Endoscopic stapling devices and methods
First Claim
1. A medical instrument for applying a fastener to tissue, comprising:
- a head includinga first member having a fastener housing and a fastener cartridge that is independently movable with respect to the fastener housing, the fastener cartridge carrying at least one fastener;
a second member; and
a drive assembly including a drive member moveable on the fastener cartridge from a first position to a second position within the housing, the drive assembly operatively coupled to the first and second members such that movement of the drive member from a first position to a second position causes the fastener cartridge to move in a direction towards the second member.
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.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A medical instrument for applying a fastener to tissue, comprising:
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a head including a first member having a fastener housing and a fastener cartridge that is independently movable with respect to the fastener housing, the fastener cartridge carrying at least one fastener; a second member; and a drive assembly including a drive member moveable on the fastener cartridge from a first position to a second position within the housing, the drive assembly operatively coupled to the first and second members such that movement of the drive member from a first position to a second position causes the fastener cartridge to move in a direction towards the second member. - 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)
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25. A method of applying a fastener to tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a workpiece between a first member and a second member; advancing a drive member to cause a fastener cartridge within the first member to move independently of the first member towards the second member; and firing a fastener from the fastener cartridge into the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification