Apparatus and methods for endoluminal advancement
First Claim
1. A system for advancing through a hollow body organ, comprising:
- an elongate body adapted to transition between a flexible state and a rigidized state, wherein the elongate body defines at least one lumen therethrough; and
a tissue anchoring assembly positioned near or at a distal end of the elongate body, wherein the tissue anchoring assembly is adapted to engage tissue within the hollow body organ upon the elongate body transitioning to the rigidized state and to release tissue upon the elongate body transitioning to the flexible state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for endoluminal advancement are described herein. A shape-lockable tissue anchoring assembly generally has an elongate body, a handle assembly, and an anchoring assembly positioned at or proximal to a distal tip of the elongate body. A distal portion of the elongate body may optionally be steerable or curvable. The anchoring assembly may include various expandable or projecting anchoring features to contact and retain tissue relative to the elongate body such that pleated tissue is temporarily immobile relative to the elongate body. This anchoring can be actuated simultaneously with or independently from shape-locking of elongate body. The anchoring assembly can be actuated simultaneously with the shape-locking of the elongate body. Alternatively, the steerable distal portion of the elongate body can be angled against the pleated tissue to retain it while the endoscope is advanced relative to the pleated tissue.
134 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for advancing through a hollow body organ, comprising:
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an elongate body adapted to transition between a flexible state and a rigidized state, wherein the elongate body defines at least one lumen therethrough; and
a tissue anchoring assembly positioned near or at a distal end of the elongate body, wherein the tissue anchoring assembly is adapted to engage tissue within the hollow body organ upon the elongate body transitioning to the rigidized state and to release tissue upon the elongate body transitioning to the flexible state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for advancing an elongate instrument through a hollow body organ, comprising:
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advancing an elongate body over an endoscope within the hollow body organ;
engaging a tissue region of the hollow body organ with a distal end of the endoscope;
pleating the engaged tissue onto an outer surface of the elongate body by proximally drawing the endoscope relative to the elongate body;
inhibiting the pleated tissue from unraveling from the elongate body; and
rigidizing the elongate body from a flexible state to a rigidized state while inhibiting the pleated tissue from unraveling. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for advancing an elongate instrument through a hollow body organ, comprising:
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advancing an elongate body over an endoscope within the hollow body organ;
engaging a tissue region of the hollow body organ with a distal end of the endoscope;
pleating the engaged tissue onto an outer surface of the elongate body by proximally drawing the endoscope relative to the elongate body; and
steering a distal portion of the elongate body into contact against the pleated tissue to inhibit the pleated tissue from unraveling from the elongate body. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification