Clinical Trials

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 21-65.
• BMI ≥ 30 and ≤ 40 kg/m² .
• Willingness to comply with the substantial lifelong dietary restrictions required by the procedure.
• History of failure with non-surgical weight-loss methods.
• Willingness to follow protocol requirements, including signed informed consent, routine follow-up schedule, completing laboratory tests, and completing diet counseling. 
• Residing within a reasonable distance from the investigator’s office and able to travel to the investigator to complete all routine follow- up visits.
• Ability to give informed consent.
• Women of childbearing potential (i.e., not post-menopausal or surgically sterilized) must agree to use adequate birth control methods. 

Exclusion Criteria: 

• History of foregut or gastrointestinal (GI) surgery (except uncomplicated cholecystectomy or appendectomy).
• Prior gastrointestinal surgery with sequelae; i.e., obstruction, and/or adhesive peritonitis or known abdominal adhesions.  
• Prior open or laparoscopic bariatric surgery.  
• Prior surgery of any kind on the esophagus, stomach or any type of hiatal hernia surgery. 
• Any inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract including severe (LA Grade C or D) esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, gastric ulceration, duodenal ulceration, cancer or specific inflammation such as Crohn’s disease.  
• Potential upper gastrointestinal bleeding conditions such as esophageal or gastric varices, congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectasis, or other congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract such as atresias or stenoses. 
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, history of premalignant gastric lesions (intestinal metaplasia), history of familial and nan-familial adenomatous syndromes.  
• A gastric mass or gastric polyps > 1 cm in size.  
• A hiatal hernia > 4cm of axial displacement of the z-line above the diaphragm or severe or intractable gastro-esophageal reflux symptoms.  
• A structural abnormality in the esophagus or pharynx such as a stricture or diverticulum that could impede passage of the endoscope.  
• Achalasia or any other severe esophageal motility disorder.
• Severe coagulopathy. 
• Insulin-dependent diabetes (either Type 1 or Type 2) or a significant likelihood of requiring insulin treatment in the following 12 months or a HgbA1C ≥ 9. 
• Subjects with any serious health condition unrelated to their weight that would increase the risk of endoscopy.
• Chronic abdominal pain.
• Motility disorders of the GI tract such as gross esophageal motility disorders, gastroparesis or intractable constipation. 
• Hepatic insufficiency or cirrhosis.
• Use of an intragastric device prior to this study due to the increased thickness of the stomach wall preventing effective suturing.  
• Active psychological issues preventing participation in a life-style modification program as determined by a psychologist.
• Patients unwilling to participate in an established medically supervised diet and behavior modification program, with routine medical follow-up.  
• Patients receiving daily prescribed treatment with high dose aspirin (> 80 mg daily), anti-inflammatory agents, anticoagulants or other gastric irritants.  
• Patients who are unable or unwilling to take prescribed proton pump inhibitor medication.
• Patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding.  
• Patients currently taking weight-loss medications or other therapies for weight loss within the prior 6 months. 
• Subjects with severe cardiopulmonary disease or other serious organic disease which might include known history of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, poorly controlled hypertension, required use of NSAIDs.
• Subjects taking medications on specified hourly intervals that may be affected by changes to gastric emptying, such as anti-seizure or anti-arrhythmic medications.
• Subjects who are taking corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and narcotics.
• Symptomatic congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia or unstable coronary artery disease.  
• Pre-existing respiratory disease such as moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring steroids, pneumonia or cancer.  
• Diagnosis of autoimmune connective tissue disorder (e.g. lupus, erythematous, scleroderma) or immunocompromised.  
• Specific diagnosed genetic disorder such as Prader Willi syndrome. 
• Eating disorders including night eating syndrome (NES), bulimia, binge eating disorder, or compulsive overeating. 
• Known history of endocrine disorders affecting weight such as uncontrolled hypothyroidism. 
• If deemed medically inappropriate or ineligible by investigator. 

Eligibility last updated 2/1/22. Questions regarding updates should be directed to the study team contact.