1405results about "Gastroscopes" patented technology

An endoscopic device for the partial fundoplication for the treatment of GERD, comprises: a) a distal bending portion and a flexible portion suitable to be positioned in extended shape within the esophagus of a subject; b) a positioning assembly comprising two separate elements, one of which is located on said distal bending portion, and the other on said flexible portion; c) a stapling assembly comprising a staple ejecting device, wherein said staple ejecting device is located on either said bending portion or on said flexible portion, said staple ejecting devices being in working positioned relationship when said two separate elements of said positioning assembly are aligned; and d) circuitry for determining when said two separate elements of said positioning assembly are aligned.

A system for endoscopic suturing is provided having an endoscope, such as a gastroscope, with a distal end locatable in the body of a patient and a flexible shaft extending to the distal end, a flexible accessory tube coupled to the endoscope to flex relative to the endoscope's shaft, and a tip coupled to the shaft of the endoscope having an opening through which one end of the accessory tube is received. Tissue suturing and suture securing instruments are provided each having a sufficiently flexible shaft locatable through the accessory tube.

A system for performing in vivo procedures is provided. The system may include a tool for performing an in vivo procedure. The tool may have an in vivo sensor for obtaining in vivo information; a functional element for performing an interventional or diagnostic in-vivo procedure; a processor in communication with the tool for receiving and optionally processing the in vivo information obtained by the tool and a monitor in communication with the processor for displaying the optionally processed in vivo information. The communication between the elements of the system may be wireless, or, optionally, wired.

Several embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to medical visualization systems that comprise combinations of disposable and resuable components, such as catheters, functional handles, hubs, optical devices, etc. Other embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to features and aspects of an in-vivo visualization system that comprises an endoscope having a working channel through which a catheter having viewing capabilities is routed. the catheter may obtain viewing capabilities by being constructed as a vision catheter or by having a fiberscope or other viewing device selectively routed through one of its channels. The catheter is preferably of the steerable type so that the distal end of the catheter may be steered from its proximal end as it is advanced with the body. A suitable use for the in-vivo visualization system includes but is not limited to diagnosis and/or treatment of the duodenum, and particularly the biliary tree.

The present invention provides a system and method for obtaining in vivo images. The system contains an imaging system and an ultra low power radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals from the CMOS imaging camera to a receiving system located outside a patient. The imaging system includes at least one CMOS imaging camera, at least one illumination source for illuminating an in vivo site and an optical system for imaging the in vivo site onto the CMOS imaging camera.

A novel approach to diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the peritoneal cavity is described. More specifically, a technique for accessing the peritoneal cavity via the wall of the digestive tract is provided so that examination of and/or a surgical procedure in the peritoneal cavity can be conducted via the wall of the digestive tract with the use of a flexible endoscope. As presently proposed, the technique is particularly adapted to transgastric peritoneoscopy. However, access in addition or in the alternative through the intestinal wall is contemplated and described as well. Transgastric and/or transintestinal peritoneoscopy will have an excellent cosmetic result as there are no incisions in the abdominal wall and no potential for visible post-surgical scars or hernias.

Systems, devices and methods for endoscopic procedures are provided involving accessing and manipulating tissues beyond the capabilities of traditional endoscopic instruments. Embodiments of the systems include an elongated main body which has one or more independently shape-lockable sections and a variety of instruments which are either built in to the main body or advanceable through lumens which extend through the main body. Such instruments may include scopes, suction instruments, aspiration instruments, tool arms, plicators, needles, graspers, and cutters, to name a few. The ability to steer and shapelock specific sections of the main body enables access to target locations which are typically challenging to reach and provides a stabilized platform to perform a desired procedure at the target location.

