The balloon remains within the patient’s stomach for approximately four months. The balloon then opens up and releases the fluid into the stomach, itself again becoming smaller and small enough to pass through the GI tract. We’re guessing this happens without a warning of the precise time of the event, and probably for the better. All in all, the Elipse offers both the delivery and removal of the gastric balloon without much of a procedure besides initially pumping fluid into the swallowed device.