Around the same time the Lap Band© was being introduced in Europe (1994) another
competing LAGB was available overseas called the Swedish Band© from the ObTech
Corporation. It was subsequently purchased by Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc. renamed the
Realize Band© and brought to the United States and approved by the FDA for sale in the
United States after a Clinical Trial. The Realize Band© began as a wide band with low
pressure and has also undergone modification by performing the band into the shape of
the letter “C” so it conforms to the stomach and enlarging the length so its not as tight
around some large stomachs.