Stent and associated systems and methods

A device for controlling flow of materials through a body passage, said device comprising:

• a mesh element having a perimeter around a concave upstream surface and a convex downstream surface;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners coupled about the perimeter of said mesh element and configured to engage tissue adjacent or surrounding the body passage to secure the perimeter of said mesh element to the tissue;
• wherein the mesh element defines openings therethrough extending from the concave upstream surface to the convex downstream surface of the mesh element such that material flows from the upstream surface of the mesh element to the downstream surface of the mesh element and directly therefrom to the body passage, whereby the mesh element regulates flow of materials through the body passage without another flow-regulating device such that the mesh openings are determinative of the flow of material through the body passage.

A method of controlling flow of material through a pylorus, said method comprising:

• inserting a support structure through the pylorus;
• and
• coupling a mesh element across an opening of said support structure, said mesh element having a mesh gauge dimensioned to control flow of materials through said support structure;
• wherein material flow through the pylorus is regulated by only the mesh gauge of the mesh element without being further regulated by another flow-regulating device.