Gastrointestinal device with associated commensal microbes

A method of manufacture comprising:

• obtaining a gastrointestinal device sized for placement in a portion of the gastrointestinal tract of a subject, the gastrointestinal device including
• a flexible tubular structure formed from a first material, the flexible tubular structure including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end and the distal end forming a flow conduit through the flexible tubular structure;
• and
• at least one anchor structure including one or more gastric wall-engaging components configured to engage a wall of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject and hold the flexible tubular structure in place;
• distributing on one surface of the first material a plurality of at least one type of commensal microbe, wherein the plurality of the at least one type of commensal microbe are distributed on the surface of the first material to form an artificial microbiota, wherein a type and a distribution of the plurality of the at least one type of commensal microbe along a length of the gastrointestinal device is substantially identical to a type and a distribution of one or more endogenous microbes associated with the portion of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject for which the gastrointestinal device is sized;
• and
• applying a second material over the plurality of the at least one type of commensal microbe to form a layered wall, the layered wall allowing an interaction between the plurality of the at least one type of commensal microbe and an ingested product within the flexible tubular structure.

A lumen-resident device comprising:

• a flexible tubular structure sized for placement in a portion of a lumen of a subject, the flexible tubular structure including
• a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end and the distal end forming a flow conduit through the flexible tubular structure;
• a layered wall having an outer layer, an inner layer, and an internal space between the outer layer and the inner layer, the outer layer proximal to a wall of the lumen, the inner layer proximal to the flow conduit through the flexible tubular structure, wherein at least one of the inner layer and the outer layer is formed from a semi-permeable material;
• and
• a plurality of at least one type of commensal microbe positioned in the internal space of the layered wall, wherein the plurality of the at least one type of commensal microbe positioned in the internal space of the layered wall forms an artificial microbiota, wherein a type and a distribution of the plurality of the at least one type of commensal microbe along a length of the flexible tubular structure is substantially identical to a type and a distribution of one or more endogenous microbes associated with the portion of the lumen of the subject for which the flexible tubular structure is sized, the layered wall configured to allow an interaction between the plurality of the at least one type of commensal microbe and the lumen of the subject;
• and
• at least one anchor structure including one or more lumen wall-engaging components configured to engage a wall of the lumen of the subject.