156 results about "Natural orifice" patented technology

A method for forming an anastomosis between first and second organs in a patient using a hollow receptacle that is inflatable with magnetic material. The method may include forming openings through the first and second organs utilizing a hole-forming instrument inserted into the organs through a natural orifice in the patient. The hollow receptacle may be supported on a catheter assembly that is also inserted through the patient's natural orifice and through the openings in the first and second organs and is positioned within the second organ. The hollow receptacle is then inflated with magnetic material and magnetic force is applied within the force organ to draw the inflated receptacle toward the first organ such that the inflated receptacle retains the second organ in sealing contact with the first organ while maintaining the alignment between the first and second openings to create an anastomosis between the first and second organs.

Described herein are various method of using a direct drive system to perform procedures at a distance. One exemplary method include tying a knot or suturing at a distance with a first and second end effector. The direct drive system can enable sufficient end effector dexterity, including the ability to control various degrees of freedom of end effector movement, and allow a user to perform complicated task at a distance. In one aspect the direct drive system includes flexible tools that permit access to surgical site via a natural orifice.

Devices include at least two spaced apart flexible legs formed of a shape memory material, each leg having a respective free end configured to engage local tissue. The devices can also include at least one resilient member having opposing end portions, a respective end portion being attached to each leg at a location away from the free end. The resilient member is configured to take on a stretched configuration inside an endoscope during delivery. Alternatively or additionally, the devices include a cinch that is configured to snugly hold portions of both legs to force the legs closer together.

Apparatus and methods are described allow the techniques of endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery to be combined into a minimally invasive hybrid surgical technique called NOTES-assisted laparoscopic surgery. Manual and robotic-controlled versions of a modular laparoscopic tool are described having a small diameter shaft that is delivered laparoscopically to a surgical site. Larger diameter working tips are delivered through a NOTES delivery tube inserted to the surgical site through a natural orifice and joined to the shaft of the modular laparoscopic tool. Larger diameter working tips improve the effectiveness of the modular laparoscopic tools and the number and size of laparoscopic ports used can also be reduced.

A gastro-electrical activity mapping system and comprises a catheter insertable through a natural orifice into the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract and comprising an array of electrodes for contacting an interior surface of a section of the GI tract to detect electrical potentials at multiple electrodes, and a signal analysis and mapping system arranged to receive and process electrical signals from multiple electrodes of the array and spatially map GI smooth muscle electrical activity as an activation time map, a velocity map, or an amplitude map, which may be in the form of contour plots and may be mapped on an anatomical computer model of at least the section of the GI tract and may be animated. A GI mapping method and catheter are also claimed.

This application describes an overtube device that gives diagnostic and/or therapeutic access to body cavities using natural orifices of the body. The overtube includes an elongate flexible body having a distal portion deflectable in response to activation of a control cable. Proximal features of the overtube include an insufflations port and seals for minimizing loss of insufflations pressure around the shafts of instruments passed through the tube. In some embodiments, retractor elements are including on the distal portion of the overtube.

A device for delivering a predetermined volume a substance within a body cavity. The device includes: at least one predefined volume sized and shaped to contain a predetermined volume the substance; a delivery end in fluid communication with a container; and at least one valve mechanically connected to the container and configurable between an active configuration in which the valve enables delivery of a volume of the substance and an inactive configuration, in which the valve prevents delivery.

A specimen retrieval system for use with minimally invasive surgical procedures is disclosed. The system permits excised tissue having a dimension, a size, a shape, or a volume larger than a natural orifice or a surgical incision used in a minimally invasive procedure to access the surgical site, to be removed from the body through the natural orifice or surgical incision. The system comprises a specimen retrieval container and a compression structure. The compression structure is configured to apply a compressive force to the container to reduce or alter at least one of a dimension, a size, a shape, and a volume of the container and the tissue contained therein, such that the tissue can be removed through the natural orifice or surgical incision without need to surgically alter or enlarge the orifice or original incision.

A low-cost input device suitable for a wearable computer is provided. An input method suitable for operating a wearable computer is provided. A wearable computer including the input device is provided. An input device 100 for outputting a control command γ to an external output device 40 includes a sensor 10 configured to be worn in or on a natural orifice of the body and sense a change in a shape of the natural orifice, and a controller 20 configured to control the external output device 40 based on a sensor signal α from the sensor 10. Here, the change in the shape of the natural orifice is caused by a predetermined action which is performed by a user wearing the sensor 10 with the intention of operating the external output device 40.

Example embodiments relate to devices, systems, and methods for performing a surgical action. The system may comprise a port assembly and instrument arm assembly. The port assembly may include a central access channel formed through the port assembly and plurality of anchor ports. The instrument arm assembly may include a shoulder section securable to a first anchor port, first arm section secured to the shoulder section, elbow section secured to the first arm section, second arm section secured to the elbow section, wrist section secured to the second arm section, and end effector section secured to the wrist section. The image capturing assembly may include an image capturing device and multi-curvable body. The multi-curvable body may be configurable to curve at one or more locations along the multi-curvable body, in one or more of a plurality of curvatures, and in one or more of a plurality of directions.

Medical systems, devices and methods are provided for accessing a bodily opening that, among other things, are safe and reliable, and facilitate manipulation of a medical instrument. The medical access device generally includes an elongated flexible sheath and an expandable frame connected to the distal end of the flexible sheath. The sheath and expandable frame are operable between expanded and collapsed configurations to provide a pathway from a natural orifice to the bodily opening.

