Conformationally-stabilized intraluminal device for medical applications

Abstract

The invention relates to devices that are stabilized at an intraluminal residence site in the gastrointestinal tract by their conformation, including dimensions of length and curvature. The device as a whole corresponds to the conformation of the residence site; more particularly, the curved or angled portions correspond to the curved or angled portions of the residence site and do not conform to an immediately proximal or distal site. In some embodiments, the conformationally stabilized device may effect a change in the residence site shape that contributes to stability of the device. Some embodiments are directed toward curbing appetite and/or reducing food intake, other embodiments may be directed toward other therapeutic ends. Some embodiments of the device are designed to reside wholly in the duodenum; others reside principally within the duodenum but extend proximally into the gastric antrum, while other embodiments are designed to reside elsewhere within the gastrointestinal tract.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of providing therapy in a gastrointestinal tract comprising:
 positioning the distal end of a device into a first portion of a gastrointestinal tract residence site;   conforming a portion of the device proximal to the distal end of the device to a second portion of the gastrointestinal tract residence site; and   positioning the proximal end of the device into a third portion of the gastrointestinal tract residence site.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , the second portion of the gastrointestinal tract residence site comprising at least one of: the transition from the duodenal bulb to the vertical duodenum;
 the transition from the vertical duodenum to the horizontal duodenum; the transition from the horizontal duodenum to the jejunum; the duodenojejunal flexture; and the portion of the duodenum adjacent to the Ligament of Trietz.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , the positioning the distal end of a device step further comprising: deploying an atraumatic feature into contact with the first portion of a gastrointestinal tract residence site. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , the positioning the proximal end of a device step further comprising: deploying an atraumatic feature into contact with the third portion of a gastrointestinal tract residence site. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: aligning the atraumatic feature on the proximal end of the device with the atraumatic feature on the distal end of the device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the first portion of a gastrointestinal tract residence site is distal to the vertical duodenum. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of a gastrointestinal tract residence site is within to the horizontal duodenum. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of a gastrointestinal tract residence site is within or distal to the horizontal duodenum and adjacent to the third portion of the gastrointestinal tract residence site. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of a gastrointestinal tract residence site is within or near the duodenojejunal fexture. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of a gastrointestinal tract residence site is within or near the portion of the duodenum adjacent to the Ligament of Trietz. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the third portion of a gastrointestinal tract residence site is proximal to the pylorus. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the third portion of a gastrointestinal tract residence site is within the antrum of the stomach. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein after the deploying step, the atraumatic feature is in contact with the stomach wall in the antrum. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: maintaining the postion of the device within the gastrointestinal residence site without imparing pyloric function or gastric emptying. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: maintaining the position of the device within the gastrointestinal residence site while atraumatically withstanding peristaltic action. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein after performing the steps of  claim 2 , the proximal end of the device is within  1  to  7  cm of the distal end of the device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein after performing the steps of  claim 2 , the proximal end of the device is separated from the distal end of the device by a portion of the stomach wall and a portion of duodenal wall. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein after performing the delivery step the proximal end of the device is separated from the atraumatic feature by a portion of the stomach wall and a portion of duodenal wall. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein after performing the delivery step the distal end of the device is separated from the atraumatic feature by a portion of the stomach wall and a portion of duodenal wall. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2 , the conforming step further comprising: moving the device relative to the gastrointestinal residence site to assume a portion of a preformed device shape. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 2 , the conforming step further comprising: moving the device relative to the gastrointestinal residence site to obtain a preselected alignment of the proximal end and the distal end of the device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising deploying at least one flow reduction element from the device to reduce the flow of chyme past the device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising positioning the device to provide slowing of chyme flow through the duodenum.