System and methods for internalization of external components of an adjustable intragastric balloon

1. An apparatus for use in a stomach of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a balloon adapted for placement in the stomach and having an opening to an interior of the balloon;

an internal tube in the interior of the balloon with a proximal end coupled to the opening of the balloon; and

an inflation tube having a distal end in the interior of the balloon and a proximal end configured to receive a fluid on an exterior of the balloon, the inflation tube being configured to stretch from the stomach to a mouth of the subject to facilitate inflation of the balloon and to have a resting position that is within the general profile of the balloon, the internal tube being disposed around at least a portion of the inflation tube that is in the interior of the balloon,

wherein the internal tube has a variable length including a first length that accommodates a substantial portion of the inflation tube when the inflation tube is in the resting position, and a second length, which is shorter than the first length, when the inflation tube is stretched outwardly from the balloon.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the internal tube is coupled to the distal end of the inflation tube.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a wall of the internal tube has one or more accordion structures to facilitate the variable length of the internal tube.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a spring coupled to the internal tube, the spring biasing the internal tube to a first position.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the internal tube comprises a plurality of telescoping segments slideably engaged with each other.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a rigid support in the interior of the balloon disposed around, and extending coaxially with, the internal tube.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein a distal end of the internal tube is coupled to a distal end of the rigid support via a stretchable tether such that the stretchable tether is stretched when the internal tube is in a second position thereby biasing the internal tube toward a first position.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the inflation tube comprises:

a valve on the proximal end of the inflation tube configured to selectively open and close the inflation tube, and

a removable cap on the proximal end of the inflation tube covering the valve.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the opening of the balloon is disposed within a recess formed in an exterior surface of the balloon.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the proximal end of the inflation tube is disposed within the recess in the resting position of the inflation tube.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein a depth of the recess is greater than or equal to a height of the inflation tube that is within the recess in the resting position.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 , the apparatus further comprising:

a receptacle disposed within the recess and configured to surround the proximal end of the inflation tube when in the resting position.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein a gap between a wall of the recess and an outer wall of the receptacle is filled with a filler substance.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the internal tube has a curved shape to increase a length of the inflation tube contained within the internal tube.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a lumen wall of the internal tube is configured to allow sliding of the inflation tube relative to the lumen wall.

16. An apparatus for use in a stomach of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a balloon adapted for placement in the stomach and having an opening to an interior of the balloon;

an internal tube in the interior of the balloon with a proximal end coupled to the opening of the balloon;

an inflation tube having a distal end in the interior of the balloon and a proximal end configured to receive a fluid on an exterior of the balloon, the inflation tube being configured to stretch from the stomach to a mouth of the subject to facilitate inflation of the balloon and to have a resting position that is within the general profile of the balloon, the internal tube being disposed around at least a portion of the inflation tube that is in the interior of the balloon; and

a receptacle disposed within a recess and configured to surround the proximal end of the inflation tube when in the resting position.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the internal tube has a variable length including a first length that accommodates a substantial portion of the inflation tube when the inflation tube is in the resting position, and a second length, which is shorter than the first length, when the inflation tube is stretched outwardly from the balloon.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the internal tube has a curved shape to increase a length of the inflation tube contained within the internal tube.

19. A method of adjusting an inflation level of a balloon inserted into a stomach of a subject where the balloon is in fluid communication with an inflation tube, the method comprising:

providing the apparatus according to claims 1 or 16 ;

stretching the inflation tube while keeping the balloon in the stomach, the inflation tube extending from within the balloon when stretching;

transferring a fluid to or from the balloon via the inflation tube which may or may not require connection to an extension tube, to adjust the inflation level of the balloon; and

returning the inflation tube to a resting position after adjusting the inflation level, a substantial portion of the inflation tube being contained within the balloon in the resting position.

20. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising:

positioning a proximal end of the inflation tube within a recess formed on an exterior of the balloon when returning the inflation tube to the resting position.