Endoscopic plication devices and methods
First Claim
1. An apparatus for forming plications in tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongate shaft; and
a plication head positioned on the elongate shaft, the plication head including a collapsible vacuum chamber having an opening positionable in contact with tissue to be plicated such that application of suction to the vacuum chamber draws the tissue into the vacuum chamber; and
a fastening system having a first portion and a second portion positioned such that advancement of a fastener from the first portion to the second portion advances the fastener through tissue drawn into the vacuum chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are endoscopic plicators passed transorally into the stomach and used to plicate stomach tissue by engaging tissue from inside of the stomach and drawing it inwardly. In the disclosed embodiments, the tissue is drawn inwardly into a vacuum chamber, causing sections of serosal tissue on the exterior of the stomach to be positioned facing one another. The disclosed plicators allow the opposed sections of tissue to be moved into contact with one another, and preferably deliver sutures, staples or other means for maintaining contact between the tissue sections at least until serosal bonds form between them. Each of these steps may be performed wholly from the inside of the stomach and thus can eliminate the need for any surgical or laparoscopic intervention. After one or more plications is formed, medical devices may be coupled to the plication(s) for retention within the stomach.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for forming plications in tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongate shaft; and
a plication head positioned on the elongate shaft, the plication head including a collapsible vacuum chamber having an opening positionable in contact with tissue to be plicated such that application of suction to the vacuum chamber draws the tissue into the vacuum chamber; and
a fastening system having a first portion and a second portion positioned such that advancement of a fastener from the first portion to the second portion advances the fastener through tissue drawn into the vacuum chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of forming a tissue plication in stomach wall tissue, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plication head on an elongate shaft;
advancing the plication head transorally into a stomach;
applying suction to the plication head to draw tissue into a vacuum chamber in the plication head, said tissue including two generally opposed serosal tissue surfaces;
deforming the vacuum chamber to draw the serosal tissue surfaces into proximity with one another to form a plication; and
passing at least one fastener through the plication. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification