Metamodix, Inc.

Alexander D Grafov

Kedar Ravindra Belhe

Paul J Thompson

Werner Schwarz

Several gastrointestinal surgery procedures are effective as treatments for metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Minimally invasive procedures including intra-luminal gastrointestinal implants have been proposed to mimic the anatomical, physiological and metabolic changes achieved by these procedures. Many of these designs include long sleeve like elements that prevent contact of food with the walls of the small intestine. It is desirable to have simple delivery systems that can place these implants under endoscopic guidance. However, in order to anchor these sleeve elements safely and reliably, the inventors have previously disclosed anchoring means that anchor the sleeves at the junctions of the stomach and the intestine or the stomach and esophagus.

Delivery devices and methods for gastrointestinal implants

A gastrointestinal device for implanting within a pylorus, a duodenal bulb, and a duodenum of a patient's gastrointestinal tract includes an expandable structure including a proximal portion having a plurality of spring arms and a distal portion having a plurality of spring arms, the proximal and distal portions coupled by a rigid central cylinder having a diameter capable of fitting within the pylorus and having a length greater than a width of the pylorus. An intestinal bypass sleeve is coupled to at least one of the proximal and distal portions of the expandable structure and having a length sufficient to extend at least partially into the duodenum. In the expanded configuration, the proximal portion has a diameter larger than a maximum opening diameter of the pylorus and further wherein, in the expanded configuration, the distal portion has a diameter larger than a maximum opening diameter of the pylorus.

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Eden Prairie, MN, United States of America

Alexander D Grafov