Endoscopic stapling devices and methods
First Claim
1. A medical instrument for carrying out a remote surgical operation within an internal organ, comprising:
- a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;
a surgical device that is operated by a compressed fluid;
an articulated spine section connecting the distal end of the shaft to a proximal end of the surgical device, said spine comprising a plurality of links positioned between the shaft and the surgical device;
at least one cable extending through the shaft and openings in the links in the articulated spine, by which the position of the device relative to the shaft can be controlled at the proximal end of the shaft; and
a compressed-fluid tube extending through the shaft and through the openings in the links of the articulated spine, through which a compressed fluid can be supplied to the device from the proximal end of the shaft.
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.
524 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A medical instrument for carrying out a remote surgical operation within an internal organ, comprising:
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a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end; a surgical device that is operated by a compressed fluid; an articulated spine section connecting the distal end of the shaft to a proximal end of the surgical device, said spine comprising a plurality of links positioned between the shaft and the surgical device; at least one cable extending through the shaft and openings in the links in the articulated spine, by which the position of the device relative to the shaft can be controlled at the proximal end of the shaft; and a compressed-fluid tube extending through the shaft and through the openings in the links of the articulated spine, through which a compressed fluid can be supplied to the device from the proximal end of the shaft. - 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, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification