A gastrointestinal implant for use within a pylorus, a duodenal bulb, and a duodenum of a patient, the implant having an expanded configuration and a contracted configuration and comprising: a proximal portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire shaped to form a cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a proximal wall extending radially inward from the distal end of the proximal portion; a neck portion comprising a cylinder having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal wall has an outer circumference at the distal end of the proximal portion and an inner circumference at the proximal end of the neck portion, the proximal wall configured with a first angle in relation to the cylinder of the neck portion such that the inner circumference of the proximal portion is located closer to the proximal end of the proximal portion than the outer circumference of the proximal portion, the neck portion extending distally from the inner circumference of the proximal portion, and the neck portion having a length; a distal portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire shaped to form a cylinder extending distally from the neck portion and having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall extending between the proximal end of the distal portion and the distal end of the distal portion, and a distal wall extending radially inward from the proximal end of the distal portion, wherein the distal wall has an outer circumference at the proximal end of the distal portion and an inner circumference at the distal end of the neck portion and is configured with a second angle in relation to the cylinder of the neck portion such that the inner circumference of the distal portion is located closer to the distal end of the distal portion than the outer circumference of the distal portion; and a structural element (174, 176, 178; 193, 194, 196) including a plurality of rings is attached to the hollow tubular braided structure of the distal portion, wherein each ring of the plurality of rings has at least a first section coupled to the distal portion distal wall and at least a second section coupled to the distal portion outer wall, and wherein each ring of the plurality of rings is oriented in a plane, and wherein the plane of each ring intersects the plane of each of the other rings between the first section of each ring and the second section of each ring, the structural element (174, 176, 178; 193, 194, 196) configured to resist circumferential compression along a portion of the outer wall. a proximal portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire shaped to form a cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a proximal wall extending radially inward from the distal end of the proximal portion; a neck portion comprising a cylinder having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal wall has an outer circumference at the distal end of the proximal portion and an inner circumference at the proximal end of the neck portion, the proximal wall configured with a first angle in relation to the cylinder of the neck portion such that the inner circumference of the proximal portion is located closer to the proximal end of the proximal portion than the outer circumference of the proximal portion, the neck portion extending distally from the inner circumference of the proximal portion, and the neck portion having a length; a distal portion comprising a hollow tubular braided structure of wire shaped to form a cylinder extending distally from the neck portion and having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall extending between the proximal end of the distal portion and the distal end of the distal portion, and a distal wall extending radially inward from the proximal end of the distal portion, wherein the distal wall has an outer circumference at the proximal end of the distal portion and an inner circumference at the distal end of the neck portion and is configured with a second angle in relation to the cylinder of the neck portion such that the inner circumference of the distal portion is located closer to the distal end of the distal portion than the outer circumference of the distal portion; and a structural element (174, 176, 178; 193, 194, 196) including a plurality of rings is attached to the hollow tubular braided structure of the distal portion, wherein each ring of the plurality of rings has at least a first section coupled to the distal portion distal wall and at least a second section coupled to the distal portion outer wall, and wherein each ring of the plurality of rings is oriented in a plane, and wherein the plane of each ring intersects the plane of each of the other rings between the first section of each ring and the second section of each ring, the structural element (174, 176, 178; 193, 194, 196) configured to resist circumferential compression along a portion of the outer wall.