ENDOSCOPIC STAPLING DEVICES AND METHODS
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are endoscopic staplers used to apply one or more fasteners to body tissue. In one embodiment, a fastener-applying device, which is preferably a stapler, is 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 staplers allow the opposed sections of tissue to be moved into contact with one another, and preferably deliver staples 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 are formed, medical devices may optionally be coupled to the plication(s) for retention within the stomach.
148 Citations
164 Claims
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1-129. -129. (canceled)
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130. A fluid drive system, comprising:
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a chamber; and a fluid line fluidly coupled to the chamber, the fluid line comprising tubing having a lumen, at least portion of the tubing comprising a deflectable portion having a longitudinally expandable shape; and a piston in the chamber, the piston advanceable within the chamber in response to flow of fluid from the fluid line into the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136)
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137. A fluid-actuated endoscopic tissue fastening instrument, comprising:
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an elongate shaft having a flexible distal portion and a proximal portion; a head mounted to the distal portion, the head carrying at least one fastener and including a chamber; and a fluid line fluidly coupled to the chamber, the fluid line comprising tubing having a lumen, at least portion of the tubing comprising a deflectable portion having a longitudinally expandable shape; and a piston in the chamber, the piston advanceable within the chamber in response to flow of fluid from the fluid line into the chamber to advance the at least one fastener from the head. - View Dependent Claims (138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 150)
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151. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate shaft comprising a flexible distal portion and a fluid line, the fluid line comprising tubing having a lumen, at least portion of the tubing comprising a deflectable portion formed into a longitudinally expandable shape; and a fluid port fluidly coupled to the fluid line. - View Dependent Claims (152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158)
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159. A method for delivering fluid to an operative end of a flexible medical device, comprising:
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providing an elongate shaft having a distal end and a fluid line extending through the shaft, the fluid line comprising tubing including a deflectable section in which the tubing is formed into a longitudinally expandable shape; and passing fluid through the fluid line to the distal end of the elongate shaft. - View Dependent Claims (160, 161, 162, 163)
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164-242. -242. (canceled)
Specification