Abstract: A magnet delivery system for forming an anastomosis that comprises a wire guide; a catheter having a delivery portion for advancement into a intracorporeal space, the delivery portion having a lumen extending at least partially therethrough, and a strand connected to the catheter, whereby the magnet is disposed over the wire guide and distal to the catheter, and retained by the strand being releasably connected to the wire guide.

Abstract: A magnet delivery system for forming an anastomosis that comprises a wire guide; a catheter having a delivery portion for advancement into a jejunal space, the delivery portion having a lumen extending at least partially therethrough, a first port and a second port through which the wire guide is disposed; a magnet comprising a lumen therethrough wherein the magnet is removably secured to the delivery portion of the catheter between the first and second ports by disposing the wire guide through the lumen of the magnet, the first port, and the second port.

Abstract: A hemostatic clipping device is provided. The device includes first and second elongate arms, each arm comprising distal and proximal end portions, the arms being connected to allow relative motion between the first and second arms, the distal portion of each of the first and second arms further comprising a track blindly defined from a distal end of each arm toward the proximal portion of each arm. A clip is slidably disposed between the opposed distal portions of each of the first and second arms, the clip comprising first and second fingers each with distal and proximal portions, the proximal portions of the first and second fingers being fixed together to bias the distal portions of the first and second fingers toward each other, the first and second fingers each further comprising a pin extending radially outward from the distal end portion thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for facilitating entry through a bodily opening comprising a spreader having a plurality of arms, each of the arms being formed of a resilient material and shaped so that the distal ends tend to be spaced apart from each other when the spreader is in an open position. At least one of the arms has an engaging member having a sharpness adapted to grasp tissue. When the spreader is radially deployed to the open position, the engaging member grasps tissue adjacent the bodily opening and urges the tissue away from the opening to facilitate visualization of the opening and/or access into the opening. A catheter or other device may subsequently be inserted between one or more arms of the spreader and through the bodily opening while the spreader holds the tissue in a spread position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method comprising at least one intragastric member made of a digestive-resistant or substantially indigestible material that is introduced into a bag located in the gastric lumen of a mammal for the treatment of obesity. One or more intragastric members are loaded into a delivery tube in a partially compacted first configuration and delivered to an overtube. The overtube includes a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen configured to receive the intragastric members in the first configuration for delivery to the bag located in the gastric lumen wherein the intragastric member is expanded to a second configuration. The apparatus further comprises a constraining element engaged with the bag to secure the intragastric member upon delivery into the gastric lumen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for releasably securing a wire guide to an elongate medical device for introduction into a work site with the bodily lumen of a patient. An elongate engagement member is configured to engage the wire guide while it is coupled to the elongate medical device and is configured so as to prevent relative movement between the wire guide and the elongate medical device.

Abstract: A stent is described that is capable of expanding and thereafter recoiling to its initial coiled state within a biliary duct. A delivery system is utilized to deploy the stent in its natural coiled state into a targeted site of an occluded biliary duct. A balloon from the delivery system is positioned within a lumen defined by the inner coiled arm of the stent. The inflation of a balloon from the delivery system causes the inner coiled arm to radially move outward and engage the outer coiled arm to form an expanded stent. The expanded stent can revert back to its recoiled state by deploying a balloon through a lumen of the expanded stent. Inflation of the balloon disengages the inner coiled arm from the outer coiled arm thereby collapsing the inner coiled arm radially outward and onto the outer coiled arm to form a recoiled stent. The recoiled stent can be removed from the biliary duct.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for introducing a first elongate medical device and short wire guide that are coupled together into a work site and remotely disconnecting them within the work site such that a secondary device comprising a catheter member can be introduced over the wire guide to the work site, and/or a second wire guide can be introduced to the work site via a passageway of the primary access device. A system of indicia, such as radiopaque or viewable markers, permit the operator to monitor the relative alignment of the devices within the work site to determine when uncoupling has occurred. In one example of the method, a wire guide and primary access device (e.g., a sphincterotome) is coupled to the wire guide and introduced via a duodenoscope into the biliary system. After performing a first medical operation, the devices are uncoupled with the wire guide being left within the biliary system such that a secondary access device, such as a balloon, biopsy device, stent delivery catheter, dilator, etc.

Abstract: A magnet delivery system for forming an anastomosis that comprises a wire guide; a catheter having a delivery portion for advancement into a intracorporeal space, the delivery portion having a lumen extending at least partially therethrough, and a strand connected to the catheter, whereby the magnet is disposed over the wire guide and distal to the catheter, and retained by the strand being releasably connected to the wire guide.

Abstract: An implantable drainage device for treatment of a stricture of a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a drainage tube including an inlet and extending to an outlet to define a drainage lumen formed through the inlet and the outlet. The drainage tube includes a swell layer and a cast layer formed about the swell layer. The swell layer has a first agent dispersed thereabout for regulated drug elution through the cast layer. The cast layer has a second agent disposed thereabout for drug elution therefrom.

