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Endoluminal and transluminal surgical methods and devices

  • US 9,155,557 B2
  • Filed: 04/17/2008
  • Issued: 10/13/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An access device adapted and configured to be inserted into a natural lumen of a patient'"'"'s body through a natural orifice to gain access to a surgical site in a body cavity through a wall of the natural lumen, the access device comprising:

  • a) a proximal housing portion;

    b) an elongated flexible body portion extending distally from the proximal housing portion, the flexible body portion dimensioned and configured for transluminal access to the surgical site and having a tubular wall defining a central lumen to accommodate passage of surgical instruments to the surgical site, wherein a distal end portion of the flexible body portion has a longitudinal slit formed therein extending proximally from a distal end of the body portion to gain access to the wall of the natural lumen, wherein the tubular wall forming the longitudinal slit includes laterally opposed side grasping elements configured for actuated movement between open, closed and grasping positions to engage the wall of the natural lumen, and wherein control elements are arranged within the tubular wall adjacent to the longitudinal slit to effect actuated movement of the grasping elements;

    c) a nozzle formed within the tubular wall of the flexible body portion around a circumference of the central lumen for directing pressurized fluid into the central lumen to develop a pressure differential between pressure at the surgical site and pressure outside of the surgical site, the pressure differential forming a barrier to egress of pressurized fluid from the surgical site through the central lumen of the flexible body portion, while forming a fluid seal around surgical instruments passing through the central lumen of the flexible body portion to the surgical site; and

    d) a fluid inlet in the proximal housing portion in communication with the nozzle.

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