| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090137872 | Method and Apparatus for Controlling Endoscopic Instruments - An apparatus for the control of endoscopic instruments includes a control module mountable to a standard instrument port of an endoscope. The control module includes separate drive mechanisms for a sheath and a tensile cord of an endoscopic tool having an end effector. Driving the sheath and the tensile cord together may serve to advance or withdraw the end effector, driving either component separately may cause all activation of the end effector. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090192510 | Polyp Encapsulation System and Method - An endoscopic electrosurgical instrument is presented for encapsulating and resecting biologic tissue, such as a polyp, from an anatomical structure, such as a lumen. The instrument includes an encapsulation assembly which includes a snare coupled to an electrically non-conductive, shrinkable pouch in a drawstring-like configuration. The encapsulation assembly may be folded within the elongated cylindrical housing of the endoscopic instrument, positioned within the patient at the surgical site, and deployed for use. Once positioned over the polyp, the snare is tightened around the peduncle thereof, and the pouch is activated, thereby shrinking and encapsulating the polyp. The polyp may then be resected using conventional or electrosurgical techniques. The disclosed instrument may include surgical tools and/or electrosurgical electrodes for performing surgical procedures. The disclosed system may reduce the occurrence of undesirable arcing and may aid retrieval of resected tissue. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20100036379 | Endoscopic Instrument for Tissue Identification - The present disclosure relates to various apparatus, systems and methods of identifying and treating tissue using at least one electrical property of tissue. Provided is a method for identifying and treating tissue, the method including providing a electrosurgical treatment device including an electrode assembly for measuring one or more electrical properties of a target tissue, the electrode assembly being mounted on a distal end thereof, measuring the one or more electrical characteristics of the target tissue, comparing the measured electrical property values of the target tissue against electrical property values of known tissue types, identifying a tissue type of the target tissue, adjusting an energy delivery configuration of the electrosurgical treatment device to the type of target tissue, and activating the electrosurgical treatment device to treat the target tissue. | 02-11-2010 |