Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Luminal devices are described. In one embodiment, a luminal device includes an esophageal stent and an anchoring membrane coupled to the esophageal stent. The anchoring membrane may be configured to be coupled to an esophageal wall with a tissue anchor placed through the anchoring membrane. The anchoring membrane may be configured to be pierced to allow the tissue anchor to be placed through the anchoring membrane. Methods for attaching a luminal device to the esophageal wall are described. In one embodiment, a method may include forming a bulge in an anchoring membrane of the luminal device and the esophageal wall, piercing the bulge from a first side of the anchoring membrane and a first side of the esophageal wall, placing a second retention element of a tissue anchor on a second side of the esophageal wall; and placing a tension element of the tissue anchor through the anchoring membrane and the esophageal wall. The tension element may be coupled to the second retention element.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal bypass devices are described. In one embodiment, a gastrointestinal bypass device may include an anchoring membrane configured to be attached to a wall of an esophagus with a tissue anchor placed through the anchoring membrane. The anchoring membrane may be configured to be pierced to allow the tissue anchor to be placed through the anchoring membrane. Methods for attaching a device to a tissue wall are described. In one embodiment, a method may include forming a bulge in an anchoring membrane of the device and the tissue wall, piercing the bulge from a first side of the anchoring membrane and a first side of the tissue wall, placing a second retention element of a tissue anchor on a second side of the tissue wall, and, placing a tension element of the tissue anchor through the anchoring membrane and the tissue wall. The tension element may be coupled to the second retention element. The method may further include placing a first retention element on the first side of the anchoring membrane.

Abstract: Delivery devices are described. In one embodiment, a delivery device includes a catheter and a sealing pad coupled to an outer surface of the catheter. The delivery device may further include a recess formed in an outer surface of the catheter. The sealing pad may be coupled in the recess. Methods for delivering a tubular device are described. In one embodiment, a method may include inserting a distal end of a catheter into a lumen of a tubular device. The catheter may include a sealing pad coupled to an outer surface of the catheter. The method also includes positioning the sealing pad inside a drawstring coupled circumferentially to the tubular device, and cinching the drawstring around the catheter at the sealing pad to couple the tubular device to the catheter.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal bypass devices are described. A gastrointestinal bypass device may comprise a cuff configured to be placed at least partially in an esophagus of the patient, and a sleeve configured to be placed at least partially in a stomach of the patient. In one embodiment, the gastrointestinal bypass device may also comprise a tether coupled to the cuff and/or the sleeve. The tether may be configured to be placed through a fistula between an esophagus and a skin of the patient. The tether may have a length sufficient to extend from the cuff and/or the sleeve to the skin.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Devices and methods for gastrointestinal bypass are described. A gastrointestinal bypass device includes a gastrointestinal cuff and a gastrointestinal sleeve. The cuff may be configured to be attached in the esophagus, and may be sufficiently flexible to expand and collapse to conform with the inside of the esophagus to allow the esophagus to function substantially normally. The sleeve is configured to be coupled to the cuff, and may be made of a material that is floppy or flaccid but does not substantially expand radially.

Abstract: Devices and methods for gastrointestinal bypass are described. A gastrointestinal bypass device includes a gastrointestinal cuff and a gastrointestinal sleeve. The cuff may be configured to be attached in the esophagus, and may be sufficiently flexible to expand and collapse to conform with the inside of the esophagus to allow the esophagus to function substantially normally. The sleeve is configured to be coupled to the cuff, and may be made of a material that is floppy or flaccid but does not substantially expand radially.

Abstract: Luminal devices are described. In one embodiment, a luminal device includes an esophageal stent and an anchoring membrane coupled to the esophageal stent. The anchoring membrane may be configured to be coupled to an esophageal wall with a tissue anchor placed through the anchoring membrane. The anchoring membrane may be configured to be pierced to allow the tissue anchor to be placed through the anchoring membrane. Methods for attaching a luminal device to the esophageal wall are described. In one embodiment, a method may include forming a bulge in an anchoring membrane of the luminal device and the esophageal wall, piercing the bulge from a first side of the anchoring membrane and a first side of the esophageal wall, placing a second retention element of a tissue anchor on a second side of the esophageal wall; and placing a tension element of the tissue anchor through the anchoring membrane and the esophageal wall. The tension element may be coupled to the second retention element.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal bypass devices are described. In one embodiment, a gastrointestinal bypass device may include an anchoring membrane configured to be attached to a wall of an esophagus with a tissue anchor placed through the anchoring membrane. The anchoring membrane may be configured to be pierced to allow the tissue anchor to be placed through the anchoring membrane. Methods for attaching a device to a tissue wall are described. In one embodiment, a method may include forming a bulge in an anchoring membrane of the device and the tissue wall, piercing the bulge from a first side of the anchoring membrane and a first side of the tissue wall, placing a second retention element of a tissue anchor on a second side of the tissue wall, and, placing a tension element of the tissue anchor through the anchoring membrane and the tissue wall. The tension element may be coupled to the second retention element. The method may further include placing a first retention element on the first side of the anchoring membrane.

