ENDOSCOPIC STAPLING DEVICES AND METHODS
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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.
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Citations
130 Claims
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1-118. -118. (canceled)
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119. A tissue fastening system comprising:
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a shaft; a head positioned on the shaft, the head including first and second members, and a flexible covering at least partially enclosing the head to define a vacuum chamber, wherein the flexible covering is at least partially transparent and includes an opening positionable in contact with tissue to be fastened; and a vacuum port coupled to the vacuum chamber such that application of vacuum pressure to the vacuum port draws tissue through the opening into the vacuum chamber. - View Dependent Claims (120, 121, 122, 123, 125)
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126. A tissue fastening method, comprising:
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providing a fastening instrument including a vacuum chamber having a wall; applying suction to draw tissue into the vacuum chamber via an opening in the wall; observing the tissue through an at least partially transparent surface of the wall; and advancing at least one fastener into the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (127, 128, 129)
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130-242. -242. (canceled)
Specification