MODULAR GASTROINTESTINAL PROSTHESES

• US 20100256775A1
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MetaModix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MetaModix, Inc.
• Inventors: Belhe, Kedar R., Thompson, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,211,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.650
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/044 Oesophagi or esophagi or gullets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/045 Stomach, intestines
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0076 preventing normal digestion, e.g. Bariatric or gastric sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0079 Pyloric or esophageal obstructions

Abstract

A modular system for therapy within a gastrointestinal system. The system includes anchoring or attachment functionality embodied in a low-profile implant technology and removable therapy components, which can be reversibly attached to these low-profile implants to accomplish various therapies. This modular design allows the physician to tailor the therapy to the patient'"'"'s needs. The modular system has the potential to create conduits for diversion and/or restriction of food and organ secretions and to facilitate the treatment of metabolic disorders such as obesity and T2DM.

Claims

1. A modular system for treating metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, the system comprising:

an anchoring element including an expandable structure configured for engaging at least one of an esophagus, a stomach, a pylorus, and a duodenal bulb, the anchoring element having a docking feature; and

a tubular implant adapted for placement within the gastro-intestinal tract, the tubular implant having a coupling feature for engaging and coupling with the docking feature of the anchoring element;

wherein the docking feature and coupling feature are configured such that the tubular implant is releasably coupled to the anchoring element to facilitate removal of the tubular implant.

2. The modular system of claim 1 wherein the anchoring element further includes a sleeve element covering a part or an entire surface of the stent.

3. The modular system of claim 1 wherein the docking element is fabric or elastomeric cuff.

4. The modular system of claim 1 wherein the docking feature of the anchoring element comprises a plurality of magnetic elements.

5. The modular system of claim 1 wherein the docking feature of the anchoring element comprises a plurality of hook or a plurality of loop fastener elements.

6. The modular system of claim 1 wherein the docking feature of the anchoring element comprises at least one mechanical element adapted to interlock with a corresponding mechanical element of the coupling feature.

7. The modular system of claim 1 wherein the stent comprises a double-braid stent with a space between an outer braid and an inner braid and further wherein the inner braid is configured as the docking feature.

8. The modular system of claim 1 wherein the tubular implant comprises at least one tubular element adapted to function as a conduit for food and organ secretions.

9. The modular system of claim 8 wherein the tubular element includes a restrictive feature for restricting the flow of food.

10. The modular system of claim 8 wherein the tubular element includes an anti-reflux valve.

11. The modular system of claim 4 wherein the magnetic elements provide attachment by either attraction, repulsion or magnetic levitation type mechanisms

12. A modular system for treating metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, the system comprising:

an anchoring element including an expandable structure configured for engaging at least one body organ selected from the group consisting of an esophagus, a stomach, a pylorus, and a duodenal bulb, the anchoring element having a docking feature; and

a tubular implant adapted for placement within the gastro-intestinal tract, the tubular implant having a coupling feature for releasably coupling with the docking feature of the anchoring element;

wherein the docking feature and coupling feature are configured such that the tubular implant is releasably coupled to the anchoring element to facilitate removal of the tubular implant; and

wherein the anchoring element is configured such that the docking feature is spaced from an internal surface of the body organ.

13. The modular system of claim 12 wherein the anchoring element further includes a sleeve element covering a part or an entire surface of the stent.

14. The modular system of claim 12 wherein the docking feature of the anchoring element comprises a plurality of magnetic elements.

15. The modular system of claim 12 wherein the docking feature of the anchoring element comprises at least one mechanical element adapted to interlock with a corresponding mechanical element of the coupling feature.

16. The modular system of claim 12 wherein the stent comprises a double-braid with a space between an outer braid and an inner braid and further wherein the inner braid is configured as the docking feature.

17. The modular system of claim 12 wherein the tubular implant comprises a tubular elements adapted to function as conduits for food and organ secretions.

18. The modular system of claim 17 wherein the tubular element includes a restrictive feature for restricting the flow of food.

19. The modular system of claim 17 wherein the tubular element includes an anti-reflux valve.

20. A modular system for treating metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, the system comprising:

an anchoring element including an expandable structure having a first portion configured for engaging a wall of the pyloric antrum at a first location proximal to the pylorus and a second portion configured for engaging a wall of the duodenal bulb at a second location distal to the pylorus, the anchoring element having a docking feature;

the anchoring element including a neck portion adapted to extend through and engage an inner surface of the pylorus; and

a therapy implant adapted for placement within the duodenum, the therapy implant having a coupling feature for releasably coupling with the docking feature of the anchoring element;

wherein the docking feature and coupling feature are configured such that the therapy implant is releasably coupled to the anchoring element to facilitate removal of the therapy implant.

21. The modular system of claim 20 wherein the second portion of the anchoring element has an unconstrained diameter smaller than a duodenal bulb diameter, such that the second portion would not contact the duodenal bulb upon implantation.

22. The modular system of claim 20 wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion are at least partially covered with a sleeve element.

23. The modular system of claim 20 wherein the neck portion is made from a flexible polymeric material configured to at least partially collapse in response to a radial force typically applied by a pylorus to allow unconstrained closing of the pylorus.

24. The modular system of claim 20 wherein the neck portion is made from a flexible braided material configured to have an unconstrained diameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the pylorus, such that the neck portion acts to restrict flow through the pylorus.

25. The modular system of claim 20 wherein a plurality of circumferential openings in the second portion are configured to function as the docking feature and further wherein the coupling feature includes a plurality of circumferentially disposed protrusions configured to mate with the plurality of openings.

26. A modular system for treating metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity, the system comprising:

a plurality of anchoring elements for engaging a plurality of body organs selected from the group consisting of an esophagus, a stomach, a pylorus, and a duodenal bulb, each of the plurality of anchoring element having a docking feature;

a first tubular implant adapted for placement within the duodenum, the tubular implant having a coupling feature for engaging and coupling with the docking feature of one of the plurality of anchoring elements; and

a second tubular implant adapted for placement within the stomach, the second implant having a length sufficient to extend from a distal end of the esophagus to a pylorus, the second tubular implant having a coupling feature for coupling with the docking feature of one of the plurality of anchoring elements;

wherein the docking feature and coupling feature are configured such that the tubular implant is releasably coupled to the anchoring element to facilitate removal of the tubular implant.