Systems and methods for bariatric therapy

Abstract

The present invention provides bariatric therapy systems. One system includes a gastrointestinal implant device and a delivery mechanism therefor. The device can include a sleeve for placement into a small intestine and to minimize absorption of nutrients by its walls. An anchoring mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the sleeve and designed to be secured within the stomach can be provided. A passageway extending through the anchoring mechanism and the sleeve can also be provided, along which food can be directed from the stomach to the small intestine. The delivery mechanism can include a housing for accommodating the device, and a deploying balloon situated within the housing and which can be actuated to direct the sleeve of the device from within the housing to the site of implantation. Methods for providing bariatric therapy are also provided by the present invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gastrointestinal implant device comprising:
 a plurality of struts that are interconnected to define an expandable body;   a plurality of openings situated between the struts, the openings designed to allow food to enter into the expandable body through a first opening and to exit from the expandable body through a second opening; and   a sleeve having an entrance that is coupled to the expandable body, such that the entrance is in alignment with the second opening to direct the food into the sleeve, the sleeve being designed for placement into a small intestine and to minimize absorption of nutrients by a wall of the small intestine.   
     
     
         2 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable body is sufficiently elastic and capable of contracting and expanding along with stomach peristalsis without being expelled therefrom. 
     
     
         3 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable body is designed to exert a pressure against a wall of the stomach to distend the stomach and provide a feeling of satiety upon expansion. 
     
     
         4 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable body includes an expandable mechanism which, upon expansion, reduces a functional volume of the stomach. 
     
     
         5 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is made from a sufficiently flexible material to permit the sleeve to move between an inverted position and an everted position. 
     
     
         6 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of struts define a spherical or a partially spherical body. 
     
     
         7 . A gastrointestinal implant device comprising:
 a first anchoring mechanism designed to be secured along a gastrointestinal tract and within a stomach;   a second anchoring mechanism spaced from the first anchoring mechanism, the second anchoring mechanism designed to be secured further along the gastrointestinal tract and beyond the stomach; and   a sleeve coupled to and positioned outside the second anchoring mechanism, the sleeve designed for placement into a small intestine and to minimize absorption of nutrients by a wall of the small intestine, wherein a proximal portion of the sleeve extends between the first anchor and the second anchor to couple the anchors.   
     
     
         8 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 7 , wherein the first anchoring mechanism is expandable to reduce a functional volume of the stomach. 
     
     
         9 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 7 , wherein the second anchoring mechanism is designed to be secured within a duodenum by exerting a radial force against a wall of the duodenum. 
     
     
         10 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 9 , wherein the second anchoring mechanism is designed to expand to contact the wall of the duodenum, so as to seal the sleeve against the wall of the duodenum. 
     
     
         11 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 7 , wherein the proximal portion is sufficiently elastic to allow the first and/or second anchoring mechanism to exert a compressive force on a pylorus, so as to maximize anchoring of the first and second anchoring mechanisms adjacent the pylorus. 
     
     
         12 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 7 , wherein the proximal portion of the sleeve is configured to allow rotational movement of the second anchoring mechanism relative to the first anchoring mechanism following implantation of the gastrointestinal implant device, while limiting movement of the second anchoring mechanism along the gastrointestinal track away from the first anchoring mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is circumferentially situated about an outer surface of the second anchoring mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 7 , wherein the sleeve is made from a sufficiently flexible material to permit the sleeve to move between an inverted position and an everted position, and wherein the sleeve is designed to securely extend into the small intestine in the everted position. 
     
     
         15 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 7 , wherein the second anchoring mechanism is a three dimensional array of struts defining a spherical or a partially spherical shape. 
     
     
         16 . The gastrointestinal implant device of  claim 7 , wherein the second anchoring mechanism is configured to maintain a seal between the sleeve and the duodenal or intestinal wall to ensure that food from the stomach passes into the sleeve while minimizing leaking into the small intestine.