A locator system deployable at a target site in a first anatomical structure and identifiable from within a second anatomical structure. The locator system includes a signal generator and a tissue-engagement member. The tissue-engagement member engages tissue at the target site so that a delivery system may deliver the locator system and be withdrawn without disturbing the position of the locator system with the tissue-engagement member engaging tissue at the target site. The signal generator may be powered by a wireless energy source, such as a battery, or radio waves. The locator system may be deployed at a target site within a patient's intestines, and identified from within the patient's stomach to create an anastomosis between the stomach and the target site.

An example medical device for treating a body lumen is disclosed. The medical device includes an expandable scaffold including first and second regions, each of the first and second regions include a plurality of interstices located therein. The medical device also includes a covering spanning each of the plurality of interstices of the first region. The second region is free of the covering. A biodegradable gripping material is disposed on an outer surface of the covering. Further, the expandable scaffold is configured to shift from a collapsed state to an expanded state and the second region is configured to contact an inner surface of the body lumen in the expanded state. Additionally, the gripping material is designed to initially prevent migration of the expandable scaffold upon implantation in the body lumen until the second region is secured to the inner surface of the body lumen.

The present invention provides delivery systems for positioning a gastrointestinal implant in a patient, for example, for treatment of a metabolic disease. Also provided are methods for assembling the delivery systems, methods of positioning a gastrointestinal implant, and methods of treatment of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity, and related comorbidities thereof.

Engageable stents disclosed herein may include an outer stent comprising an elongate body configured to be expandable between a constrained configuration and an unconstrained configuration. The elongate body in the unconstrained configuration may include a retention member and a cylindrical saddle region adjacent the retention member, the cylindrical saddle region defining a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the outer stent. The retention member of the outer stent may comprise a double-walled flange. The engageable stents may include an inner stent comprising an elongate body configured to be expandable between a constrained configuration and an unconstrained configuration. The elongate body in the unconstrained configuration may include a retention member and a cylindrical saddle region adjacent the retention member. The retention member of the inner stent may comprise a double-walled flange. The retention members of the outer and inner stent may be removably engageable with each other.

Medical devices and method for making and using the same are disclosed. An example medical device may include implantable medical device for use along the biliary and/or pancreatic tract. The implantable medical device may include a tubular member having a first end configured to be disposed within the duodenum of a patient and a second end configured to be disposed adjacent to a pancreatic duct and/or bile duct. The tubular member may have a body including one or more wire filaments that are woven together. The tubular member may also have an outer surface with a longitudinal channel formed therein.

Devices and methods can be used for the endoscopic treatment of conditions such as obesity and metabolic diseases. For example, this document provides devices and methods for bypassing portions of the GI tract that can reduce nutritional uptake, decrease weight, and improve diabetes control. The devices are advantageously designed for migration resistance, reflux prevention, and ease of implantation.

Methods are disclosed for forming tissue engineered, tubular gut-sphincter complexes from intestinal circular smooth muscle cells, sphincteric smooth muscle cells and enteric neural progenitor cells. The intestinal smooth muscle cells and neural progenitor cells can be seeded on a mold with a surface texture that induces longitudinal alignment of the intestinal smooth muscle cells and co-cultured until an innervated aligned smooth muscle sheet is obtained. The innervated smooth muscle sheet can then be wrapped around a tubular scaffold to form an intestinal tissue construct. Additionally, the sphincteric smooth muscle cells and additional enteric neural progenitor cells can be mixed in a biocompatiable gel solution, and the gel and admixed cells applied to a mold having a central post such that the sphinteric smooth muscle and neural progenitor cells can be cultured to form an innervated sphincter construct around the mold post. This innervated sphincter construct can also be transferred to the tubular scaffold such that the intestinal tissue construct and sphincter construct contact each other, and the resulting combined sphincter and intestinal tissue constructs can be further cultured about the scaffold until a unified tubular gut-sphincter complex is obtained.

Various devices, systems, and methods that can be used in the treatment of obesity and related illnesses are disclosed. In some instances, a medical device can include a body configured to transition from a low-profile state to an expanded state. The body can include a cecal region, an ileocecal region, and an ileal region. When the body is in the expanded state, the cecal region can expand a cecum of a patient, the ileocecal region can extend through the ileocecal valve of the patient, and the ileal region can anchor within the ileum to inhibit migration of medical the device.

An volume filling device for treatment of obesity is placed outside the stomach wall of the patient to reduce the inner volume of the stomach, thereby affecting the patient's appetite. By providing the volume filling device outside the stomach wall, contact with stomach acids is avoided, thereby increasing the life of the device.

A stent for repairing post-anastomasis (e.g., bariatric) surgery leaks is formed by an elongated tube having a proximal flare-shaped flange, an enlarged middle section, and a distal flare-shaped flange, where an exterior surface of the elongated tube is substantially covered with a polymer.