The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new device to treat obesity.
It is a manual pump that drains food out of an individual's stomach.
The AspireAssist is placed in the stomach through a small incision. It is then connected to a port valve outside the abdomen. The individual then uses a tube to drain the stomach into a toilet.
The device is intended for obese adults who haven't had success losing weight through non-surgical means.
In a one-year trial, patients on average lost 49 percent of excess weight or about 45 pounds, according to ABC News.
The device has been available in select regions of Europe, including Sweden, since 2011.
