Esophageal stents

Abstract

Methods for attaching a luminal device to the esophageal wall are described. In one embodiment, a method may include forming a bulge in an anchoring membrane of the luminal device and the esophageal wall, piercing the bulge from a first side of the anchoring membrane and a first side of the esophageal wall, placing a second retention element of a tissue anchor on a second side of the esophageal wall; and placing a tension element of the tissue anchor through the anchoring membrane and the esophageal wall. The tension element may be coupled to the second retention element. The method may further include placing a first retention element on the first side of the anchoring membrane. The first retention element may be coupled to the tension element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A luminal device, comprising:
 an esophageal stent; and   an anchoring membrane coupled to the esophageal stent, the anchoring membrane configured to be attached to an esophageal wall with a tissue anchor placed through the anchoring membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The luminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring membrane is configured to be pierced to allow the tissue anchor to be placed through the anchoring membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The luminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring membrane is configured to retain a tissue anchor placed through the anchoring membrane. 
     
     
         4 . The luminal device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a braid coupled to the anchoring membrane, the braid configured to reinforce the anchoring membrane.   
     
     
         5 . The luminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring membrane is collapsible. 
     
     
         6 . The luminal device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more perforations formed in the anchoring membrane, the perforations configured to allow a vacuum to reach through the anchoring membrane.   
     
     
         7 . The luminal device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more pulls coupled to the anchoring membrane, the pulls configured to allow the anchoring membrane to be pulled.   
     
     
         8 . The luminal device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more creases formed in the anchoring membrane, the creases configured to allow the anchoring membrane to collapse along the creases.   
     
     
         9 . A luminal device, comprising:
 an esophageal stent; and   an anchor retaining means coupled to the esophageal stent, the anchor attachment means configured to be attached to a wall of an esophagus with a tissue anchor placed through the anchor retaining means.   
     
     
         10 . The luminal device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a reinforcement means coupled to the anchor retaining means, the reinforcement means configured to reinforce the anchor retaining means.   
     
     
         11 . A method for attaching a luminal device to an esophageal wall, the method comprising:
 forming a bulge in an anchoring membrane of the luminal device and the esophageal wall;   piercing the bulge from a first side of the anchoring membrane and a first side of the esophageal wall;   placing a second retention element of a tissue anchor on a second side of the esophageal wall; and   placing a tension element of the tissue anchor through the anchoring membrane and the esophageal wall, the tension element coupled to the second retention element.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein forming a bulge includes drawing the anchoring membrane and the esophageal wall with a vacuum. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein forming a bulge includes pulling the anchoring membrane and the esophageal wall with a grasper. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein piercing the bulge includes advancing a delivery needle through the bulge to position a tip of the delivery needle on a second side of the esophageal wall. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein advancing a delivery needle includes advancing a delivery needle in a direction between 0 degrees and 10 degrees from parallel to the esophageal wall other than the bulge. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein placing a second retention element includes pushing the second retention element out of a lumen of the delivery needle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein placing a tension element includes pulling the delivery needle back through the bulge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 placing a first retention element on the first side of the anchoring membrane, the first retention element coupled to the tension element.