VBLOC implant therapy in a nutshell

Stomach signals: In VBLOC therapy, two electrodes are surgically implanted at the top of the stomach to block signals from the vagus nerve. In the illustration above, green arrows indicate neural signals traveling from the brain to the digestive system, while blue arrows indicate signals traveling from the stomach and intestines to the brain. A small regulator (shown at right) that controls the frequency and amplitude of electrical signals is implanted beneath the skin and connected to the electrodes (shown here in gray) via wires. The electrical signals can be changed at the physician’s office via a wireless controller. The device is currently being tested in clinical trials and has not yet been approved by the FDA. Credit: Enteromedics

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