Intestinal sleeves and associated deployment systems and methods

Abstract

An intestinal implant includes a proximal anchor self-expandable from a radially compressed position to a radially expandable position for engagement with a wall of the intestinal lumen and a flexible sleeve coupled to the anchor. The sleeve is implanted with the anchor downstream from the pylorus and the sleeve extending further downstream through the intestinal lumen.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for deploying an implant having an anchor and a sleeve, comprising:
 positioning the anchor in an intestine of a patient with at least a portion of the sleeve extending proximally from the anchor, the portion of the sleeve having a first surface facing a radially inward direction and a second surface facing a radially outward direction; and   deploying the portion of the sleeve through an interior of the anchor to cause the first surface to face the radially outward direction and the second surface to face the radially inward direction.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the anchor is self-expandable. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein, prior to the deploying step, the sleeve covers a distal end and an outer surface of the anchor. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein, after the deploying step, the sleeve covers an outer surface and an inner surface of the anchor. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising releasing the anchor from a sheath to allow the anchor to expand from a radially compressed position within the sheath to a radially expanded position in contact with a wall of the intestine. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising directing a fluid between a sheath and the second surface of the sleeve to cause deployment of the portion of the sleeve. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising advancing the implant through a mouth, an esophagus, and a stomach of the patient. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the sleeve has a length of between 10-200 cm. 
     
     
         29 . A method for deploying an implant having an anchor and a sleeve, comprising:
 advancing a sheath into an intestine of a patient, wherein the sheath contains the anchor, and at least a portion of the sleeve extends proximally from the anchor, the portion of the sleeve having a first configuration with a first surface facing a radially inward direction and a second surface facing a radially outward direction;   deploying the portion of the sleeve through an interior of the anchor into a second configuration with the first surface facing the radially outward direction and the second surface facing the radially inward direction; and   deploying the anchor from the sheath to allow the anchor to self-expand into contact with a wall of the intestine.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein deploying the anchor form the sheath occurs prior to deploying the portion of the sleeve through the interior of the anchor. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the advancing step includes advancing a distal end of the sheath through a mouth, an esophagus, and a stomach of the patient. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the sheath includes an outer sheath and an inner sheath, and the step of deploying the anchor includes moving at least one of the outer sheath or the inner sheath relative to the other of the outer sheath or the inner sheath. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising removing the implant from the patient, wherein removing the implant includes transitioning the sleeve from the second configuration to the first configuration. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the implant includes a plurality of protrusions that extend in a proximal direction. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising: a) moving the plurality of protrusions in a radially inward direction, and b) withdrawing the implant in a proximal direction. 
     
     
         36 . A method for deploying an implant having an anchor and a sleeve, comprising:
 positioning the anchor in an intestine of a patient with at least a portion of the sleeve extending proximally from the anchor, the portion of the sleeve having a first surface facing a radially inward direction and a second surface facing a radially outward direction, wherein the sleeve covers a distal end and an outer surface of the anchor; and   deploying the portion of the sleeve through an interior of the anchor to cause the first surface to face the radially outward direction and the second surface to face the radially inward direction, wherein after the deploying step, the sleeve further covers an inner surface of the anchor.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein during the positioning step, the anchor is within a sheath. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising allowing the anchor to self-expand. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the positioning step includes moving at least one of an inner sheath or an outer sheath relative to the other of the inner sheath or the outer sheath to eject the anchor from a distal end of the outer sheath. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein, during the deploying step, a distal end of the sleeve is sealed.