Gastrointestinal prosthesis for restraining the rate of the gastric
digestion consists of a compressible proximal member connected by a
string to a distal member, to be introduced into the intestine. The
proximal member has an internal space, which is opened to the gastric
lumen and may include passageways for the gastric content as well as open
grooves or niches disposed on its external wall. The volume of a proximal
member compressed by the gastric wall cannot get smaller than a lower
threshold. Anchoring the gastrointestinal prosthesis at its desired
location is accomplished by means of the proximal member the geometrical
shape of which conforms the geometrical shape of a portion of the gastric
lumen; as well as by means of the geometrical shape of the distal member
which conforms the geometrical shape of a segment of the duodenum and/or
a segment of the intestine.