Gastrointestinal anchor with optimal surface area

Abstract

A device, system and method for anchoring a device to a stomach is provided. The device may be, among other things, a sensor for sensing various parameters of the stomach or stomach environment, or may be a therapeutic delivery device. The anchor of the device is constructed to resist pull out forces. An anchor has an optimal weight to surface area ratio.

1 . An anchor for attaching to a gastrointestinal tract wall comprising: 
 a first portion configured to interface with the gastrointestinal tract wall; and    a second portion coupled to the first portion wherein the first portion has a surface area interfacing with the gastrointestinal tract wall and wherein the second portion has a weight creating a load borne by the first portion interfacing the gastrointestinal tract wall wherein the ratio of the weight to surface area is less than about  5 g/mm 2 .    
   
   
       2 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the ratio is less than about 1 g/mm 2    
   
   
       3 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the ratio is less than about 0.1 g/mm 2 .  
   
   
       4 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the first portion comprises a plurality of interfacing portions having interfacing surface areas and wherein the surface area of the first portion comprises the sum of each of the surface areas of the interfacing portions.  
   
   
       5 . The anchor of  claim 4  wherein the ratio is less than about 1 g/mm 2 .  
   
   
       6 . The anchor of  claim 4  wherein the ratio is less than about 0.1 g/mm 2 .  
   
   
       7 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the anchor is configured to be attached to the stomach wall.  
   
   
       8 . The anchor of  claim 7  wherein the anchor is configured to be attached to the antrum of the stomach.  
   
   
       9 . The anchor of  claim 7  wherein the second portion comprises an electrical stimulator.  
   
   
       10 . The anchor of  claim 7  wherein the second portion comprises an electrode configured to be attached to the stomach wall.  
   
   
       11 . The anchor of  claim 10  wherein the electrode is configured to be attached to the stomach wall with the first portion.  
   
   
       12 . The anchor of  claim 1  wherein the first portion comprises an expandable distal portion having an interfacing surface area for interfacing the gastrointestinal wall, and wherein the surface area of the first portion comprises the interfacing surface of the expandable distal portion.  
   
   
       13 . The anchor of  claim 12  wherein further comprising a proximal elongate member coupled to the distal portion configured to extend through the gastrointestinal tract wall.  
   
   
       14 . The anchor of  claim 13  wherein the proximal elongate member is configured to extend through the gastrointestinal wall in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the wall.  
   
   
       15 . A anchor for attaching to a stomach wall comprising a first means for interfacing with the stomach wall to bear a load from a second means and a second means for treating or diagnosing a portion of a gastrointestinal tract wherein the first means has a surface area and the second means has a weight, and wherein the weight has a ratio to the surface area of less than about 5 g/mm 2 .  
   
   
       16 . The anchor of  claim 15  wherein the ratio is less than about 1 g/mm 2 .  
   
   
       17 . The anchor of  claim 15  wherein the ratio is less than about 0.1 g/mm 2 .  
   
   
       18 . A method for attaching a device to a gastrointestinal tract wall comprising: 
 providing an anchor comprising a first expandable portion, an elongate portion and a device portion;    positioning the elongate portion through a gastrointestinal tract wall wherein the first portion is expanded to interface and engage a gastrointestinal tract wall on a first side of the gastrointestinal tract wall and so that the device portion is positioned on an opposite side of the gastrointestinal tract wall from the first portion; and    wherein the expandable portion has an interfacing portion with a surface area interfacing the gastrointestinal tract wall and the device portion and elongate member have a weight creating a load between the stomach wall and the interfacing portion wherein the weight has a ratio to the surface area of less than about 5 g/mm 2 .    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the ratio is less than about 1 g/mm 2 .  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the ratio is less than about 0.1 g/mm 2 .  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the step of positioning the elongate portion through the gastrointestinal tract comprises positioning the elongate portion through a stomach wall.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the step of positioning the elongate portion through a stomach wall comprises positioning the elongate portion through the stomach wall at a contractile region of the stomach.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the device further comprises a stimulator coupled to the anchor; and 
 further comprising the step of stimulating the gastrointestinal tract.