An endoscope has a first bending portion, a second bending portion, and a hand-held unit. The first bending portion is the distal portion of an elongated insertion member and has a plurality of joint pieces concatenated so that the joint pieces can rotate freely. The second bending portion is located at the proximal end of the first bending portion, and has a plurality of joint pieces concatenated so that the joint pieces can rotate freely. The hand-held unit is located at the proximal end of the insertion member, and has a control section that is used to bend the first bending portion and second bending portion. In the endoscope, the control section of the hand-held unit has an angling knob that is used to bend the first bending portion, and a second angling lever that is used to bend the second bending portion.

Methods and devices are provided for performing translumenal (e.g., transoral and transanal) procedures. In general, the methods and devices utilize a trocar assembly or trocar end cap that can facilitate insertion of an endoscope through tissue. In one embodiment, a flexible trocar assembly is provided and includes an obturator having an inner lumen formed therethrough for receiving an endoscope therein, and a distal end that is adapted to facilitate insertion of the endoscope through tissue and that is adapted to facilitate viewing therethrough. The trocar assembly can also include a trocar sleeve that is disposable over the obturator. In use, once the trocar assembly is inserted through tissue, the trocar sleeve can function as a placeholder, allowing the endoscope and obturator to be removed. The endoscope can then be removed from within the obturator and reinserted through the trocar sleeve for use in performing various other procedures. In other embodiments, rather than using a trocar that houses the endoscope, an end cap can be removably disposed over a distal end of the endoscope. The present invention also provides methods and devices for shielding an endoscope during insertion through a body lumen, and in particular for preventing contact between the endoscope (or trocar sleeve) and the body lumen, thus preventing bacteria from being carried into a body cavity.

A fiber optic probe and a balloon catheter used in conjunction with optical imaging systems, in particular with systems which deliver and collect a single spatial mode beam, such as a single photon, a multiphoton, confocal imaging and ranging systems, such as fluorescence imaging systems.

A capsule endoscope, including an omnidirectional lateral view optical system allowing observation of all directions as the objective optical system and also being capable of illuminating all the image pickup range satisfactorily, is provided. On a positioning plate inside the capsule, six LEDs are arranged at even angular intervals (60 degrees) with their light emitting surfaces facing a transparent cover of the capsule. The light emitting surface of each LED is placed at a position that is a prescribed distance β inwardly apart from the interior surface of the transparent cover of the capsule.

An object of the present invention is to actively control at least one of the position and direction of the imaging field in a subject and to observe a desired observed region in the subject certainly in a short period of time. A body-insertable device system according to the present invention includes a capsule endoscope 1 introduced into a subject and a permanent magnet 3. An imaging unit of the capsule endoscope 1 for taking an image inside the subject is fixed in a casing. The capsule endoscope 1 includes a drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a which is also introduced in the subject 100. The permanent magnet 3 controls the operation of the drive unit for changing at least one of the position and posture of the casing in the liquid 2a.

The present invention provides systems and methods for the evaluation of the urethra and periurethral tissues using an MRI coil adapted for insertion into the male, female or pediatric urethra. The MRI coil may be in electrical communication with an interface circuit made up of a tuning-matching circuit, a decoupling circuit and a balun circuit. The interface circuit may also be in electrical communication with a MRI machine. In certain practices, the present invention provides methods for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the urethra and periurethral tissues, including disorders of the female pelvic floor, conditions of the prostate and anomalies of the pediatric pelvis.

An in-vivo sensing system and a method for creating a summarized graphical presentation of a data stream captured in-vivo. The graphical presentation may be in the form of a series of summarized data points, for example a color bar. The color bar may be a fixed display along side a streaming display of the data stream. A cursor, icon or other indicator may move along the fixed color bar as the data stream is displayed and/or streamed so as to indicate to a health professional what part of the data stream may be currently displayed. The color content in the color bat may map out the data stream and give indication of the location of anatomical sites as well as possible locations of pathology.