Abstract: A variety of stent arrangements are described in which multiple stents expand and coordinate to block the spaces between the struts of the outer stent to create a tubular stent not prone to tissue in-growth. One or more stents are selectively positioned within an outer stent such that the struts of the one or more stents at least partially fill the openings of the outer stent. Alternatively, the one or more stents may be permanently affixed to the outer stent to produce a stent arrangement in which the openings between the struts of the outer stent are blocked by the struts of the one or more stents.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering one or more implantable members, such as metal coils, via an introducer member, such as an endoscopic needle, into a space created within the submucosal layers of the LES to augment and bulk the sphincter to improve compliance in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The implantable member comprises a first substantially straightened configuration when carried by the introducer member, whereby it assumes a more curvilinear or coiled configuration following deployment such that it expands against adjacent submucosal tissue, creating a bulge at the implantation site. In another embodiment, the implantable member can serve as an anchoring port for sutures or other elements introduced for gastroplication of the LES to create tissue folds that increase sphincter compliance. The implantable members may be configured to include an external portion that interconnects with an adjacent implantable member, thereby creating tension that also increases compliance of the LES.

Abstract: A hemostatic clipping device is provided. The device includes first and second elongate arms, each arm comprising distal and proximal end portions, the arms being connected to allow relative motion between the first and second arms, the distal portion of each of the first and second arms further comprising a track blindly defined from a distal end of each arm toward the proximal portion of each arm. A clip is slidably disposed between the opposed distal portions of each of the first and second arms, the clip comprising first and second fingers each with distal and proximal portions, the proximal portions of the first and second fingers being fixed together to bias the distal portions of the first and second fingers toward each other, the first and second fingers each further comprising a pin extending radially outward from the distal end portion thereof.

Abstract: A magnet delivery system for forming an anastomosis that comprises a wire guide; a catheter having a delivery portion for advancement into a jejunal space, the delivery portion having a lumen extending at least partially therethrough, a first port and a second port through which the wire guide is disposed; a magnet comprising a lumen therethrough wherein the magnet is removably secured to the delivery portion of the catheter between the first and second ports by disposing the wire guide through the lumen of the magnet, the first port, and the second port.

Abstract: An expandable and retrievable stent is disclosed herein. The stent includes an inner strut, a first traveling anchor movably attached to the inner strut and a second anchor secured to the inner strut. The stent further includes frame connected to the first traveling anchor and the second anchor wherein the frame has at least a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. The stent may also include a generally cylindrical sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method comprising one or more intragastric balloons comprising a foam material disposed within the gastric lumen of a mammal. When the foam material is disposed within the one or more balloons, the one or more intragastric balloons are configured to prevent the intragastric device from passing through the mammal's pylorus. The one or more intragastric balloons are loaded onto a delivery tube in a partially compacted first configuration and delivered through an overtube. The overtube includes a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen configured to receive the one or more intragastric balloons in the first configuration for delivery into the gastric lumen wherein the one or more intragastric balloons are expanded to a second configuration upon delivery of the foam material. The foam material is delivered through an inflation tube attached to an opening of the one or more intragastric balloons.

Abstract: A wire guide holder having a body for securing an elongate medical wire or tube, such as a wire guide or catheter. The body is adapted to be attached to a scope or a bite block. The body can be provided with protrusions and/or grooves for holding a wire guide. The wire guide holder may be affixed to the medical scope by clamping. The wire guide holder can also be provided with a seal.

Abstract: An implantable drainage device for treatment of a stricture of a body vessel is disclosed. The device comprises a drainage tube including an inlet and extending to an outlet to define a drainage lumen formed through the inlet and the outlet. The drainage tube includes a swell layer and a cast layer formed about the swell layer. The swell layer has a first agent dispersed thereabout for regulated drug elution through the cast layer. The cast layer has a second agent disposed thereabout for drug elution therefrom.

Abstract: A self-contracting stent for use at a treatment site comprising shape memory material is provided. The stent may have an initial diameter for delivery to the treatment site and an expanded diameter when deployed at the treatment site. The stent further may have a contracted diameter when subjected to a temperature at or above a transition temperature. The contracted diameter is less than the expanded diameter and permits repositioning or removal of the stent from the treatment site. Additionally, a method for delivering and recovering the stent from a treatment site is provided. The method includes delivering a stent to a treatment site and expanding the stent at the treatment site so that the stent is deployed at the treatment site. The method further includes changing the temperature of the stent at the treatment site to at least a transition temperature to cause the stent to contract.

Abstract: A medical device including a wire capture member such as, for example, a lithotripsy basket or a snare member, as well as a motion limiting means configured to limit a maximum expanded diameter of the wire capture member.