Beaded Magnetic Ring Around Esophagus Can Possibly Prevent Heartburn and Acid Reflux

The method currently being studied and tested at UC San Diego Medical Center involves a magnetic bead ring around the patient’s lower esophageal sphincter.

There is new hope for people who have been suffering from severe Acid Reflux for many years of their life.

And this new method called the LINX Reflux Management System does not require you to get prescription and buy any medicines. The method currently being studied and tested at UC San Diego Medical Center involves a magnetic bead ring around the patient’s lower esophageal sphincter. This ring is similar to the bead rings worn by people on their hand and neck as bracelets. This ring is able to let food and air pass through the esophagus. But at the same time it will prevent the stomach acids from going up the esophagus and cause heartburn.

This ring can be set in place through laparoscopic surgery, which causes only minimal discomfort and the surgery will be over in less than half an hour. The magnetic ring is custom fitted for the patient as per the size of his esophagus. When reflux occurs, the beads are designed so as to hold together and prevent the esophagus sphincter from opening.

If the trial works out as expected, this would be a major break through in handling severe acid reflux problem. This magnetic ring would fix the problematic esophagus functioning in people who are suffering from this painful medical condition.

The existing medical treatment methods for acid reflux were all limited to reducing the acid production in the stomach through medication. None of these medications were able to reduce the acid from going up the esophagus. This bead ring is the first of a kind invention, which can rectify this physical problem associated with the patient’s esophagus. If this problem is taken care of then there is no chance of acid reflux occurring at all. Period!!

In case any complications arise, this bead ring can be removed and all those problems should go away. As it is a totally reversible procedure, it should be a real boon for people who have been suffering from this condition.

Torax Medical Inc. is the manufactures of the Linx system and is sponsoring the current testing going on for 100 patients. Only those people who have been suffering from acid reflux problems for a very long time and those who take medications for the condition routinely are allowed to participate in this testing program.

Still, there may be some questions to be asked about the safety of using these magnets inside the body. These magnets can affect the working of pacemakers or similar instruments. There may be a problem with MRI as well. How can they get MRI done with a magnetic bead in their system? Hopefully, the studies will come out successfully with answers for each of these possible problems.