Abstract: A surgical fastening assembly has a fastener delivery sub-assembly with a plurality of elongated tubular needle members rigidly affixed to one another about a longitudinal axis of the subassembly. The tubular needle members are positionable around an elongate trocar movably positionable inside a cannula. The cannula is coupled to the fastener delivery sub-assembly. Anchors or fasteners are disposed in the needle members and ejected at the same time by a pusher member.

Abstract: An endoscopic cutting and retrieval instrument includes an elongate electrically conductive wire and an inner loop and an outer loop both connected to a distal end of the wire. The inner loop and the outer loop have a common proximal loop portion and different distal loop portions. The distal loop portion of the outer loop is longer than the distal loop portion of the inner loop so that the outer loop is larger than the inner loop. A net attached to the outer loop forms a retrieval basket for capturing severed polyps and other tissues masses.

Abstract: A medical instrument comprises a tubular introducer member, an operative element, an elongate shifter connected at a distal end to the operative element, a handle, at least one stop component, and an override. The shifter and the operative element are movable relative to the tubular member, while the first part of the handle is fixed to a proximal end of the tubular member and the second part of the handle is fixed to a proximal end of the shifter. The stop component is disposed on the first part or second part to limit relative motion of the first part and the second part and concomitantly to stop travel of the operative element at a predetermined location relative to a distal end of the tubular member. The override enables a user to override or passivate the stop component and thereby permit travel of the operative element past the predetermined location.

Abstract: A hollow suture needle and related suturing assembly to be used in conjunction with flexible or rigid endoscopy, or on the external surface of the body. The invention relates to performing suturing on internal body tissue as part of a surgical procedure, or on external body tissues. The suturing assembly includes a hollow suture needle which in one preferred embodiment is temperature biased, with associated suturing assembly and an associated method for performing the suturing function.

Abstract: An endoscopic fastening assembly having a diameter sufficiently small so that the fastening assembly is slidably insertable into a working channel of a flexible or rigid endoscope for performing a fastening operation, comprises one or more surgical anchors within an elongated tubular member configured for delivery and deployment of said anchors. One or more anchors being disposed in a substantially closed pre-deployment configuration inside the tubular body are configured for being delivered and deployed into a target tissue while remaining in a substantially closed configuration, and assuming its open anchoring properties only once embedded in tissue.

Abstract: In an insertion configuration, an endoscope assembly includes an insertion member with a distal end face and a working channel and further includes an instrument shaft extending through the working channel and an operative tip connected to the instrument shaft and extending in a plane oriented perpendicularly to the instrument shaft. The operative tip is positioned along the distal end face of the endoscope insertion member. The operative tip is separable from the distal end face of the endoscope insertion member by a distally directed motion of the instrument shaft along the working channel.

Abstract: A sample ejecting safety biopsy needle forceps includes a pair of pivotable cups and a sample-spearing needle disposed between the jaws for holding multiple specimens. A tissue sample-contacting surface at a proximal end of a needle is movable relative to the needle to contact the samples and push them along the needle when the cups are in an open position. A control or actuator at a proximal end of the forceps accomplishes the relative movement.

Abstract: An endoscope with a flexible elongate insertion shaft, an illumination guide extending longitudinally through the insertion shaft, and an image guide extending longitudinally through the insertion shaft. The insertion shaft is formed along an outer surface with at least one longitudinally extending channel longitudinally traversable by an elongate endoscopic instrument. The channel having a longitudinally extending slot so that the channel is open to the ambient environment along at least a portion of its length.

Abstract: A medical instrument usable with an ultrasound-endoscope for performing a needle biopsy on a patient's internal body tissues usable at a surgical site not visible to the unaided eye or viewed endoscopically, comprises an elongate tubular member with a hollow needle element connected at its distal end, a sheath member housing said tubular member and needle element, an actuator subassembly with a shifter member operatively connected to elongate tubular member's proximal end, and a distal camming subassembly, said subassembly enabling a rotating motion of said needle member while handle actuator is moved in the forward direction. Upon inserting an ultrasound-endoscope into a patient and locating a mass, the fine needle with sharply pointed spoon shaped distal end is inserted into the mass aided by endoscopic and ultrasonographic guidance. Once in the mass, a camming action is initiated, causing rotation of the fine needle within the mass, resulting in a scooped out core biopsy.

Abstract: A medical device includes an actuator handle, an elongate flexible inner tubular member operatively connected at one end to the handle, two jaws pivotably mounted to a distal end of the inner tubular member and biased to an open configuration, and an elongate flexible outer tubular member operatively connected at one end to the handle and slidably surrounding the inner tubular member. The outer tubular member is provided at a distal end with two cutouts or open slots opposed to one another to define a pair of longitudinally extending opposed fingers. The fingers are engageable with respective ones of the jaws to pivot the jaws towards one another during a distally directed stroke of the outer tubular member so that the jaws assume a closed configuration. The cutouts or open slots are disposed alongside the jaws in the closed configuration thereof to provide clearance for tissue material grasped in and protruding laterally from the jaws.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes an elongate tubular introducer member, an elongate slider member disposed at least partially inside the tubular member, a loop provided at a distal end of the slider member, a pouch connected to the loop so that the loop defines a mouth opening of the pouch and so that the pouch is slidable along at least a proximal portion of the loop, and a tether connected to the pouch at a proximal side thereof. The tether extends into the tubular member and is fastened to the tubular member at a location spaced by a distance from a distal tip of the tubular member. The tether has a length from the fastening location to the pouch that is less than the distance between the location and the tip of the tubular member.

