Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal implant device (2800) comprises a planar proximal element (220) configured to reside in a stomach to resist distal migration, a distal element (222) configured to reside in an intestine to resist proximal migration and one or more tethers (224) coupling the planar proximal element to the distal element.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal implant device (2800) comprises a planar proximal element (220) configured to reside in a stomach to resist distal migration, a distal element (222) configured to reside in an intestine to resist proximal migration and one or more tethers (224) coupling the planar proximal element to the distal element.

Abstract: An implant includes a collapsible anchor to be deployed within a lumen and a protrusion coupled to the anchor. The protrusion, in a constrained state, extends a distance from an exterior surface of the anchor and, in an unconstrained state, extends further from the exterior surface of the anchor. Also included is a biodegradable constraint, such as a biodegradable tube or suture, configured to maintain the protrusion in the constrained state until the constraint releases. The implant may include additional biodegradable constraints, each constraint configured to maintain the protrusion in a different constrained state and to degrade over a different predetermined period after the implant has been deployed within the lumen. The protrusion may include a bi-directional barb or an open loop. The protrusion may be configured to penetrate a wall of the lumen and to allow tissue to grow about the protrusion.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal implant device (2800) comprises a planar proximal element (220) configured to reside in a stomach to resist distal migration, a distal element (222) configured to reside in an intestine to resist proximal migration and one or more tethers (224) coupling the planar proximal element to the distal element.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal implant device comprises a planar proximal element configured to reside in a stomach to resist distal migration, a distal element configured to reside in an intestine to resist proximal migration and one or more tethers coupling the planar proximal element to the distal element.

Abstract: An endoscope hood device for moving a gastrointestinal implant device within a natural lumen of a gastrointestinal tract. The endoscope hood device comprises an atraumatic flared retrieval hood configured to attach to and fit over a distal end of an endoscope. The atraumatic flared retrieval hood comprises a length configured to cover a plurality of protrusions on a surface of the gastrointestinal implant device, the plurality of protrusions comprising both proximal facing protrusions and distal facing protrusions of the gastrointestinal implant device. The atraumatic flared retrieval hood comprises a diameter configured to fit within a human esophagus without damage to the esophagus, and comprises a material of a bend radius configured to move slidably against the esophagus without damage to the esophagus.

Abstract: An implant (100) includes a protrusion (110) with an open or rounded loop (112) (or open head) connected to a collapsible anchor. The protrusion may include a straight length of wire (114) or a helical length wire, with one or more wire loops (112) at the end of the length forming the loop. Upon deployment within the gastrointestinal tract, the protrusion expands from a collapsed state, alongside the anchor, to a relaxed state, in which the protrusion extends outward from the anchor. As the protrusion expands to its relaxed state, it pushes the loop into the wall of the duodenum, causing the loop to penetrate the duodenal wall. A pocket of scar tissue forms about the head and possibly through an opening in the head, securing the anchor within the duodenum. The implant may also include a thin-walled sleeve that is coupled to the anchor and extended from the anchor into the intestine.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal implant device (2800) comprises a planar proximal element (220) configured to reside in a stomach to resist distal migration, a distal element (222) configured to reside in an intestine to resist proximal migration and one or more tethers (224) coupling the planar proximal element to the distal element.

Abstract: An implant includes a collapsible anchor to be deployed within a lumen and a protrusion coupled to the anchor. The protrusion, in a constrained state, extends a distance from an exterior surface of the anchor and, in an unconstrained state, extends further from the exterior surface of the anchor. Also included is a biodegradable constraint, such as a biodegradable tube or suture, configured to maintain the protrusion in the constrained state until the constraint releases. The implant may include additional biodegradable constraints, each constraint configured to maintain the protrusion in a different constrained state and to degrade over a different predetermined period after the implant has been deployed within the lumen. The protrusion may include a bi-directional barb or an open loop. The protrusion may be configured to penetrate a wall of the lumen and to allow tissue to grow about the protrusion.

Abstract: Gastrointestinal implants can be used to secure thin-walled sleeves, restrictor plates, and other devices within the gastrointestinal tract. An example implant includes three elements: a stomach anchor to resist distally oriented forces; a duodenal anchor to resist proximally oriented forces; and a connector element to keep the stomach anchor fixed relative to the stomach anchor. The implant is inserted into the gastrointestinal tract with a delivery device that holds the implant in a compressed state for minimally invasive delivery until the implant is positioned properly. Upon releasing from the delivery device, the implant expands to a relaxed state across the pylorus, allowing prongs that extending outward from the stomach and duodenal anchors to engage tissue in the gastrointestinal tract. The deployed implant may also include a thin-walled sleeve that extends into the intestine from the stomach anchor, duodenal anchor, or connector element.

Abstract: An implant includes a collapsible anchor to be deployed within a lumen and a protrusion coupled to the anchor. The protrusion, in a constrained state, extends a distance from an exterior surface of the anchor and, in an unconstrained state, extends further from the exterior surface of the anchor. Also included is a biodegradable constraint, such as a biodegradable tube or suture, configured to maintain the protrusion in the constrained state until the constraint releases. The implant may include additional biodegradable constraints, each constraint configured to maintain the protrusion in a different constrained state and to degrade over a different predetermined period after the implant has been deployed within the lumen. The protrusion may include a bi-directional barb or an open loop. The protrusion may be configured to penetrate a wall of the lumen and to allow tissue to grow about the protrusion.

