Stent for repair of anastomasis surgery leaks

Abstract

A stent for repairing post-anastomasis (e.g., bariatric) surgery leaks is formed by an elongated tube having a proximal flare-shaped flange, an enlarged middle section, and a distal flare-shaped flange, where an exterior surface of the elongated tube is substantially covered with a polymer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of repairing a post-anastomosis surgery leak, comprising:
 positioning a stent in a gastrointestinal tract of a patient with the stent having a proximal end segment in an esophagus of the patient and a distal end segment in a jejunum of the patient; and   expanding a middle segment of the stent in a gastric pouch of the patient, the gastric pouch being formed consequent a bariatric surgery on the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the middle segment expands to substantially fill the gastric pouch. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 expanding the proximal end segment to an expanded diameter in the esophagus; and   expanding the distal end segment to an expanded diameter in the jejunum.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the middle segment has an expanded diameter greater than the expanded diameter of the proximal end segment and the expanded diameter of the distal end segment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the proximal end segment has a flared flange expanded against a wall of the esophagus. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the flared flange of the proximal end segment includes a proximal cylindrical portion and a distal truncated cone portion. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the distal end segment has a flared flange expanded against a wall of the jejunum. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the flared flange of the distal end segment includes a proximal truncated cone portion and a distal cylindrical portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the middle segment is spherically shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stent includes an elongated tube formed of one or more interwoven filaments. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the stent includes a polymer cover extending along an entire exterior surface of the elongated tube, wherein the polymer cover is configured to seal leaks and prevent tissue in-growth into the elongated tube. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer cover comprises or is coated with a material that swells in situ. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve configured to prevent reflux through the stent. 
     
     
         14 . A method of repairing a post-anastomosis surgery leak, comprising:
 positioning a stent in a gastrointestinal tract of a patient with the stent having a flared proximal end segment in an esophagus of the patient and a flared distal end segment in a jejunum of the patient;   expanding the flared proximal end segment in the esophagus to an expanded diameter;   expanding the flared distal end segment in the jejunum to an expanded diameter; and   expanding a middle segment of the stent to an expanded diameter in a gastric pouch of the patient, the gastric pouch being formed consequent a bariatric surgery on the patient.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the expanded diameter of the middle segment is greater than the expanded diameter of the proximal end segment and the expanded diameter of the distal end segment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stent includes a distal cylindrical segment extending between the flared distal end segment and the middle segment, wherein the distal cylindrical segment has an expanded diameter less than the expanded diameter of the flared distal end segment and the expanded diameter of the middle segment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the stent includes a proximal cylindrical segment extending between the flared proximal end segment and the middle segment, wherein the proximal cylindrical segment has an expanded diameter less than the expanded diameter of the flared proximal end segment and the expanded diameter of the middle segment. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the middle segment expands to substantially fill the gastric pouch. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the middle segment is spherically shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a valve configured to prevent reflux through the stent.