Abstract: Delivery devices are described. In one embodiment, a delivery device includes a catheter and a sealing pad coupled to an outer surface of the catheter. The delivery device may further include a recess formed in an outer surface of the catheter. The sealing pad may be coupled in the recess. Methods for delivering a tubular device are described. In one embodiment, a method may include inserting a distal end of a catheter into a lumen of a tubular device. The catheter may include a sealing pad coupled to an outer surface of the catheter. The method also includes positioning the sealing pad inside a drawstring coupled circumferentially to the tubular device, and cinching the drawstring around the catheter at the sealing pad to couple the tubular device to the catheter.

Abstract: An ophthalmic composition is described for the treatment of dry eye syndrome in a human or mammal. The composition comprises an aqueous solution including an effective amount of silk protein. The aqueous solution comprises from about 0.01% by weight to about 30% by weight of the silk protein. In one embodiment, the silk protein may be fibroin. A method of treating an eye having an ocular surface is also described. The method comprises providing an ophthalmic composition comprising an aqueous solution including an effective amount of silk protein, and administering the ophthalmic composition topically to the ocular surface.

Abstract: Devices and methods for gastrointestinal bypass are described. A gastrointestinal bypass device includes a gastrointestinal cuff and a gastrointestinal sleeve. The cuff may be configured to be attached in the esophagus, and may be sufficiently flexible to expand and collapse to conform with the inside of the esophagus to allow the esophagus to function substantially normally. The sleeve is configured to be coupled to the cuff, and may be made of a material that is floppy or flaccid but does not substantially expand radially.

Abstract: An ophthalmic composition is described for the treatment of dry eye syndrome in a human or mammal. The composition comprises an aqueous solution including an effective amount of silk protein. The aqueous solution comprises from about 0.01% by weight to about 30% by weight of the silk protein. In one embodiment, the silk protein may be fibroin. A method of treating an eye having an ocular surface is also described. The method comprises providing an ophthalmic composition comprising an aqueous solution including an effective amount of silk protein, and administering the ophthalmic composition topically to the ocular surface.

Abstract: A structure that can be used as a gastric band (and that may also have other uses as an implant elsewhere in a patient) includes a plurality of magnetic elements in a serial array that can be implanted so that the array extends in a circumferential direction around the patient's stomach (or other body tissue structure in the patient). Circumferentially adjacent magnetic elements magnetically attract one another to apply radial pressure to the tissue structure encompassed by the array, but those elements can also move apart in response to sufficient outward pressure from the encompassed tissue structure and/or the contents of (e.g., food in) that tissue structure. When used as a gastric band, the device can provide resistance to excessive food intake, which can help promote weight loss.

Abstract: The present invention is a vascular stent comprising a cylindrical wall radially expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state and including a plurality of cells. At least one cell includes a first primary member having a first restrainer member and a second primary member having a second restrainer member. When the cylindrical wall is in the expanded state, the first and second primary members are located a greater distance from each other than when the cylindrical wall is in the compressed state. The first and second restrainer members join to maintain the cylindrical wall in the compressed state. An expansion force applied to the cylindrical wall causes the first and second restrainer members to separate, thereby freeing the cylindrical wall to expand from the compressed state to the expanded state.

Abstract: A system for arterial access for delivery of treatment devices is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a guidewire and a catheter. The catheter comprises a handle and a shaft. The shaft may be a steerable/deflectable tip shaft with a lumen adapted to allow passage of the guidewire at least partially there through. A passive sheath may also be provided to be delivered over the shaft. The handle controls the steerable/deflectable tip shaft and may be used to deflect the distal tip of the shaft.

Abstract: A prosthesis for implanting in a patient may include an elongated, laterally flexible structure having first and second end portions that are spaced from one another along a length of the elongated structure. First and second magnetic structures may be respectively secured to the first and second end portions. The first and second magnetic structures may magnetically attract one another when brought into proximity with one another. This magnetic attraction can facilitate achieving desired final relative positioning and/or alignment of the magnetic structures. Thereafter, this magnetic attraction can keep (or help to keep) the end portions of the prosthesis proximate to one another, thereby forming the prosthesis into a desired closed ring shape.

Abstract: A structure that can be used as a gastric band (and that may also have other uses as an implant elsewhere in a patient) includes a plurality of magnetic elements in a serial array that can be implanted so that the array extends in a circumferential direction around the patient's stomach (or other body tissue structure in the patient). Circumferentially adjacent magnetic elements magnetically attract one another to apply radial pressure to the tissue structure encompassed by the array, but those elements can also move apart in response to sufficient outward pressure from the encompassed tissue structure and/or the contents of (e.g., food in) that tissue structure. When used as a gastric band, the device can provide resistance to excessive food intake, which can help promote weight loss.