Anchors with biodegradable constraints

Inventors

Melanson, David A. • Nutting, Christopher • Maxwell, Barry • Shank, Peter • Panek, John

Assignees

Morphic Medical Inc

Abstract

An implant includes a collapsible anchor to be deployed within a lumen and a protrusion coupled to the anchor. The protrusion, in a constrained state, extends a distance from an exterior surface of the anchor and, in an unconstrained state, extends further from the exterior surface of the anchor. Also included is a biodegradable constraint, such as a biodegradable tube or suture, configured to maintain the protrusion in the constrained state until the constraint releases. The implant may include additional biodegradable constraints, each constraint configured to maintain the protrusion in a different constrained state and to degrade over a different predetermined period after the implant has been deployed within the lumen. The protrusion may include a bi-directional barb or an open loop. The protrusion may be configured to penetrate a wall of the lumen and to allow tissue to grow about the protrusion. The implant may also include an unsupported, thin-walled sleeve coupled to the anchor and configured to extend into the lumen upon deployment of the collapsible anchor.

Core Innovation

The described invention provides implants and methods for securing a collapsible anchor within a gastrointestinal lumen. A cylindrical collapsible anchor is deployed with a protrusion that extends from an exterior surface of the collapsible anchor in a constrained state, and the protrusion is maintained in the constrained state by a biodegradable constraint to penetrate a wall of the gastrointestinal lumen and secure the collapsible anchor.

After penetrating the lumen wall, the protrusion is released from the constrained state and is allowed to extend further from the surface of the collapsible anchor. This extension is tied to degradation of the biodegradable constraint over predetermined periods and is described as promoting tissue growth and fibrotic encapsulation to improve long-term anchoring stability while minimizing damage.

The document further specifies protrusion configurations and constraint arrangements used to hold and release the protrusion, including open loop forms, helical protrusions, straight protrusion necks, and bidirectional or compound barbs. The biodegradable constraint includes biodegradable tube and/or biodegradable suture arrangements, and additional optional components include a thin-walled sleeve and configurations involving a restrictor plate for treatment contexts.

The described device context includes endoscopic deployment and removal and uses lumen subtypes such as the duodenum and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment-oriented configurations are described in connection with sleeve and restrictor plate arrangements for obesity and type 2 diabetes, where the anchor and protrusion extension support longer-term anchoring via tissue response.

Claims Coverage

The provided independent claims cover two method categories for securing a cylindrical collapsible anchor in a lumen using a protrusion that transitions from a constrained state to an extended state under control of a biodegradable constraint. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features are shared: deployment of a cylindrical collapsible anchor with a protrusion in a constrained state, wall penetration with the constrained protrusion, and further extension after release when the protrusion is no longer constrained.

Together, the independent claims define securing a cylindrical collapsible anchor in a lumen by using a protrusion constrained by a biodegradable constraint for penetration and initial securing, followed by additional protrusion extension after release from the constrained state. One independent claim further requires a constrained protrusion geometry with first and second segments and specific axis alignment achieved by collapsing the first segment against the collapsible anchor.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications