A method for treating an intestine with an expandable scaffolding expanded within the intestine. After placing the expandable scaffolding at a target location, such as across a fistula, the first and second end portions of the expandable scaffolding are radially expanded such that the first and second end portions contact an inner surface of the intestine on opposing sides of the fistula, anchoring the first and second end portions to the intestine. Radially expanding the first and second end portions foreshortens the medial portion along the longitudinal axis such that the first and second end portions are drawn closer together along the longitudinal axis as the medial portion foreshortens to close the fistula.

The present invention relates to an endoluminal device for implantation in a body lumen, such as a pancreatic duct. The device is provided with a distal end region having greater flexibility than that of a medial region of the device.

Sphincter reinforcement devices are described. Sphincter reinforcement devices may be configured to be placed at least partially around a bodily passage at or near a sphincter. In one embodiment, a sphincter reinforcement device may comprise a ring including a tubular structure. The ring may be expandable. The tubular structure may be hollow. The tubular structure may have a first end and a second end. The first end may be configured to be coupled to the second end. The tubular structure may include a braided material.

A stent includes a tubular body formed of one or more interwoven wires, the tubular body having first and second opposing open ends and a lumen extending therebetween. The stent further includes a first anchor member disposed adjacent the first open end and a second anchor member disposed adjacent the second open end, the first and second anchor members each extending radially outward from the tubular body, the first and second anchor members each having an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the tubular body disposed between the first and second anchor members. A plurality of spacer members are disposed around the first open end and extending longitudinally beyond the first open end, wherein when a pulling force is applied to the spacer members, the outer diameter of the tubular body is not reduced.

A surgical anchor device for being anchored on the mucous membrane of the inner wall of the intestine, the device having a temporary anchor element presenting anchoring that can be modified in a controlled manner and having a first substantially cylindrical multiply-perforated wall presenting properties of radial elasticity whereby the first wall presents an outer diameter that can be varied in controlled manner, wherein a portion of the inner surface of the first wall is lined with an independent leakproof inner sheath having only its longitudinal ends fastened to the anchor element to define a suction chamber between the inner sheath and the first wall, the temporary anchor element being coupled to a flexible or semi-rigid tube extending outside the anchor element, an open end of the injection-suction tube opening out into the suction chamber enabling air to be injected into or sucked out from the suction chamber.

An apparatus for the treatment of acid reflux disease comprising two or more movement restriction device segments adapted to be movement restriction device of a controlled size. The movement restriction device can at least partly be invaginated by a patient's stomach fundus wall. A substantial part of the outer surface of the movement restriction device is adapted to rest against the stomach wall without injuring the latter in a position between the patient's diaphragm and at least a portion of the lower part of the invaginated stomach fundus wall, such that movement of the cardiac notch of the patient's stomach towards the patient's diaphragm is restricted, to thereby prevent the cardia from sliding through the patient's diaphragm opening into the patient's thorax, so as to maintain the supporting pressure against the patient's cardia sphincter muscle exerted from the patient's abdomen.

An esophageal stent may include an expandable framework having a first end, a second end, and a central longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, the expandable framework being configured to expand from a radially collapsed configuration to a radially expanded configuration, and a polymeric outer sleeve disposed radially outward of and spaced apart from a body region of the expandable framework. The expandable framework may include a plurality of anti-migration supports extending radially outward from the body region of the expandable framework toward the polymeric outer sleeve.

A scaffold for a tube, the scaffold having a membrane and a pair of splines integrally formed with or embedded in the membrane. The splines being spaced apart from one another with the membrane spanning therebetween and with the membrane further having a pair of grooves disposed between the splines adapted to receive the splines when the membrane is folded over on itself. The scaffold may be applied internally or externally to a tube, including tubular biological structures (e.g.. arteries) to provide support thereto, and in this sense, it may be used as a stent. The scaffold is more easily deployed and retrieved than known stents,

A gastroscopic method and instrument for treating obesity of a patient, using a device adapted to stretch a part of the stomach wall of said patient. The method comprises the steps of: inserting the device into the stomach through the esophagus, placing the device in contact with the stomach wall, and fixating the device to the stomach wall such that the device can stretch a part of the stomach wall.

An example medical device is disclosed. An example medical device includes an expandable stent. The stent includes a tubular scaffold formed of one or more interwoven filament. The tubular scaffold includes an inner surface and a flexible valve extending radially inward from the inner surface of the scaffold. Further, the valve is configured to shift between a closed configuration and an open configuration and the one or more filaments of the scaffold bias the valve to the closed configuration while in a nominally deployed state.