Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly manifested by heartburn or 
regurgitation, is a chronic, progressive condition in which failed sphincter 
function allows the contents of the stomach to reflux into the esophagus, the 
airways and the mouth. Chronic GERD affects 10% of Western society. The majority 
of patients receive adequate relief from proton pump inhibitors, but up to 40% 
have incomplete relief of symptoms that cannot be addressed by increasing the 
dose of medications. The laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the surgical gold 
standard; however, the level of technical difficulty and its side effects have 
limited its use to less than 1% of the GERD population. These factors have 
contributed to the propensity of patients to persist with medical therapy, even 
when inadequate to control symptoms and complications of the disease. 
Consequently, a significant gap in the treatment continuum for GERD remains 
evident in current clinical practice. The LINX(™) Reflux Management System 
(Torax Medical) is designed to provide a permanent solution to GERD by 
augmenting the physiologic function of the sphincter barrier with a simple and 
reproducible laparoscopic procedure that does not alter gastric anatomy and can 
be easily reversed if necessary.