Keyhole surgery device given the go-ahead for US obesity operations

The device uses pioneering technology to help surgeons fit gastric bands on obese patients. The US is the world's biggest market for this sort of surgery.

It is estimated that 250,000 anti-obesity procedures are performed annually in the US where obesity affects more than 60 million people, representing the second largest cause of preventable death.

Leeds-based Surgical's chief executive Graham Bowland said: "The majority of surgical instruments in the US are single-use. However, with growing financial constraints being placed on hospital budgets, procurement managers are continuously looking for cost-effective instrumentation and LogiFlex offers the ideal high-quality, cost-effective solution."

Surgical launched LogiFlex in the UK last year, where it was well received by surgeons at the World Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) as an "innovative cost effective solution".

In April, Surgical announced a 17 per cent fall in 2009 retained profits to 525,000.

Surgical's chairman, Doug Liversidge, said this was largely due to unavoidable third-party issues, which have since been resolved.

The issues resulted in a delay in the delivery of amajor industrial devices order before the year end, but the order has now gone through and will result in a 600,000 windfall this year.

In addition, the group has written down the value of its autologous blood transfusion assets, following a strategic review.

Surgical has decided to either sell the blood transfusion business or seek a joint venture partner.