Patent ID: 8506516

Claim:
A system for reducing the medically effective volume of a stomach and bypassing a duodenum from the digestion of ingested matter, the system comprising: an apparatus for restricting the medically effective volume of the stomach comprising a magnetic bar, the magnetic bar for placement around a gastric wall and configured to create a first stomach portion and a second stomach portion, the first stomach portion for primary digestion of ingested food; and a first coupling device for bypassing the duodenum comprising: a first magnetic component, the first magnetic component for placement around a gastrotomy site on the first stomach portion, wherein the first magnetic component comprises: a first open end comprising a first magnetic a perimeter and a plurality of barbs extending radially from the perimeter; a second open end; and a body extending between the first open end and the second open end, the body comprising at least one magnet; wherein the body and the second open end are capable of conforming to an exterior of the first stomach portion and the plurality of barbs are configured to puncture the first stomach portion; and a second magnetic component, the second magnetic component for placement around a first enterotomy site on a jejunum, wherein the second magnetic component comprises: a first open end comprising a second magnetic ring having a perimeter and a plurality of barbs extending radially from the perimeter; a second open end comprising a joint; a body having a first length and comprising at least one magnet, the body extending between the first open end and the second open end of the second magnetic component and defining a hollow interior; and a stent cover coupled with the joint of the second open end of the second magnetic component and comprising at least one magnetic flap, each of the at least one magnetic flaps comprising a second length and capable of moving relative to the joint between an extended position and a folded position; wherein the plurality of barbs of the second magnetic ring are configured to puncture the jejunum, the at least one magnetic flap of the stent cover is configured to magnetically engage the body of the second magnetic component and at least a portion of the body of the first magnetic component when the at least one magnetic flap is in the folded position, and the first and second magnetic rings are configured to magnetically engage each other through the first stomach portion and the jenunum; wherein the first and second magnetic components of the first coupling device are configured to magnetically engage each other, hold tissue from the first stomach portion and the jejunum therebetween, and enable communication between the gastrotomy site on the first stomach portion and the first enterotomy site on the jejunum.