Abstract: A method of converting an endoscope to a combination endoscope and intraluminal device deployment tool includes having a holder with an inner diameter opening that is larger than an outer diameter of the shaft of the endoscope. An intraluminal device including a self-expandable wall is positioned on the holder. A compression device over the intraluminal device keeps the wall compressed to the holder and a deploying filament extends external the patient. The deploying filament releases the compression device to allow the intraluminal device to self-expand. The holder is positioned over the endoscope shaft and the intraluminal device and compression device are positioned to the shaft by moving the intraluminal device and compression device from the holder to the endoscope shaft.

Abstract: A method of stimulating baro receptors at an inner surface of the gastro-intestinal tract of a patient and an intraluminal device includes fixing the intraluminal device to a portion of the inner surface of the gastro-intestinal tract with a magnetic fastener. The fixing results in applying stress with a baro receptor stimulating surface to the portion of the inner surface of the gastro-intestinal tract. The magnetic fastener includes a magnet assembly and an attractor assembly. A first assembly, including either the magnet assembly or attractor assembly, is positioned against the inner surface or an outer surface at the portion gastro-intestinal tract. A second assembly, including the wall and the other of the magnet assembly or attractor assembly, is positioned against the portion of the inner surface of the gastro-intestinal tract. Magnetic attraction between the magnet and attractor assemblies applies stress with the baro receptor stimulating surface to stimulate baro receptors.

Abstract: A method of deploying an intraluminal device to the cardiac region of the stomach and an intraluminal system used to deploy an intraluminal device to the cardiac region of the stomach, wherein the intraluminal device has a wall defining a surface and an open portion of the surface that is adapted to be aligned with the gastroesophageal (GE) junction. The surface and the cardiac portion of the stomach are conformable with each other. The method includes deploying the intraluminal device trans-orally to the stomach with an endoscopic deployment device and retaining the device against the cardiac region of the stomach with the open portion generally aligned with the GE junction. The intraluminal device is fastened to the stomach from the abdominal cavity with at least one laparoscopic instrument while concurrently visualizing the device with an endoscope in the stomach while it is being fastened.

Abstract: A method of fixation of an intraluminal device to an inner surface of a hollow organ, an intraluminal fixation system and intraluminal fastener includes positioning a distal end portion of a shaft guide adjacent the outer surface of the hollow organ. A contact distribution member is formed by feeding at least the distal first portion of a flexible shaft through the shaft guide out the distal end portion of the shaft guide. The first portion of the flexible shaft has elastic properties that allow it to be collapsed to fit within the shaft guide and self-expand to a first memory-induced configuration when deployed from the distal end portion of the shaft guide outside of the hollow organ. A biasing member is biased toward the contact distribution member thereby biasing the intraluminal device toward the hollow organ wall.

Abstract: A method of applying stress with an intraluminal device to the cardiac region of the stomach to engage barro or stretch receptors in the stomach wall is illustrated for use with an intraluminal device having a wall defining a surface with an open portion. The surface is adapted to conform with the cardiac portion of the stomach with the open portion adapted to align with the gastroesophageal junction. The method includes deploying the intraluminal device trans-orally to the stomach and fastening the intraluminal device to the cardiac portion of the stomach from within the abdominal cavity with at least one laparoscopic instrument. The fastening includes at least one magnet magnetically attracting a metallic member. The at least one magnet or the metallic member is on the wall of the intraluminal device and the other of the at least one magnet or the metallic member is positioned in the abdominal cavity with the laparoscopic instrument.

Abstract: A system used to deploy an intraluminal device to the cardiac region of the stomach, wherein the intraluminal device has a wall defining a surface and an open portion of the surface that is adapted to be aligned with the gastroesophageal (GE) junction. The surface and the cardiac portion of the stomach are conformable with each other. The method includes deploying the intraluminal device trans-orally to the stomach with an endoscopic deployment device and retaining the device against the cardiac region of the stomach with the open portion generally aligned with the GE junction. The intraluminal device is fastened to the stomach from the abdominal cavity with at least one laparoscopic instrument while concurrently visualizing the device with an endoscope in the stomach while it is being fastened.

