Duodenal metabolic stent

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, the invention is directed to an endoluminal device comprising a stent and a sleeve. In one embodiment, the endoluminal device is implanted in a portion of the gastrointestinal tract. In some embodiments, the stent has a first region and a second region where the first and second regions provide different levels of radial force. In one embodiment, the first region is made from a plurality of first wires having a first diameter and the second region is made from a plurality of second wires having a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter. In other embodiments, the endoluminal device has at least one engagement mechanism engaging the stent to the sleeve, the endoluminal device to a body lumen, and any combination thereof. In at least one embodiment, the endoluminal device has a wall with at least one opening therein.

1 . An endoluminal device, the endoluminal device comprising:
 a stent having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the stent formed from a plurality of first wires and a plurality of second wires, wherein the plurality of first wires forms a first region extending from the first end of the stent to a middle region and the plurality of second wires forms a second region of the stent extending from the middle region to the second end of the stent;   a plurality of openings between the first and second ends of the stent, the plurality of openings defined by the plurality of first and second wires; and   a polymeric sleeve, the polymeric sleeve attached to the stent so that it extends over at least some of the plurality of openings of the stent.   
     
     
         2 . The endoluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the second region is engaged to the first region in the middle region by looping a portion of each second wire around one of the plurality of first wires. 
     
     
         3 . The endoluminal device of  claim 2 , wherein the first region of the stent is formed only by the plurality of first wires, and the second region is formed only by the plurality of second wires. 
     
     
         4 . The endoluminal device of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of first wires forms a first braid having a first braid angle, and the plurality of second wires forms a second braid having a second braid angle, wherein the first and second braid angles are the same. 
     
     
         5 . The endoluminal device of  claim 2 , wherein a diameter of at least some of the plurality of first wires is greater than a diameter of the plurality of second wires. 
     
     
         6 . The endoluminal device of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of first wires has a first diameter and each of the plurality of second wires has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. 
     
     
         7 . The endoluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second regions are separate first and second stent portions that overlap in the middle region forming an overlap region. 
     
     
         8 . The endoluminal device of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second stent portions form at least one opening in the overlap region. 
     
     
         9 . The endoluminal device of  claim 8 , wherein the polymeric sleeve has at least one opening having a shape that matches a shape of the at least one opening in the overlap region, thereby defining a through hole extending completely through the stent and the polymeric sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The endoluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the first region has a greater radial force than the second region. 
     
     
         11 . The endoluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric sleeve is impermeable. 
     
     
         12 . The endoluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the stent is expandable from a contracted state to an expanded state, wherein when in the expanded state the stent has a variable diameter between the first and second ends. 
     
     
         13 . An endoluminal device, the endoluminal device comprising:
 a stent having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the stent formed from a plurality of first wires forming a first braid extending from the first end of the stent to a middle region, and a plurality of second wires forming a second braid extending from the middle region to the second end of the stent, wherein the second braid is joined to the first braid in the middle region by looping a portion of each second wire around one of the plurality of first wires;   a plurality of openings between the first and second ends of the stent, the plurality of openings defined by the plurality of first and second wires; and   a polymeric sleeve, the polymeric sleeve attached to the stent so that it extends over at least some of the plurality of openings of the stent.   
     
     
         14 . The endoluminal device of  claim 13 , wherein the first braid is formed only by the plurality of first wires, and the second braid is formed only by the plurality of second wires. 
     
     
         15 . The endoluminal device of  claim 13 , wherein the first braid has a first braid angle, and the second braid has a second braid angle, wherein the first and second braid angles are the same. 
     
     
         16 . The endoluminal device of  claim 13 , wherein a diameter of at least some of the plurality of first wires is greater than a diameter of the plurality of second wires. 
     
     
         17 . The endoluminal device of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of first wires has a first diameter and each of the plurality of second wires has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming an endoluminal device comprising:
 forming a stent from a plurality of wires, the plurality of wires forming a first region extending from a first end of the stent, and a second region extending from the first region to a second end of the stent, the plurality of wires comprising a plurality of first wires and a plurality of second wires, each wire having a diameter, the diameter of at least some of the plurality of wires in the first region being greater than the diameter of the plurality of wires in the second region, wherein the second region is formed only by the plurality of second wires, the stent further having a plurality of openings defined by the plurality of wires; and   disposing a polymeric sleeve over the stent.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein forming the stent includes:
 forming a first braid from the plurality of first wires, each first wire having a first diameter;   forming a second braid from the plurality of second wires, each second wire having a second diameter less than the first diameter, wherein second wires are looped around first wires to attach the first and second braids to one another.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein forming the first braid includes braiding the plurality of first wires with a first braid angle, and forming the second braid includes braiding the plurality of second wires with a second braid angle, wherein the first and second braid angles are the same.