Apparatus and method for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease
First Claim
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1. A method of treating gastroesophageal reflux disease comprising the steps of:
- a) forming a fold of esophageal tissue proximate to the lower esophageal sphincter;
b) extending a needle through the fold of esophageal tissue, the needle having an interior lumen containing a tissue fastener;
c) ejecting a distal portion of the tissue fastener from the interior lumen of the needle such that the distal portion of the tissue fastener is disposed against a distal surface of the fold of esophageal tissue; and
d) retracting the needle from the fold of esophageal tissue such that a proximal portion of tissue fastener is deployed from the interior lumen of the needle and is disposed against a proximal surface of the fold of esophageal tissue.
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Abstract
A minimally invasive surgical procedure is disclosed which includes the steps forming a fold of tissue, extending one or more needles through the fold of tissue, deploying a tissue fastener from an interior lumen of each of the needles, and retracting each of the needles from the fold of tissue such that the tissue fasteners remain deployed in the fold of tissue.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of treating gastroesophageal reflux disease comprising the steps of:
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a) forming a fold of esophageal tissue proximate to the lower esophageal sphincter;
b) extending a needle through the fold of esophageal tissue, the needle having an interior lumen containing a tissue fastener;
c) ejecting a distal portion of the tissue fastener from the interior lumen of the needle such that the distal portion of the tissue fastener is disposed against a distal surface of the fold of esophageal tissue; and
d) retracting the needle from the fold of esophageal tissue such that a proximal portion of tissue fastener is deployed from the interior lumen of the needle and is disposed against a proximal surface of the fold of esophageal tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of applying a surgical fastener to gastro-esophageal tissue comprising the steps of:
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a) forming a fold of gastro-esophageal tissue;
b) extending at least one needle through the fold of tissue, the at least one needle having an interior lumen containing a tissue fastener formed from shape memory metal disposed in an initial condition;
c) ejecting a distal portion of the tissue fastener from the interior lumen of the needle such that the distal portion of the tissue fastener moves to a normally curved condition against a distal surface of the fold of tissue; and
d) retracting the needle from the fold of tissue such that a proximal portion of tissue fastener is deployed from the interior lumen of the needle and moves to a normally curved condition against a proximal surface of the fold of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An endoscopic surgical apparatus comprising:
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a) an elongated tubular body having opposed proximal and distal end portions and an interior lumen extending therethrough;
b) a needle disposed within the elongated tubular body and mounted for reciprocal movement therein between a retracted position and a protracted position, the needle having an interior lumen extending therethrough;
c) a tissue fastener configured for movement between an initial position within the interior lumen of the needle and a normal position ejected from the interior lumen of the needle;
d) means for effectuating reciprocal movement of the needle within the interior bore of the elongated tubular body; and
e) means for ejecting the tissue fastener from the interior lumen of the needle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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- 19. An apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein a tissue receiving window is formed within the distal end portion of the elongated tubular body.
Specification