Gastric retaining devices and methods

Abstract

Methods, devices and systems facilitate gastric retention of a variety of therapeutic devices. devices generally include a support portion for preventing the device from passing through the pyloric valve or esophagus wherein a retaining member may optionally be included on the distal end of the positioning member for further maintaining a position of the device in the stomach. Some embodiments are deliverable into the stomach through the esophagus, either by swallowing or trough a delivery tube or catheter. Some embodiments are fully reversible. Some embodiments self-expand within the stomach, while others are inflated or otherwise expanded.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 - 113 . (canceled)  
     
     
         114 . A device for retaining a therapeutic component in the stomach of a patient, said device comprising: 
 a shape-memory component that is convertible from an expanded configuration in which said shape-memory component is sufficiently expanded to prevent passage of said shape-memory component through said pylorus, to a reduced-diameter configuration allowing insertion and removal of said shape-memory component through the esophagus of said patient;    a therapeutic component of small enough size to be contained within said shape-memory component both in said expanded configuration and said reduced-diameter configuration; and    means for manipulating said shape-memory component between said expanded and reduced-diameter configurations externally to said patient.    
     
     
         115 . A device for retaining a therapeutic component in the stomach of a patient, said device comprising: 
 a noninflatable component that is convertible from an expanded configuration sufficiently large to be unable to pass through said pylorus to an unexpanded configuration allowing insertion and removal of said flow-through component through the esophagus of said patient;    a therapeutic component of small enough size to be contained within said flow-through component both in said expanded configuration and said unexpanded configuration; and    means for manipulating said flow-through component between said expanded and unexpanded configurations while said flow-through component is inside said stomach.    
     
     
         116 . The device of  claim 115 , further comprising reversible attachment means for reversibly attaching said flow-through component to said therapeutic component and thereby fixing said device in said expanded configuration.  
     
     
         117 . The device of  claim 115 , further comprising a label detectable through the body of said patient attached to said therapeutic device.  
     
     
         118 . The device of  claim 114  further comprising one or more therapeutic or diagnostic agents releasably coupled with the device for release within the stomach.  
     
     
         119 . The device of  claim 114 , further comprising a space occupying member coupled with the obstructing device for occupying space in the stomach to treat obesity.  
     
     
         120 . The device of  claim 114 , further comprising at least one electrode coupled with the devices wherein the electrode engages the tissue of the stomach, pylorus or duodenum.  
     
     
         121 . The device of  claim 115 , further comprising one or more therapeutic or diagnostic agents releasably coupled with the device for release within the stomach.  
     
     
         122 . The device of  claim 115 , further comprising at least one electrode coupled with the devices wherein the electrode engages the tissue of the stomach, pylorus or duodenum.  
     
     
         123 . A device for reducing effective gastric volume, said device comprising: 
 a flow-through component that is convertible from an unexpanded configuration in which said flow-through component is sufficiently small in cross section to be inserted into the stomach of a patient through the esophagus of said patient, to an expanded configuration in which said flow-through components is too large in cross section to pass through said pylorus once inserted in said stomach; and    means for converting said flow-through component from said unexpanded configuration to said expanded configuration while said flow-through component is in said stomach, wherein    conversion from unexpanded to said expanded configuration is accomplished through shape-memory materials or endoscopic locking in an expanded configuration, wherein reversal of said expanded configuration to the unexpanded configuration for removal requires endoscopic manipulation of the device.    
     
     
         124 . The device of  claim 123  wherein the expandable support portion comprises at least one self-expanding material.  
     
     
         125 . The device of  claim 124 , wherein the at least one self-expanding material is selected from the group consisting of Nitinol, spring stainless steel and other shape-memory, super-elastic and spring-loaded materials.  
     
     
         126 . The device of  claim 124  wherein the self-expanding material comprises at least one support member for preventing collapse of the support portion, the support member selected from the group consisting of rings, coils, cages, struts, scaffolding, baskets spokes and umbrellas.  
     
     
         127 . The device of  claim 126 , wherein the support portion comprises the at least one support member coupled with at least one of GORE-TEX® silicone, polyurethane and polyethylene.  
     
     
         128 . The device of  claim 124 , wherein the self-expanding material comprises a self-expanding foam disposed within at least one of the expandable support portion and the tissue engagement portion.  
     
     
         129 . The device of  claim 128 , wherein the foam comprises at least one of polyethylene foam, polyurethane foam and silicone foam.  
     
     
         130 . The device of  claim 124 , wherein the self-expanding material expands upon contacting one or more substances present in the stomach.  
     
     
         131 . The device of  claim 123 , wherein a tissue engagement portion is adapted to temporarily form a seal with the pyloric valve upon contacting the tissue adjacent the valve, and wherein the tissue engagement portion is sufficiently compliant to avoid causing damage to the tissue on contacting it.  
     
     
         132 . The device of  claim 123 , wherein the support portion in the second configuration has a widest cross-sectional diameter of between 2.5 cm and 15 cm.  
     
     
         133 . The device of  claim 123 , wherein the combined volume is between 200 cc and 2000 cc.