Lung & Esophageal Disorders

Reflux sufferers, meet LINX® -- a revolutionary solution for reflux. It's a simple device with life-changing potential. LINX is intended for patients diagnosed with reflux disease who continue to suffer symptoms despite taking medication.

Reflux (also called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD) is caused by a weak muscle in your esophagus called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) that allows acid and bile to flow back from the stomach into the esophagus, causing damage to the lining of the esophagus, throat and lungs.

The LINX Solution
LINX is easy to understand and love because it is simple. LINX is a small, flexible ring of magnets that opens to allow food and liquid down, then closes to prevent stomach contents from moving up. Simple as that.

The LINX procedure is the first non-medical surgical therapy to be approved for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by the Food and Drug Administration in more than three decades. LINX uses a small, flexible band of magnets enclosed in titanium beads to regulate a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and mimic a natural barrier to reflux. The bracelet is placed around the base of the esophagus. When food or liquid passes through, the band expands. The magnetic bond then allows the beads to close after swallowing, preventing gastric juices from refluxing back into the esophagus.

The LINX procedure is performed laparoscopically on an outpatient basis and typically takes 30 minutes to an hour to complete. Patients are placed under general anesthesia.

Most patients fully recover from the procedure in about a week and can resume their normal diet soon afterward. Side effects are generally minimal and resolve over time.