Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, a Johnson & Johnson company, in June acquired Obtech Medical AG, a Swiss company that produces the Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band used in the treatment of morbid obesity. (Supplier News).(Between 11 mn and 15 mn people in U.S. have morbid obesity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)

Hospital Materials Management, August, 2002

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, a Johnson & Johnson company, in June acquired Obtech Medical AG, a Swiss company that produces the Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band used in the treatment of morbid obesity. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Though not yet available in the U.S., the band has been widely used throughout Europe for the treatment of morbid obesity since 1987, and was later introduced in other countries.

It is an inflatable band fitted around the uppermost part of the stomach during laparoscopic surgery, creating a small pouch and restricting food consumption. This creates a feeling of fullness and results in weight loss.

A physician can adjust the band's diameter at any time by injecting or removing fluid, according to an...

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