Example embodiments relate to surgical devices, systems, and methods. The system may include a port assembly and instrument arm assembly. The port assembly may have first and second end sections. The first end section may include a first end channel and first gate assembly. The second end section may include a second end channel, second gate assembly, and anchor port. The first and second gate assemblies may be configurable to transition between an open position to allow access through the first and second end channels, respectively, and a closed position to prevent access to same. The instrument arm assembly may include a shoulder section securable to the anchor port, first arm section secured to the shoulder section, elbow section secured to the first arm section, second arm section secured to the elbow section, wrist section secured to the second arm section, and end effector section secured to the wrist section.

Provided is a two-piece anastomosis fastener that can be used to join two tissue sections together in accordance with Natural Orifice Transendoscopic Surgery (NOTES). The fastener may be releasably attached to a fastener applying instrument for delivery in accordance with such procedures. The fastener includes a first member and a second member, where the clamp members are operably configured to fasten together to clamp and hold tissue, such as gastric tissue, in juxtaposition to establish an anastomosis. The first clamp member and the second clamp member are coupled with an adhesive.

The present invention provides a device for delivering a predetermined amount of at least one substance to a body orifice of a subject; comprising: a. a container for containing said at least one substance; b. a delivery end for placement in proximity to said orifice, said delivery end being in fluid communication with said container; c. a valve mechanically connectable to said container, characterized by at least two configurations: (i) an ACTIVE CONFIGURATION in which said valve enables delivery of predetermined amount of said substance from said container to said body orifice via said delivery end; and, (ii) an INACTIVE CONFIGURATION, in which said valve prevents delivery of said predetermined amount of said substance from said container to said body orifice; d. a trigger mechanism adapted to reconfigure said valve from said INACTIVE CONFIGURATION to said ACTIVE CONFIGURATION, and vice versa; e. a fluid tight chamber.

The invention relates to a flexible surgical tool system. The flexible surgical tool system comprises a mechanical arm, a surgical actuator and a transmission drive unit. The mechanical arm comprisesa first continuum structural section, a rigid connection structural section and a second continuum structural section. The first continuum structural section, the rigid connection structural section and the second continuum structural section are sequentially associated to form a dual continuum mechanism. The surgical actuator is connected to the far end of the second continuum structural section.The transmission drive unit is associated with the rigid connection structural section and the surgical actuator and used for driving the first continuum structural section to turn in any direction,then driving the second continuum structural section to turn in the opposite direction in a coupled manner, and driving the surgical actuator to complete rotational movement in the first plane and/oropening and closing movement in the second plane. The flexible surgical tool system can be well applied to performing surgery through natural orifices of the human body or a single surgical incision.

A miniature in-vivo robotic module to be used for conducting dexterous manipulations on organs and other target entities in a patient's abdominal or peritoneal cavity as part of Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) is disclosed in this invention. The robotic module is a serial manipulator consisting of seven cylindrical links and six actively controllable rotational degrees of freedom, thereby enabling an end effector equipped with a laparoscopic type instrument to assume a commanded position and orientation within the robot's workspace. After overtube navigation starting from a natural orifice or preexisting wound, the module must be anchored and guided to a designated location along the inner abdominal cavity wall. This is accomplished via magnetic coupling forces between internal embedded magnets and magnets fixed to the end of a different robotic manipulator located external to the patient.

The invention belongs to the field of medical appliances, and particularly relates to an intelligent electronic endoscope system passing through natural orifices. The intelligent electronic endoscope system is suitable for a colposcope system, an anorectal endoscope system and a hysteroscope system, and comprises an electronic endoscope, an endoscope clamping mechanical arm for fixing the electronic endoscope, a movable adjustment operating platform, an intelligent robot-arm, a control desk and a central processing system, wherein the tail end of the main body of the endoscope is provided with a linear type robot-arm passage running through a hard working end part. By using the intelligent electronic endoscope system, a patient needs no operation, only the electronic endoscope is put inside through the natural orifices, and the intelligent robot-arm is put into an operation area by taking the intelligent robot-arm passage of the electronic endoscope as a platform; and the intelligent robot-arm is miniaturized, deformable and direction-changeable and simultaneously is provided with functions of a plurality of operative instruments (such as operative snap-on tongs, electric cutting equipment, electric coagulation equipment and the like), and thus, various operation treatments can be performed without introducing other instruments, and the difficulty of operations and the paint of patients are reduced.

Non-invasive and/or natural orifice procedures, apparatus and methods for modulating the enteric nervous system using one or more energy modalities. A system may include a probe for insertion into a natural orifice (e.g., nasogastrically, orogastrically, nasojejunally) with or without a tube to therapeutically apply energy to modulate one or more portions of the enteric nervous system. The methods described herein may provide energy to stimulate the enteric nervous system to treat disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, depression, anxiety and/or to enhance gastric motility, intestinal motility or other neurological responses.

A natural orifice luminal device and method of performing a natural orifice luminal procedure includes providing a generally closed body. The generally closed body has a size and shape to be retained by a portion of the lumen defining an aperture between the lumen and a space adjacent to the lumen. The generally closed body is adapted to substantially seal the aperture from passage of gas between the lumen and the space adjacent to the lumen. In this manner, the lumen and the space adjacent to the lumen can be at different gas pressures.