The balloon, composed of silicone and appropriate for inflation and deflation, is intended to help individuals manage their weight by giving the patient the sensation of being full, and consequently reduce overeating.

Source: MIT

The MIT team suggests that their silicone balloon is unlike conventional gastric balloons, which are filled with air or saline and offer only a temporary sensation of fullness and tend to lose effectiveness over time as their bodies become accustomed to them.

In contrast, the MIT balloon can be inflated ahead of meals and deflated afterward, which reportedly leaves the patient feeling full without having to keep the balloon constantly inflated.

This approach, the engineering team suggests, could offer an alternative for individuals who do not want to undergo more invasive weight-loss treatments, like gastric bypass surgery and stomach stapling or for those who do not respond well to weight-loss medications.

Instead, the balloon is inserted through a small incision in the abdominal wall, much like a feeding tube procedure, while an external controller is worn on the skin with a pump that allows for inflation and deflation as necessary.

To test the effectiveness of the new balloon, the researchers conducted animal studies where they inflated the new balloon before meals. This resulted in a 60% reduction in food intake, the team reported.