C has a width of 23 mm, making it the widest gastric band available potentially reducing the risk of band slippage.


"The REALIZE Band-C is an excellent innovation that streamlines the procedure for the surgeon and improves the overall experience for the patient," said Erik Wilson, MD, FACS, Director, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery, University of Texas, Houston, who has already begun using the REALIZE Band-C. "This new design builds on the original and retains all its clinical and procedural benefits for long-term patient success."


Additional features of the REALIZE Band-C include:


- Unlockable/Relockable Closing Mechanism that allows intra-operative repositioning.


- Removable Band Extender with a Pre-lock Position to ease gastric band placement and accommodate multiple locking techniques and provide greater surface area to grasp.


- Radiopaque Band and Tubing to enhance visualization under fluoroscopy.


- Removable One-way Valve to maintain balloon evacuation during gastric band preparation.


REALIZE Band-C patients have access to the REALIZE mySUCCESS™ program, an innovative Web-based tool to help facilitate positive long-term outcomes for patients. Patients who regularly use REALIZE mySUCCESS lose significantly more weight than those who do not. 3 REALIZE mySUCCESS is an integral element of the REALIZE offering through which the patient and bariatric practice stay connected pre- and post-surgery to help develop actionable strategies specific to each patient's individual challenges. The comprehensive solution helps to identify the root cause of obstacles to success, as well as provide tools to overcome them. The bariatric practice has access to the patient's information to help monitor progress and can step in when necessary to keep patients on track.



About The REALIZE Bands


The REALIZE Band, which is marketed under the name Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band (SAGB) outside the U.S., has been commercially available outside the U.S. since 1996 and has been used by hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide to help manage their weight. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), about 220,000 people had some form of weight loss surgery last year.


The REALIZE Bands are intended for use in weight reduction for adults with morbid obesity and are indicated for adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 40 kg/m2, or a BMI of at least 35 kg/m2 with one or more co-morbid conditions. They are for use in morbidly obese adult patients who have failed more conservative weight-reduction alternatives, such as supervised diet, exercise and behavior modification programs.


In a gastric band procedure with the REALIZE Bands, a soft, flexible silicone band is wrapped around the stomach to create two chambers - a small upper stomach with a narrow opening to the lower stomach. After the procedure, the upper stomach can only hold about four ounces of food, which limits food intake, makes patients feel full faster and longer, and slows digestion.


Once the band is in place, surgeons attach the REALIZE Injection Port to the abdominal wall underneath the skin. Using the REALIZE Injection Port Applier, this can be completed in less than a minute, which can decrease time under anesthesia.5 The REALIZE Injection Port allows doctors to inject or remove saline to tighten or loosen the band. The tighter the band, the more quickly the upper stomach fills up and the less food a person can eat. Adjustments are made periodically based on the patient's individual needs.

The REALIZE Band is not for patients with certain medical conditions that may put them at increased risk during or after surgery, or for patients who are unwilling to make significant changes in eating and behavior patterns. It may not be right for individuals with certain digestive tract conditions. All surgery presents risks. A patient's weight, age and medical history determine specific risks. Individual patient results may vary and are not indicative of all outcomes.


Source
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.