Abstract: Devices and methods for acquiring and fastening tissues folds within an internal organ, such as the stomach, and for applying the methods and devices to producing reductions in organ volume or repair of bariatric procedures, are disclosed. An exemplary method for forming a continuous laterally extending tissue fold involves forming a succession of laterally extending folds having adjacent overlapping fold portions. One exemplary tissue-acquisition device has an open-end roller-and-arm structure that allows individual tissue folds to be formed and fastened, then advanced to an adjacent region within the stomach, for capture of a new fold that will form an extension of the existing fold(s).

Abstract: A distraction system can include a distraction implant comprising a magnetic element and a distraction mechanism configured to expand the distraction implant in response to rotation of the magnetic element. The distraction system can include an external device comprising a motor configured to rotate a driver magnet while in a powered state, the driver magnet configured to rotate the magnetic element, a computing device configured. The computing device can be configured to measure an electrical current drawn by the motor during rotation of the driver magnet. The computing device can be configured to maintain the motor in the powered state in response to a mean value of the electrical current being greater than or equal to a mean value threshold, and a standard deviation value of the electrical current being less than or equal to a standard deviation threshold.

Abstract: A device to access interior body regions includes a grippable handle, a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, a retractable obturator disposed within the cannula and extending prominently of the distal end of the cannula, the retractable obturator being spring-biased away from the proximal end of the cannula and having an axially-extending lateral slot that is open at a distal end of the obturator and an arrow-headed blade received within the slot of the obturator, the blade being exposed only when the obturator is urged toward the proximal end of the cannula, the blade having a tip with an edge-to-edge angle in a range of 30° to 50°. The cannula is selectively securable to a blade subassembly at a distal end of the grippable handle by a hub that can be decoupled from the device by pressing a cannula/hub release button of the blade subassembly.

Abstract: Devices and methods for acquiring and fastening tissues folds within an internal organ, such as the stomach, and for applying the methods and devices to producing reductions in organ volume or repair of bariatric procedures, are disclosed. An exemplary method for forming a continuous laterally extending tissue fold involves forming a succession of laterally extending folds having adjacent overlapping fold portions. One exemplary tissue-acquisition device has an open-end roller-and-arm structure that allows individual tissue folds to be formed and fastened, then advanced to an adjacent region within the stomach, for capture of a new fold that will form an extension of the existing fold(s).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for endoscopically implanting a medical implant, including an anchor, within a body cavity such as adjacent the gastroesophageal junction in a human stomach. The system includes one or more anchors positionable within one or more openings formed in tissue within the body cavity, such as cutouts formed in plicated body tissue. Tools are disclosed for positioning the anchors within the openings, and for coupling a food restrictor to the anchors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for endoscopically implanting a medical implant, including an anchor, within a body cavity such as adjacent the gastroesophageal junction in a human stomach. The system includes one or more anchors positionable within one or more openings formed in tissue within the body cavity, such as cutouts formed in plicated body tissue. Tools are disclosed for positioning the anchors within the openings, and for coupling a food restrictor to the anchors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for endoscopically implanting a medical implant, including an anchor, within a body cavity such as adjacent the gastroesophageal junction in a human stomach. The system includes one or more anchors positionable within one or more openings formed in tissue within the body cavity, such as cutouts formed in plicated body tissue. Tools are disclosed for positioning the anchors within the openings, and for coupling a food restrictor to the anchors.

Abstract: Devices and methods for acquiring and fastening tissues folds within an internal organ, such as the stomach, and for applying the methods and devices to producing reductions in organ volume or repair of bariatric procedures, are disclosed. An exemplary method for forming a continuous laterally extending tissue fold involves forming a succession of laterally extending folds having adjacent overlapping fold portions. One exemplary tissue-acquisition device has an open-end roller-and-arm structure that allows individual tissue folds to be formed and fastened, then advanced to an adjacent region within the stomach, for capture of a new fold that will form an extension of the existing fold(s).