Endoscopic devices and methods used for fastening multiple tissue layers, such as, for example, an endoscopic fundoplication procedure, are disclosed. The device may include, for example, an elongated tubular member having a proximal end for extending outside of the body and a distal end for positioning proximate the multiple tissue layers, a grasper configured for positioning proximate the distal end of the tubular member and for grasping at least one of the multiple tissue layers, a device coupled to the distal end of the tubular member for folding the multiple tissue layers together, a tissue fastener configured to be inserted into the tissue layers to hold the tissue layers together, and a fastener head for inserting the tissue fastener into the tissue layers.

An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end and an imaging device with a steerable extension. The proximal end of the extension is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube. An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end region and a rear-viewing imaging device at least partially disposed inside the distal end region. An endoscope includes an insertion tube having a distal end cap, an imaging device, and a link that couples the imaging device to the distal end cap of the insertion tube.

A surgical suturing apparatus includes a suture housing, a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path, a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue, a handle, an elongated flexible member having a distal end attached to the suture housing and a proximal end attached to the handle, and a mechanism for releasing and reattaching the handle to the flexible member.

An endoscope apparatus and method of operating the same. The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope portion and a control and display unit. The endoscope portion preferably comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of the endoscope portion and providing endoscope data; (ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators (e.g., electroactive polymer actuators) controlling the operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals; (iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and (iv) a portable power source (e.g., a battery) coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators. The control and display unit preferably comprises: (i) a second wireless transceiver coupled via a wireless link to the first transceiver in the endoscope portion and receiving endoscope data from the first transceiver and transmitting control signals to the first transceiver; (ii) a control portion coupled to the second wireless transceiver and sending control signals to the one or more actuators in the endoscope portion via the first and second wireless transceivers; and (iii) a display portion that displays information received from the sensor via the first and second wireless transceivers. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for providing single-use endoscopes to one or more hospitals.

Pharyngoesophageal monitoring systems are provided that monitor the environment of the pharynx and esophagus, and in some embodiments, detect and monitor refluxate, and may further record other physical episode data. The system may be provided, in some embodiments, as a bifurcated, adjustable, multiple internal reference probe, and methods thereof, to detect acid reflux and to monitor pH levels of acid reflux episodes simultaneously at multiple locations within the pharyngoesophageal passage. Some embodiments provide a recorder and one or a plurality of sensor arrangements, the recorder being responsive to the sensors and capable of correlation of signals generated by the sensor arrangements.

A method for suture lacing includes providing a suture with a needle attached thereto, inserting the needle and suture into an organ through a passageway, throwing a single stitch through a first tissue member, throwing a single stitch through an opposed and spaced apart second tissue member, repeating the preceding step at least once, bringing the first and second tissue members in contact by tensioning the suture, whereby suture drag is minimized during the tensioning and even tissue compression substantially achieved, and securing the suture.

Apparatus and methods are provided for forming a gastrointestinal tissue fold by engaging tissue at a first tissue contact point and moving the first tissue contact point from a position initially distal to, or in line with, a second tissue contact point to a position proximal of the second contact point, thereby forming the tissue fold, and extending an anchor assembly through the tissue fold from a vicinity of the second tissue contact point. Adjustable anchor assemblies; as well as anchor delivery systems, shape-lockable guides and methods for endoluminally performing medical procedures, such as gastric reduction, treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, resection of lesions, and treatment of bleeding sites; are also provided.

A surgical suturing apparatus includes a suture housing, a needle mounted within the suture housing for movement about an arcuate path, a drive assembly operably associated with the needle for controlling movement of the needle with a suture secured thereto about the arcuate path in a manner facilitating application of the suture to tissue, and a collapsible vacuum chamber containing the suture housing. The vacuum chamber is shaped and dimensioned for coupling to a vacuum line.

The invention is a stapling device comprised of an articulation section having a staple cartridge containing staples and parts of a staple-firing mechanism located at one end and an anvil portion located at the other end. The front surfaces of the anvil and the cartridge are curved. When the articulation section is bent the curved front surfaces of the anvil and the cartridge are brought opposite each other. As the distance between said curved surfaces is reduced, their curvature helps to correct transverse misalignment and to bring the anvil and the cartridge into the correct working relationship.