The device is fitted around the bottom of the esophagus - the 'pipe' through which food travels to the stomach.
Once in place, the magnets pull together. This stops acid from the stomach leaking back up into the esophagus and burning its delicate lining, causing heartburn.
When the patient swallows, the beads are gently forced apart, sliding along the tiny metal arms that link them together.
This allows food to pass through into the stomach.
Once it has, the magnets pull together again to form a seal.
Around 150 patients in the U.S. have already been fitted with the revolutionary device, and results have been very encouraging.
The bracelet, known as the Linx device, was also recently approved for use in the UK.
Heartburn affects around one in three people at some point in their lives. It is caused by the powerful hydrochloric acid found in our stomach juices.
The stomach produces this acid to break down food. In a healthy body, the acid is prevented from flowing back up the esophagus by a small muscle called the lower esophagus sphincter, which works like a one-way valve to control the flow of food into the stomach.
But if this muscle does not work properly, acid can leak up into the esophagus, causing the pain of heartburn. Causes include fatty foods, as they take longer to digest so sit around in the stomach for longer.
Spicy dishes can irritate the lining of the gullet, and alcohol can also trigger the symptoms by making the muscle relax.
Treatment usually involves over-the-counter antacid pills, which dampen down the inflammation in the esophagus caused by leaking fluids. But anyone suffering more than twice a week could have a condition called Gastro Esophagus Reflux Disorder, or GERD, where the lining of the esophagus becomes damaged by excess acid exposure.
Left untreated, GERD can increase the risk of ulcers and even cancer of the esophagus.
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