Intragastric device for treating obesity

Abstract

An intragastric device including (1) a first wire mesh structure having a pre-deployment shape, a post-deployment shape greater than the pre-deployment state, and one or more openings on an upper portion of the first wire mesh structure that are configured to permit food to enter the device, (2) a second wire mesh structure having a pre-deployment shape a post-deployment shape greater than the pre-deployment state, and one or more openings on a lower portion of the second wire mesh structure that are configured to permit food to exit the device. A sleeve may be coupled to the lower portion of the wire mesh structure. An anti-migration collar may interconnect the wire mesh structure and the sleeve. In use, food enters the upper portion of the first wire mesh structure, passes through both wire mesh structures, and then exits the lower portion of the second wire mesh structure.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An intragastric device configured for deployment in a stomach of a person, the device comprising:
 a first structure that is compressible to a pre-deployment shape having a first volume and expandable to a post-deployment shape having a second volume that is porous, enclosed, and defined by a first plurality of curved surfaces and that is greater than the first volume, the first structure having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a first surface area of openings configured to permit material to enter from outside the second volume to inside the second volume and the lower portion having a second surface area of openings;   a second structure having a pre-deployment shape that is compressible to a pre-deployment shape having a third volume and expandable to a post-deployment shape having a fourth volume that is a porous, enclosed and defined by a second plurality of curved surfaces and that is greater than the third volume, the second structure further comprising an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion of the second structure has a third surface area of openings configured to permit material to enter from outside the fourth volume to inside the fourth volume and the lower portion of the second structure has a fourth surface area of openings;   a plurality of flexible members extending between and coupling the first and second structures, the plurality of flexible members being sufficiently loose between the first and second structures to permit compression of the first wire mesh structure to at least 40% of its diameter without leading to a compression of the second wire mesh structure.   
     
     
         2 . The intragastric device of  claim 1  wherein each flexible member comprises a flexible metal wire. 
     
     
         3 . The intragastric device of  claim 1 , wherein each flexible member comprises a plastic component. 
     
     
         4 . The intragastric device of  claim 1 , wherein each flexible member comprises a suture. 
     
     
         5 . The intragastric device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible members permit compression of the first wire mesh structure to at least 70% of its diameter without leading to the compression of the second wire mesh structure. 
     
     
         6 . The intragastric device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible members permit compression of the first wire mesh structure to at least 90% of its diameter without leading to the compression of the second wire mesh structure. 
     
     
         7 . The intragastric device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible members permit compression of the first wire mesh structure to at least 95% of its diameter without leading to the compression of the second wire mesh structure. 
     
     
         8 . The intragastric device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible members permit compression of the first wire mesh structure to 99% of its diameter without leading to the compression of the second wire mesh structure. 
     
     
         9 . The intragastric device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of curved surfaces is defined by an arc and wherein the arc is determined by a radius in a range of 0.2 cm to 20 cm and a central angle in a range of 5 to 175 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The intragastric device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the second plurality of curved surfaces is defined by an arc and wherein the arc is determined by a radius in a range of 0.1 cm to 15 cm and a central angle in a range of 1 to 179 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The intragastric device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible members are formed by interweaving or meshing a first plurality of nodes of the first wire mesh structure to a second plurality of nodes of the second wire mesh structure. 
     
     
         12 . The intragastric device of  claim 1 , wherein the first wire mesh structure has at least one of a spherical and elliptical shape. 
     
     
         13 . The intragastric device of  claim 12 , wherein the second wire mesh structure has at least one of a spherical and elliptical shape. 
     
     
         14 . The intragastric device of  claim 1 , wherein each flexible member comprises a figure eight knot. 
     
     
         15 . The intragastric device of  claim 14 , wherein each figure eight knot is secured with an adhesive and a heat shrink tube. 
     
     
         16 . The intragastric device of  claim 14 , wherein each figure eight knot each knot comprises a ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene braided suture line. 
     
     
         17 . An implantable device comprising:
 a first structure that is expandable from a pre-deployment shape having a first volume to a post-deployment shape having a second volume that is porous, enclosed, and defined by a first plurality of curved surfaces and that is greater than the first volume, the first structure having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a first surface area of openings configured to permit material to enter from outside the second volume to inside the second volume;   a second structure having a pre-deployment shape that is compressible to a pre-deployment shape having a third volume and expandable to a post-deployment shape having a fourth volume that is a porous, enclosed and defined by a second plurality of curved surfaces and that is greater than the third volume, the second structure further comprising an upper portion and a lower portion wherein the upper portion of the second structure has a third surface area of openings configured to permit material to enter from outside the fourth volume to inside the fourth volume;   a flexible coupling between the first and second structures that is sufficiently to permit compression of the first wire mesh structure to at least 40% of its diameter without leading to a compression of the second wire mesh structure.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible members permit compression of the first wire mesh structure to at least 70% of its diameter without leading to the compression of the second wire mesh structure. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible members permit compression of the first wire mesh structure to at least 90% of its diameter without leading to the compression of the second wire mesh structure. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible members permit compression of the first wire mesh structure to at least 95% of its diameter without leading to the compression of the second wire mesh structure. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flexible members permit compression of the first wire mesh structure to 99% of its diameter without leading to the compression of the second wire mesh structure.