Overtube apparatus for insertion into a body

• US 7,306,614 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Satiety, Inc.
• Inventors: Weller, Gary, Gerbi, Craig, Gannoe, James, Deem, Mark E., Sutton, Douglas S., Gifford, Hanson S. III, Andreas, Bernard H., French, Ronald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Kim M
• Application Number:
  US11/364,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20060142787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/153, 606/139, 606/142, 606/219, 606/213, 128/898, 227/175.1
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00818 Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/081 Tissue approximator A61B2017/1103, A61B17/8866 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1139 : Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12018 : Elastic band ligators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 : Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 : holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 : with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0083 : Reducing the size of the stomach, e.g. gastroplasty surgical interventions A61B17/00

Abstract

An overtube apparatus for insertion into a body is described herein. The assembly includes an overtube having a lumen defined throughout. The distal end of the overtube member has two or more windows in apposition configured to draw in tissue via a vacuum. A drive tube, which also defines a lumen, is inserted and is freely adjustable within the overtube. A spiral or helical fastener, which is temporarily attached to the drive tube distal end, is positioned within the overtube lumen. Endoscopic devices can be inserted within the drive tube lumen and advanced past the distal ends of both the drive tube and overtube. A pump provides the vacuum to draw apposed regions of tissue from within a hollow body organ into the windows of the overtube. Once the tissue has been invaginated, the drive tube is rotated to advance the fastener into the tissue to fasten them together.

Claims

1. A method of treating a hollow body organ from within the hollow body organ, comprising:

providing an overtube defining at least one opening near or at the distal end and wherein the at least one opening is adapted to adhere tissue from the hollow body organ thereto;

drawing two regions of tissue from opposite sides of the hollow body organ within the at least one opening, and positioning the two regions of tissue in apposition to one another; and

fastening the two regions of tissue together within the at least one opening with a fastener.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the two regions of tissue are drawn within the at least one opening via a vacuum force.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the tissue is drawn from alternating and apposed regions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the two regions of tissue are drawn within two openings.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the two openings are defined by two slots, the two slots being diametrically opposed on the overtube so that as the two regions of tissue are drawn into each slot, the tissue in one slot contacts the tissue in the opposed slot.

6. A method of treating a hollow body organ from within the hollow body organ, comprising:

advancing a distal end of an overtube within the hollow body organ, the overtube defining a first slot and a second slot near or at the distal end and wherein the first slot and the second slot are adapted to adhere tissue from the hollow body organ thereto;

drawing two regions of tissue from opposite sides of the hollow body organ within the first slot and the second slot such that the two regions of tissue are in apposition to one another; and

fastening the two regions of tissue together within the first slot and the second slot with a fastener.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the two regions of tissue are drawn within the first slot and the second slot via a vacuum force.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the tissue is drawn from alternating and apposed regions.