| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20100152539 | POSITIONABLE IMAGING MEDICAL DEVICES - A positionable imaging device includes a body defining a first end and a second end. The body is configured to be received within an internal body cavity. An imaging device is located at the first end of the body. A releasable fastener is coupled to the body to removably attach the imaging device to tissue within the internal body cavity. A release mechanism is coupled to the releasable fastener to detach the imaging device from the tissue. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100268028 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR GUIDING SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS - Methods and devices are provided for guiding surgical instruments during minimally invasive surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical instrument is provided that includes a flexible, cannulated elongate shaft having an inner wall of variable thickness. The inner wall of the shaft can have a first thickness in a proximal portion of the device and can have a second, larger thickness in a distal portion of the instrument. The instrument can also include at least one guide mechanism configured to guide at least one surgical device through at least a portion of the cannulated interior of the elongate shaft. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110112434 | KITS AND PROCEDURES FOR NATURAL ORIFICE TRANSLUMENAL ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY - Various surgical devices, kits, and/or methods are provided herein that may be useful in performing a surgical procedure through a natural orifice. Such a surgical procedure may utilize one or more devices, kits, and/or methods to create an access port to a body cavity of a patient, to perform a specific surgical procedure, and to close the access port. In various embodiments, the specific surgical procedure may comprise a sleeve gastrectomy, a ventral hernia repair, a hybrid transgastric cholecystectomy, and/or a hybrid transgastric appendectomy. | 05-12-2011 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080275297 | ENDOSCOPIC GUIDE DEVICE - Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for manipulating and/or anchoring devices and body parts during surgical procedures. In one embodiment, an anchor member is provided for anchoring a device or body part to tissue, such as an internal wall of a body cavity. The device can be, for example, an endoscopic device, an accessory channel coupled to an endoscopic device, or a support member adapted to support or manipulate an organ. The anchor member can include or form an opening through which the device can be inserted. The anchor member or device can thus be manipulated relative to the tissue to control movement of and/or provide support to the device, tools inserted through the device, and/or organs grasped by the device or tools. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090131933 | Bipolar forceps - A bipolar forceps including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a conductor operably connected to an electrical source, wherein the conductor can be selectively placed in electrical communication with the first electrode when the first electrode is moved between open and closed positions. The conductor can include a contact end which is not in contact with the first electrode when the first electrode is in its open position. In such an open position, the first electrode may not be in electrical communication with the electrical source and, as a result, current may not flow through the first electrode. The first electrode can be moved into its closed position such that the first electrode is in contact with the contact end of the wire. In such a closed position, the first electrode may be in electrical communication with the electrical source allowing current to flow through the first electrode. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090149710 | SELECTIVE STIFFENING DEVICES AND METHODS - Methods and devices are provided for selectively stiffening a surgical device. In one exemplary embodiment a surgical device is provided that includes a flexible elongate insertion element and a stiffening element that extends along at least a portion of the insertion element. The insertion element can be, for example, an endoscope or a sheath configured to be disposed over an endoscope. The stiffening element can be configured to selectively stiffen when an outside force, such as a vacuum force, is applied thereto. In one embodiment the stiffening element includes a plurality of elongate members disposed in a flexible sheath. When the vacuum force is applied, the sheath can be configured to engage the elongate members to maintain the elongate members in a fixed, stiffened position, thereby stiffening at least a portion of the flexible elongate insertion element coupled thereto. Various methods for stiffening an insertion instrument, such as an endoscope, are also provided herein. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090177041 | ARTICULATING SURGICAL DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE - Various embodiments of an elongate surgical device configured to travel along a tortuous body lumen to a surgical site are provided herein. In one embodiment, the device can include a tensioning element extending through a channel formed along a length of the device and the tensioning element can translate an articulation force to the working end of the device. During such articulation of the device, a portion of the channel can be configured to allow the tensioning element to exit the channel and move away from a longitudinal axis of the device thereby optimizing a mechanical advantage relative to the distal end of the device and thus maximizing the force capable of being delivered thereto. Additionally, various embodiments of a method for articulating a working end of an elongate surgical device are provided herein. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20100179530 | ELECTRICAL ABLATION DEVICES - An electrical ablation apparatus comprises first and second electrodes. Each electrode comprises a first end configured to couple an energy source and a second end configured to couple to a tissue treatment region. An energy source is coupled to the first and second electrodes. The energy source is configured to deliver a first series of electrical pulses sufficient to induce cell necrosis by irreversible electroporation and a second series of electrical pulses sufficient to induce cell necrosis by thermal heating, through at least one of the first and second electrodes. The first series of electrical pulses is characterized by a first amplitude, a first pulse length, and a first frequency. The second series of electrical pulses is characterized by a second amplitude, a second pulse length, and a second frequency. | 07-15-2010 |