Abstract: A medical instrument for fluid injection includes a tubular member and a plurality of hollow needle elements connected to one end of the tubular member. Generally, the tubular member has a lumen and all the needle elements communicate with the lumen to enable a distribution of a diagnostic or therapeutic fluid to various points in a predetermined region. The tubular member is provided with a fluid introduction port at an end of the tubular member opposite the needle elements, the fluid introduction port communicating with the lumen. The needle elements are disposed in a predetermined configuration adapted to carry out a desired function. The needle elements are at least partially made of resilient material with a memory so that the needle elements are biased by their internal stresses towards a predetermined rest configuration and are alternately disposable in the rest configuration and at least one stressed or loaded configuration.

Abstract: A medical instrument comprises a tubular introducer member, an operative element, an elongate shifter connected at a distal end to the operative element, a handle, at least one stop component, and an override. The shifter and the operative element are movable relative to the tubular member, while the first part of the handle is fixed to a proximal end of the tubular member and the second part of the handle is fixed to a proximal end of the shifter. The stop component is disposed on the first part or second part to limit relative motion of the first part and the second part and concomitantly to stop travel of the operative element at a predetermined location relative to a distal end of the tubular member. The override enables a user to override or passivate the stop component and thereby permit travel of the operative element past the predetermined location.

Abstract: An endoscopic retractor is an elongate balloon having an expanded configuration having two end portions and a plurality of struts or spacer members extending between the end portions. The retractor balloon is a single tubular preform bent during manufacture to form the expanded configuration. Thus, the struts or spacer members are integral with both end portions and define therewith a single flow path for inflation or pressurization fluid.

Abstract: A medical cauterization snare includes a tubular member such as a catheter, a rod or wire disposed at least partially inside the tubular member, and a resilient loop of a first size attached to a distal end of the rod or wire. The loop includes a nose on a side of the loop opposite the wire. The loop further includes two loop sections each extending between the wire and the nose. The loop sections are each formed with a respective notch or dent for enabling a use of the loop in a second size smaller than the first size. Positioning the loop relative to the tubular member so that the notches or dents are disposed at a mouth opening of the tubular member generates this secondary deployment configuration.

Abstract: In an insertion configuration, an endoscope assembly includes an insertion member with a distal end face and a working channel and further includes an instrument shaft extending through the working channel and an operative tip connected to the instrument shaft and extending in a plane oriented perpendicularly to the instrument shaft. The operative tip is positioned along the distal end face of the endoscope insertion member. The operative tip is separable from the distal end face of the endoscope insertion member by a distally directed motion of the instrument shaft along the working channel.

Abstract: An endoscopic staple and related stapling device that can be used in conjunction with flexible or rigid endoscopy. The staple can also be used for other surgical procedures. The invention relates to performing a stapling operation on internal body tissues as part of a surgical procedure, diagnostic procedure or therapeutic procedure. This invention includes a surgical staple, an associated staple holder, and an associated staple delivery and deployment device. The staple holder and delivery system have a design iteration whereby the holder can be reloaded with additional staples to be used on the same patient. There is another design iteration whereby the staple holder and stapler are reusable after appropriate cleaning and sterilization.

Abstract: An endoscopic retractor instrument assembly includes a balloon having a pair of expandable or inflatable end portions and at least one expandable or inflatable spacer portion connecting the end portions to one another. A fastener is provided for securing the balloon to a distal end of an endoscopic insertion member, with the balloon being disposed in a collapsed configuration along an outer surface of the endoscopic insertion member. An inflation element is operatively coupled with the balloon for enabling an inflating of the balloon from the collapsed configuration to an expanded use configuration in which the spacer portion pushes the end portions apart from one another and in which the balloon extends at least partially in a distal direction away from the distal end of the endoscopic insertion member for spreading internal tissues of a patient to facilitate access to the tissues via the endoscopic insertion member.

Abstract: A medical cauterization snare assembly with a tubular member, an electrically conductive cauterization loop ejectable from a distal end of the tubular member, and a capture pouch also ejectable from the distal end of the tubular member. The pouch is attached to an auxiliary loop which has a size larger than that of the cauterization loop. Alternatively, the tubular member is formed at its distal end with a first port or opening and in a distal end portion with a second port or opening spaced from the first port or opening. The two ports or openings both face in a distal direction (i.e., away from the user). The cauterization loop is alternately ejectable from and retractable into the first port or opening, while the capture pouch is separately ejectable from the second port or opening. Alternatively, the capture pouch is attached to the cauterization loop, to only a proximal portion of the loop to divide the loop's area into a proximal section covered by the pouch and an open or uncovered distal section.

Abstract: A flexible fiberoptic endoscope has an insertion member with a distal end portion split longitudinally into a plurality of independently operable working segments each provided with at least one longitudinally extending working channel. Visualization optics are provided in the working segments or a separate central segment surrounded by the working segments. A sheath temporarily joins the working segments to one another during an introduction procedure. The sheath is removed upon insertion of the endoscope, so that the working segments may be/separated from one another and independently maneuvered via proximal control heads to facilitate the performance of an endoscopic surgical procedure.