Abstract: A device and method for remodeling or partitioning a body cavity, hollow organ or tissue tract includes graspers operable to engage two or more sections of tissue within a body cavity and to draw the engaged tissue between a first and second members of a tissue remodeling tool. The two or more pinches of tissue are held in complete or partial alignment with one another as staples or other fasteners are driven through the pinches, thus forming a four-layer tissue plication. Over time, adhesions formed between the opposed serosal layers create strong bonds that can facilitate retention of the plication over extended durations, despite the forces imparted on them by stomach movement. A cut or cut-out may be formed in the plication during or separate from the stapling step to promote edge-to-edge healing effects that will enhance tissue knitting/adhesion.

Abstract: Cable lacing tie devices and methods of using the same are disclosed. The cable lacing tie devices include a head assembly and a cable lacing tape. The head assembly being configured to retain a first portion of the cable lacing tape within the head assembly and having a length of the cable lacing tape extending from the head assembly. The head assembly further adapted to retain a second portion of the cable lacing tape extending from the head assembly. The methods of using the cable lacing tie devices to hold together a plurality of objects with a cable lacing tie device include retaining a first portion of a cable lacing tape in a head assembly, looping the cable lacing tape around the plurality of objects and retaining a second portion of the cable lacing tape within the head assembly.

Abstract: A system, device, device and method for implanting a food restrictor in a patient's stomach, by coupling the restrictor to a plurality of tissue-plication anchors already placed in the stomach, are disclosed. The device includes an elongate shaft assembly for accessing the stomach transorally, and on which the restrictor can be carried, and a plurality of cable members mounted on the shaft assembly. The cable members are disposed on the shaft assembly along a distal section thereof, and releasably attached to the shaft assembly's distal end. After a cable member engages a tissue-plication anchor, retracting the cable is operable to first release the member from a holder at the distal end of the shaft assembly, then pull a portion of the anchor through an aperture in the restrictor. This process is repeated for each anchor in the stomach for attaching the restrictor to the stomach.

Abstract: A device and method for remodeling or partitioning a body cavity, hollow organ or tissue tract includes graspers operable to engage two or more sections of tissue within a body cavity and to draw the engaged tissue between a first and second members of a tissue remodeling tool. The two or more pinches of tissue are held in complete or partial alignment with one another as staples or other fasteners are driven t9hrough the pinches, thus forming a four-layer tissue plication. Over time, adhesions formed between the opposed serosal layers create strong bonds that can facilitate retention of the plication over extended durations, despite the forces imparted on them by stomach movement. A cut or cut-out may be formed in the plication during or separate from the stapling step to promote edge-to-edge healing effects that will enhance tissue knitting/adhesion.

Abstract: An improvement in a stapling device and method designed to capture a tissue fold between first and second members in the device to staple and cut the fold to form a stapled tissue plication with a hole therein. The improvement includes an engagement assembly in the first member movable from a retracted position in the first member to an extended position in the second member, and releasably attached to second member, an anchor assembly that includes the anchor, wherein (i) movement of the engagement assembly from the retracted to extended position, through a tissue fold captured in the device, is operable to engage the anchor assembly, and (ii) movement of the engagement assembly, with the anchor assembly engaged therewith, to its retracted position, is effective to pull at least a portion of the assembly through the hole in the stapled tissue plication.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for endoscopically implanting a medical implant, including an anchor, within a body cavity such as adjacent the gastroesophageal junction in a human stomach. The system includes one or more anchors positionable within one or more openings formed in tissue within the body cavity, such as cutouts formed in plicated body tissue. Tools are disclosed for positioning the anchors within the openings, and for coupling a food restrictor to the anchors.

Abstract: Cable lacing tie devices and methods of using the same are disclosed. The cable lacing tie devices include a head assembly and a cable lacing tape. The head assembly being configured to retain a first portion of the cable lacing tape within the head assembly and having a length of the cable lacing tape extending from the head assembly. The head assembly further adapted to retain a second portion of the cable lacing tape extending from the head assembly. The methods of using the cable lacing tie devices to hold together a plurality of objects with a cable lacing tie device include retaining a first portion of a cable lacing tape in a head assembly, looping the cable lacing tape around the plurality of objects and retaining a second portion of the cable lacing tape within the head assembly.