Abstract: A gastrointestinal implant device comprises a planar proximal element configured to reside in a stomach to resist distal migration, a distal element configured to reside in an intestine to resist proximal migration and one or more tethers coupling the planar proximal element to the distal element.

Abstract: The specification discloses a device (10) insertable into a wine bottle (12) after opening, the device (10) being intended to float on the surface (21) of wine remaining in the bottle (12) and minimize deterioration of the remaining wine, said device (10) including a core structure (11) having a thin spring plate (11a) capable of being deformed when the device (10) is inserted into the bottle (12) and capable of recovering its shape once inserted into the bottle (12), the core structure (11) further having at least one floatation means (11b) and said device (10) including a liquid impervious outer sheath (18) having upper and lower walls (14, 15) sealed to one another to retain the core structure (11) therein, the outer sheath (18) being of a material that is non reactive with wine and including a flexible outer peripheral edge zone (42) with cuts or the like (49) formed therein, the outer peripheral edge zone (42) being adapted, in use, to contact the internal surfaces of the wine bottle (12) while floating

Abstract: An implant (100) includes a protrusion (110) with an open or rounded loop (112) (or open head) connected to a collapsible anchor. The protrusion may include a straight length of wire (114) or a helical length wire, with one or more wire loops (112) at the end of the length forming the loop. Upon deployment within the gastrointestinal tract, the protrusion expands from a collapsed state, alongside the anchor, to a relaxed state, in which the protrusion extends outward from the anchor. As the protrusion expands to its relaxed state, it pushes the loop into the wall of the duodenum, causing the loop to penetrate the duodenal wall. A pocket of scar tissue forms about the head and possibly through an opening in the head, securing the anchor within the duodenum. The implant may also include a thin-walled sleeve that is coupled to the anchor and extended from the anchor into the intestine.

Abstract: An implant includes a collapsible anchor to be deployed within a lumen and a protrusion coupled to the anchor. The protrusion, in a constrained state, extends a distance from an exterior surface of the anchor and, in an unconstrained state, extends further from the exterior surface of the anchor. Also included is a biodegradable constraint, such as a biodegradable tube or suture, configured to maintain the protrusion in the constrained state until the constraint releases. The implant may include additional biodegradable constraints, each constraint configured to maintain the protrusion in a different constrained state and to degrade over a different predetermined period after the implant has been deployed within the lumen. The protrusion may include a bi-directional barb or an open loop. The protrusion may be configured to penetrate a wall of the lumen and to allow tissue to grow about the protrusion.

Abstract: The specification discloses a protector member (10) capable of being introduced through a neck region (25) of an opened wine bottle (26) by being flexibly deformable, the protector member (10) being flexibly deformable to a condition enabling introduction through the wine bottle neck region (25) and once within the wine bottle (26) being expandable to a use condition where an outer peripheral edge (15, 62) of the protector member (10) is positioned adjacent to or against an inner surface of the wine bottle (26) while floating on a surface of wine held within the wine bottle (26), the protector member (10) being characterized by being either a multipart construction including a first flexible sheet (11, 19) material containing in a first zone (14) a plurality of individually sealed spaces (22) each having a volume and at least some of which contain a gas, and a second flexible sheet material (12, 19), one or both of the first or second flexible sheet materials having a radially outer edge (15) forming the oute

Abstract: Gastrointestinal implants can be used to secure thin-walled sleeves, restrictor plates, and other devices within the gastrointestinal tract. An example implant includes three elements: a stomach anchor to resist distally oriented forces; a duodenal anchor to resist proximally oriented forces; and a connector element to keep the stomach anchor fixed relative to the stomach anchor. The implant is inserted into the gastrointestinal tract with a delivery device that holds the implant in a compressed state for minimally invasive delivery until the implant is positioned properly. Upon releasing from the delivery device, the implant expands to a relaxed state across the pylorus, allowing prongs that extending outward from the stomach and duodenal anchors to engage tissue in the gastrointestinal tract. The deployed implant may also include a thin-walled sleeve that extends into the intestine from the stomach anchor, duodenal anchor, or connector element.

Abstract: The specification discloses a device (10) insertable into a wine bottle (12) after opening, the device (10) being intended to float on the surface (21) of wine remaining in the bottle (12) and minimize deterioration of the remaining wine, said device (10) including a core structure (11) having a thin spring plate (11a) capable of being deformed when the device (10) is inserted into the bottle (12) and capable of recovering its shape once inserted into the bottle (12), the core structure (11) further having at least one floatation means (11b) and said device (10) including a liquid impervious outer sheath (18) having upper and lower walls (14, 15) sealed to one another to retain the core structure (11) therein, the outer sheath (18) being of a material that is non reactive with wine and including a flexible outer peripheral edge zone (42) with cuts or the like (49) formed therein, the outer peripheral edge zone (42) being adapted, in use, to contact the internal surfaces of the wine bottle (12) while floating

Abstract: Disclosed is a substantially purified antigen derived from a first species of parasitic nematodes, which antigen is capable of providing protection to a host from parasitism infestation by a second nematode species, which may be the same as or different from the first nematode species, following vaccination of the host with the antigen, characterized in that the antigen is proteinaceous, has a pI between 3.8 and 4.4, can be bound by lentil lectin and Helix promatia and has a molecular weight of approximately 45 kD as determined by SDS-PAGE.