Endoscopic stapling devices and methods
First Claim
1. A tissue fastening system comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal-end handle and a distal end;
a staple device including a staple member having a staple housing and a staple holder that is independently moveable with respect to the staple housing,an anvil member having an anvil housing and an anvil carried on the anvil housing,a drive assembly including a drive member operatively connected to the staple holder for movement within the staple housing from a retracted position to an extended position, andan arm assembly operatively coupled to the staple and anvil members, such that movement of the drive member from its retracted to its extended position is effective to (i) move the staple holder with respect to the staple housing toward the anvil, and (ii) move the anvil member toward the staple member, the distal end of the shaft being operatively coupled to the staple member;
a flexible covering at least partially enclosing the staple device to define a vacuum chamber between the staple holder and the anvil, wherein the flexible covering 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.
2 Assignments
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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
23 Claims
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1. A tissue fastening system comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal-end handle and a distal end; a staple device including a staple member having a staple housing and a staple holder that is independently moveable with respect to the staple housing, an anvil member having an anvil housing and an anvil carried on the anvil housing, a drive assembly including a drive member operatively connected to the staple holder for movement within the staple housing from a retracted position to an extended position, and an arm assembly operatively coupled to the staple and anvil members, such that movement of the drive member from its retracted to its extended position is effective to (i) move the staple holder with respect to the staple housing toward the anvil, and (ii) move the anvil member toward the staple member, the distal end of the shaft being operatively coupled to the staple member; a flexible covering at least partially enclosing the staple device to define a vacuum chamber between the staple holder and the anvil, wherein the flexible covering 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 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification