Satiation devices and methods
View Patent ↗A device for inducing weight loss in a patient includes a tubular prosthesis self-expandable from a collapsed position in which the prosthesis has a first diameter to an expanded position in which the prosthesis has a second, larger, diameter. In a method for inducing weight loss, the prosthesis is placed in the collapsed position and inserted into a stomach of a patient. The prosthesis is allowed to self-expand from the collapsed position to the expanded position and into contact with the walls of the stomach, where it induces feelings of satiety and/or inhibits modulation of satiety-controlling factors such as Ghrelin.
1. A duodenal absorption barrier for use in limiting absorption of food in the small intestine of a human subject, comprising:
an elongate polymeric sleeve at least 20 cm in length and extending between proximal and distal open ends, said sleeve having an exterior duodenum-contacting surface adapted for contacting the surrounding wall of the subject's duodenum,
barbs or scales disposed on said exterior surface of the sleeve, and
disposed entirely within the sleeve, a self-expandable wire structure adapted, in its expanded form, and with the duodenal absorption barrier positioned entirely within the small intestine of the subject, to exert an outward pressure of the exterior surface of the sleeve against the surrounding walls of the duodenum, thereby pressing the barbs or scales disposed on the exterior surface against the surrounding duodenal walls, to anchor the entire duodenal absorption barrier within the duodenum, where the sleeve acts as an absorption barrier within the duodenum.
2. The duodenal absorption barrier of claim 1 , wherein the self-expandable wire structure includes an expandable ring.
3. The duodenal absorption barrier of claim 2 , wherein the self-expandable wire structure includes a plurality of rings spaced along the length of the sleeve.
4. The duodenal absorption barrier of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has scales disposed on its exterior surface, oriented to prevent movement of the duodenal absorption barrier within the duodenum.