Abstract: A system that is adapted to deploy an intraluminal device to the stomach includes an endoscope that is adapted to visualize the intraluminal device in the stomach while the intraluminal device is being fastened to the cardiac portion of the stomach. An endoscopic deployment device that is adapted to deploying the intraluminal device trans-orally to the stomach includes the endoscope with the intraluminal device positioned at an exterior surface of said endoscope. The intraluminal device includes a self-expandable wall. The self-expandable wall is compressed to the endoscope shaft including a compression device adapted to maintain the wall compressed to said endoscope and a deploying filament adapted to extend external the patient. The deploying filament is adapted to release the compression device to allow the intraluminal device to self-expand in the patient's stomach.

Abstract: A kit for use with an endoscope having a shaft that is adapted to convert the endoscope into a combination endoscope and intraluminal device release device. The kit includes a holder having an inner diameter opening that is larger than an outer diameter of the shaft of the endoscope. An intraluminal device having a self-expandable wall is positioned on the holder. A compression device compresses the self-expandable wall to a compressed state. A deploying filament is configured to extend external the patient in order to release the compression device from the compressed intraluminal device to thereby allow the intraluminal device to self-expand to a deployed state.

Abstract: An intraluminal device and method of resisting migration of a device in a lumen, the lumen having muscle defining an intraluminal sphincter includes a device having a body with a size and shape of a portion of the lumen. The device further includes at least one tine extending distally from the body. The at least one tine is rigid or semi rigid. The device is deployed in the lumen with the body proximal the sphincter with respect to peristaltic movement of the lumen and with the at least one tine penetrating the muscle of the sphincter to resist distal migration.

Abstract: A method of deploying an intraluminal device to the cardiac region of the stomach and an intraluminal system used to deploy an intraluminal device to the cardiac region of the stomach, wherein the intraluminal device has a wall defining a surface and an open portion of the surface that is adapted to be aligned with the gastroesophageal (GE) junction. The surface and the cardiac portion of the stomach are conformable with each other. The method includes deploying the intraluminal device trans-orally to the stomach with an endoscopic deployment device and retaining the device against the cardiac region of the stomach with the open portion generally aligned with the GE junction. The intraluminal device is fastened to the stomach from the abdominal cavity with at least one laparoscopic instrument while concurrently visualizing the device with an endoscope in the stomach while it is being fastened.

Abstract: A bariatric device includes an esophageal member having an esophageal surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the esophagus and an anchoring technique anchoring the esophageal member to the portion of the esophagus. The bariatric device includes a cardiac member having a cardiac surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach and a connector connected with the esophageal member and the cardiac member to cause strain to be applied by the cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach. The strain applied by the cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach causes satiety in the absence of food. The connector is adapted to pass through the gastroesophageal junction while leaving a continuous portion of the gastroesophageal junction substantially unrestrained.

Abstract: An intraluminal device and method of resisting migration of a device in a lumen, the lumen having muscle defining an intraluminal sphincter includes a device having a body with a size and shape of a portion of the lumen. The device further includes at least one tine extending distally from the body. The at least one tine is rigid or semi rigid. The device is deployed in the lumen with the body proximal the sphincter with respect to peristaltic movement of the lumen and with the at least one tine penetrating the muscle of the sphincter to resist distal migration.

Abstract: An intraluminal device and method of fixation of an intraluminal device at a recipient having an esophagus, a stomach with a cardiac portion and a GE junction between the esophagus and the cardiac portion of the stomach includes deploying the intraluminal device to the recipient. The intraluminal device has a wall defining a cardiac member that is configured to the size and shape of the cardiac portion of the stomach and deployed to the cardiac portion of the stomach and an esophageal member that is configured to the size and shape of a portion of the esophagus and deployed to the esophagus. The intraluminal device having a connector connected with the esophageal portion and cardiac portion and deployed to the GE junction. The wall is fixed to the recipient to resist distal migration of the wall. The fixing includes the wall having a wall characteristic that is configured to facilitate tissue ingrowth.

