Components Of Lap Gastric Band

There are three basic components of the Lap-Band adjustable gastric band, the tubing, the inflatable pillows and the access port. The Lap-Band gastric band is a trademarked device used in adjustable gastric band surgery, a type of weight-loss surgery. It is not the only type of gastric band available. In the October, 2009 issue of "The Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England," Dr. Tom Dehn reports that worldwide, about 300,000 Lap-Band devices have been implanted into patients. The Lap-Band is manufactured by Allergan, a global pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Irvine, California.

Silicon Band Tubing

The silicon band tubing is the adjustable portion of the Lap-Band device. During Lap-Band surgery, a surgeon wraps the band across the upper stomach. This process, in essence, creates two stomachs. When a Lap-Band patient eats, food first enters the smaller, upper stomach. The small size creates a feeling of fullness after only a small meal is eaten. Later, the food empties into the lower, larger stomach. Because the band is adjustable, a surgeon can increase or decrease the size of the upper stomach, as a patient's needs change.

Inflatable Pillows

Allergan trademarks the inflatable portion of the Lap-Band device, calling it Omni-Form technology. Inside the band are channels, or pillows, that a surgeon can inflate, with saline, or deflate. The channels are curved to fit around body organs and evenly distribute band pressure. Band slippage is one complication of adjustable gastric band surgery. After being filled with saline, the inflatable pillows help secure the placement of the Lap-Band.

Access Port

The access port allows a patient's physician to make adjustments to the Lap-Band device. The port is positioned under the patient's skin. Using the port, a surgeon can add or remove saline to the Lap-Band, adjusting the band pressure. Adjusting band pressure helps not only with band slippage, but also with band erosion, another possible complication of gastric band surgery that occurs when a band begins to cut into the stomach wall. According to Allergan, band adjustment is done most frequently in the first year of band placement.