A Feasibility Study for the Treatment of Primary Obesity Cross-over Arm

Prior treatment

• History of (or intra-operative evidence of) prior bariatric, gastric or esophageal surgery.
• Immunosuppressive medications or systemic steroids (i.e., oral prednisone) within 6 months of Visit 1. Intranasal/inhaled steroids are acceptable.
• Unable or unwilling to avoid use of aspirin and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or other medications known to be gastric irritants beginning two weeks prior to enrollment and throughout the entire study.
• Patient is currently using marijuana/cannabis for either medicinal or recreational use, or has plans to start using over the next 12 months.

Other illness

• Esophageal stricture or other anatomy and/or condition that could preclude passage of endoluminal instruments or procedure execution.
• Moderate gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), defined as symptoms that cause subject severe discomfort, compromise performance of daily activities, and/or condition is not entirely controlled with drug therapy.
• Pancreatic insufficiency/disease.
• History of gastroparesis or symptoms that would be suggestive of gastroparesis or generalized dysmotility (e.g. esophago-gastric motility issues and lower esophageal sphincter abnormalities).
• History of a known diagnosis or pre-existing symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, system lupus, or other autoimmune connective tissue disorder.
• History of inflammatory disease of the GI tract; coagulation disorders; hepatic insufficiency or cirrhosis.
• Active gastric erosion, lesion, or gastric/duodenal ulcer.
• History or present use of insulin or insulin derivatives for treatment of diabetes.
• Type II Diabetes Mellitus (as defined by HgbA1c \>6.5%) for greater than 11 years at the time of enrollment.
• Portal hypertension and/or varices.
• Patient has a history of drug or alcohol abuse or positive at screening for drugs of abuse.
• Present or history of psychosis, bipolar disease, or obsessive-compulsive disorder after pre-enrollment history and medical /psychological assessment.
• Non-ambulatory or has significant impairment of mobility (i.e. cannot ambulate for 30 minutes).
• Subjects with a personal history of allergic/anaphylactic reactions including hypersensitivity to the drugs or materials that will be utilized in the study procedure.

Lab values

• History of or current platelet or coagulation dysfunction, such as hemophilia.

Other

• Large hiatal hernia (\>3 cm) by history or as determined by pre-enrollment endoscopy.
• Pregnancy or plans of pregnancy in the next 12 months.
• If smoker, plans to quit smoking in the year after enrollment.
• Beck Depression Inventory (Short) Score ≥ 12 and/or uncontrolled depression after pre-enrollment psychological and medical assessment. 1
• Patient score \>2 in any of the 9 identified symptoms on the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI)
• Patient with a 13C-Spirulina Gastric Emptying Breath Test (GEBT) result that is less than a kPCD/min of 34.4 at 120 minutes or 43 at 180 minutes
• Known hormonal or genetic cause for obesity including untreated hypothyroidism (TSH \>5.0 U/ml).
• Participating in another clinical study that would conflict with the requirements of the study protocol as described.
• Physician's assessment that the subject is not an appropriate candidate.

• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form.
• Subject agrees to be compliant with study requirements and adhere to post-operative dietary \& exercise recommendations for the duration of the study.
• Subjects between the ages of 22-60 years.
• If female, be either post-menopausal, surgically sterile, or agree to practice birth control during year of study and have negative serum HCG at screening/baseline.
• Met BMI inclusion criteria when enrolled in the study as defined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥ 35 and \< 40 with one or more obesity related co-morbid conditions (defined by 1991 NIH Guidelines (Appropriateness Criteria for Bariatric Surgery: Beyond the NIH Guidelines).
  • Pre-diabetes - Fasting plasma glucose test \>100 mg/dl but ≤125 or oral glucose tolerance test ≥140 mg/dl but \<200.
  • Diabetes - Individuals taking insulin and/or oral hypoglycemic medications or have a fasting glucose \>126 mg/dl.
  • Hypertension - SBP\>140 or DBP\>90 or the use of an antihypertensive medication.
  • Dyslipidemia - Triglycerides \> 250 mg/dl or cholesterol \> 220 mg/dl or HDL \< 35 mg/dl or LDL \> 200 or use of lipid lowering medications.
  • Sleep Apnea - A formal sleep study test consistent with this diagnosis; Epworth sleepiness scale ≥ 6; Polysomnography with respiratory disturbance index ≥ 10 hyponeic and/or apneic episodes per hour of sleep.
  • Venous Stasis Disease - Presence or history of pretibial venous stasis ulcers.
  • Chronic Joint Disease - Deterioration of joint cartilage and the formation of new bone (bone spurs) at the margins of the joints.
• Absence of current severe systemic disease (including, but not limited to: coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, cancer, and chronic renal disease).
• Agrees not to undergo any additional weight loss interventional procedures or liposuction for 12 months following study enrollment.
• Have not taken any prescription or over the counter weight loss medications OR those that can suppress appetite/induce weight loss for at least 6 months and agrees not to utilize for 12 months following study enrollment (including all stimulant medication).
• Subjects must be willing to possibly forego any future weight loss procedures (i.e. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy) given the unknown long-term effects.
• Residing within a reasonable distance from the Investigator's treating office (\~50 miles) and willing and able to travel to the Investigator's office to complete all routine follow-up visits.