Abstract: An intraluminal device adapted to be positioned in a lumen that experiences peristalsis and method of fixation of an intraluminal device in the lumen, includes a wall configured to the size and shape of a portion of the lumen and at least one core. The at least one core is removably connected with a portion of the device wall. The at least one core is configured to be positioned against the lumen when the wall is positioned in the lumen. In this manner tissue envelopes the core during implantation of the intraluminal device. The at least one core is configured to be axially removable in situ from the tissue enveloping the core after the device has been deployed by disconnecting the core from the portion of the wall in order to explant the intraluminal device from lumen.

Abstract: A bariatric device includes an esophageal member having an esophageal surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the esophagus and an anchoring technique anchoring the esophageal member to the portion of the esophagus. The bariatric device includes a cardiac member having a cardiac surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach and a connector connected with the esophageal member and the cardiac member to cause strain to be applied by the cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach. The strain applied by the cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach causes satiety in the absence of food. The connector is adapted to pass through the gastroesophageal junction while leaving a continuous portion of the gastroesophageal junction substantially unrestrained.

Abstract: A bariatric device includes an esophageal member having an esophageal surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the esophagus and an anchoring technique anchoring the esophageal member to the portion of the esophagus. The bariatric device includes a cardiac member having a cardiac surface that is configured to generally conform to the shape and size of a portion of the cardiac portion of the stomach and a connector connected with the esophageal member and the cardiac member to cause strain to be applied by the cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach. The strain applied by the cardiac member to the cardiac portion of the stomach causes satiety in the absence of food. The connector is adapted to pass through the gastroesophageal junction while leaving a continuous portion of the gastroesophageal junction substantially unrestrained.

Abstract: An intraluminal device that is adapted to be positioned at the gastro-esophageal (GE) region of a recipient includes a wall defining an esophageal portion that is configured to the size and shape of a portion of the esophagus and a cardiac portion that is configured to the size and shape of the cardiac portion of the stomach. A connector is connected with the esophageal and cardiac portions and configured to be positioned at the GE junction. A separable portion of the connector is separable from the esophageal portion and/or the cardiac portion. The separable portion of the connector is separably connected with the wall with a removable attachment that is adapted to be separated in situ.

Abstract: A medical device adapted to be fixed in a hollow organ or cavity lined with mucosa includes a wall having an outer surface with a size and shape that is configured to a portion of a cavity or hollow organ lined with mucosa and a fixation mechanism. The fixation mechanism is adapted to fix the wall with the portion of the cavity or hollow organ. The fixation mechanism has at least two adjacent openings in the wall between proximal and distal ends of the wall. The openings being large enough to receive a section of the mucosa extending in the openings when said wall is positioned in the hollow organ or cavity. The openings are separated by a bridge and are close enough together that the mucosa that extends into the openings comes together over the bridge to fix the medical device in the hollow organ or cavity.

Abstract: An intraluminal device and method of fixation of an intraluminal device to resist distal migration in a mammalian lumen or hollow organ that is subject to peristalsis, according to an aspect of the invention, includes spaced apart wall portions connected with a connector. The wall portions are configured to the size and shape of a portion of the lumen or hollow organ and the connector is configured to be positioned against a wall of the lumen or hollow organ. The intraluminal device is positioned in a mammalian lumen or hollow organ that is subject to peristalsis. The device is fixed in the lumen or hollow organ against distal migration, wherein tissue lining the lumen or hollow organ bridges over the connector. The device is explanted after tissue bridges over the connector including separating the connector from one or both of the wall portions and withdrawing the connector axially from the tissue bridging over the connector.

Abstract: An intraluminal device and method of fixation of an intraluminal device at a recipient having an esophagus, a stomach with a cardiac portion and a GE junction between the esophagus and the cardiac portion of the stomach includes deploying the intraluminal device to the recipient. The intraluminal device has a wall defining a cardiac member that is configured to the size and shape of the cardiac portion of the stomach and deployed to the cardiac portion of the stomach and an esophageal member that is configured to the size and shape of a portion of the esophagus and deployed to the esophagus. The intraluminal device having a connector connected with the esophageal portion and cardiac portion and deployed to the GE junction. The wall is fixed to the recipient to resist distal migration of the wall. The fixing includes the wall having a wall characteristic that is configured to facilitate tissue ingrowth.