Pyloric anchors and methods for intestinal bypass sleeves

Abstract

A gastrointestinal device for implanting within a patient's gastrointestinal tract, the device having a central axis and a first expandable portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire and having a first cylinder extending parallel to the central axis, the first cylinder having a length and a first face; a neck portion extending from the first face of the first expandable portion parallel to the central axis, the neck portion having a first end, a second end, a wall extending between the first end and second end, and a diameter sized to fit within a pylorus; and a second expandable portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire and having a second cylinder extending parallel to the central axis, the second cylinder having a second face located at the proximal end of the second cylinder and oriented transverse to the central axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gastrointestinal implant for use within a pylorus of a patient, the gastrointestinal implant comprising:
 an anchor having an expanded configuration, a contracted configuration, and a longitudinal axis, and comprising:
 a proximal portion including a hollow tubular braided structure of wire defining
 a first cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and 
 a second wall extending radially inward from the distal end of the proximal portion traverse to the longitudinal axis, the second wall having an outer diameter and a first opening defining an inner diameter; 
 
 a neck portion comprising a second cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a third wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the proximal end of the neck portion attached to the first opening of the second wall; and 
 a distal portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire defining
 a third cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, a fourth wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and 
 a fifth wall extending radially inward from the distal portion of the proximal end, the fifth wall having an outer diameter and a second opening attached to the distal end of the neck portion, the second opening defining an inner diameter; and 
 
   a structural element having a first section attached to the proximal portion of the anchor and a second section attached to the distal portion of the anchor, the structural element configured to resist circumferential compression of the proximal and distal portion relative to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the structural element further comprises a third section attached to the neck portion. 
     
     
         3 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the structural element is attached to the first wall, second wall, third wall, fourth wall, and fifth wall of the anchor. 
     
     
         4 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the structural element is configured to resist canting of the proximal portion and the distal portion with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the structural element is configured to resist rotation of the proximal and distal portion relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the structural element is configured to maintain the first and second cylinder parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the structural element is configured to maintain the second wall and the fifth wall perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 1 , wherein the structural element is configured to transfer at least one of compressive and expansive forces between the proximal and distal portions. 
     
     
         9 . A gastrointestinal implant for use within a pylorus of a patient, the gastrointestinal implant comprising:
 an anchor transitionable between an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration, the anchor having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 a proximal portion including a hollow tubular braided structure of wire defining a first cylinder and having a proximal end, a distal end, a first wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and a second wall extending radially inward from the distal end of the proximal portion traverse to the longitudinal axis, the second wall having an outer diameter and a first opening defining an inner diameter of the second wall; 
 a neck portion comprising a second cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a third wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the proximal end of the neck portion attached to the first opening of the second wall; and 
 a distal portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire defining a third cylinder and having a proximal end, a distal end, a fourth wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a fifth wall extending radially inward from the distal portion proximal end, the fifth wall having an outer diameter and a second opening attached to the distal end of the neck portion, the second opening defining an inner diameter of the fifth wall; and 
   a structural element having a first section attached to the proximal portion of the anchor and a second section attached to the distal portion of the anchor, the structural element configured to resist rotation of the proximal and distal portion relative to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         10 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 9 , wherein the structural element is attached to the proximal portion, the neck portion, and the distal portion of the anchor, such that the structural element transfers compressive and expansive forces between the proximal portion and distal portion of the anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 9 , wherein the structural element has a first section extended along the second wall and a second section extended along the fifth wall, the first and second section of the structural element oriented in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 9 , wherein the structural element is configured to resist rotation of the proximal and distal portion relative to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 9 , wherein the structural element is configured to bias the anchor in a direction of collapse. 
     
     
         14 . A gastrointestinal implant for use within a pylorus, a duodenal bulb, and a duodenum of a patient, the implant having an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration and comprising:
 an anchor having a longitudinal axis and including:
 a proximal portion including a hollow tubular braided structure of wire and defining a cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first wall extending radially inward from the distal end of the proximal portion, wherein the first wall has an outer circumference and a first opening defining an inner circumference; 
 a neck portion including a cylinder having a proximal end attached to the first opening, a distal end, and a neck wall extending from the proximal end to the distal end; 
 a distal portion including a hollow tubular braided structure of wire and defining a cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, and a second wall extending radially inward from the proximal end of the distal portion, wherein the second wall has an outer circumference and a second opening defining an inner circumference and attached to the distal end of the neck portion; and 
   a plurality of rings attached to the distal portion, wherein each ring of the plurality of rings has a first section attached to the outer wall of the distal portion and a second section attached to at least one of the second wall and the neck portion, and wherein each ring of the plurality of rings is oriented in a plane, the plurality of rings configured to resist compression of the distal portion in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         15 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 14 , wherein the first section of each ring of the plurality of rings is attached along a circumference of the outer wall and the second section of each ring of the plurality of rings is attached along a circumference of at least one of the second wall and the neck portion. 
     
     
         16 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 14 , wherein each ring of the plurality of rings has a round shape, a rectangular shape, a square shape or an elliptical shape. 
     
     
         17 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 14 , wherein the first wall defines a concave surface that is curved between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the first wall. 
     
     
         18 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 14 , wherein the first wall defines a concave surface that is curved between the outer circumference of the first wall and the proximal end of the neck portion with a curve perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 14 , wherein the second wall defines a concave surface that is curved between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the second wall. 
     
     
         20 . The gastrointestinal implant of  claim 14 , wherein the second wall defines a concave surface that is curved between the outer circumference of the second wall and the distal end of the neck portion with a curve perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.