Abstract: An Anterior Capsule Remover (“ACR”) device allows an ophthalmologist to safely and efficiently remove an anterior portion of the lens capsule at the beginning of cataract surgery. The device allows the surgeon to safely, efficiently and consistently create a circular central opening of a predetermined diameter in the top of the lens capsule. An exemplary anterior capsule remover apparatus includes a handle and a distal shaft that holds a blade or cutter. One or more o-rings attached to a thumbwheel and to the blade allow the surgeon to easily create a circular, central opening in the anterior capsule of predetermined diameter.

Abstract: A surgical stapling and cutting method comprises: inserting tissue between jaws of a stapler/cutter end effector; closing the jaws; progressively ejecting staples from a first jaw, the progression being from an open distal end of the end effector toward a proximal end of the end effector; and drawing a blade through the tissue in a direction from the distal end toward the proximal end. Apparatus may be provided for performing the method.

Abstract: A mechanism for feeding a fastener including a housing having a longitudinal axis and at least one fastener within the housing. The fastener has a crown and at least two legs extending therefrom. The fastener is disposed within the housing in a first plane parallel to the longitudinal axis. The mechanism includes an elongated actuator disposed within the housing. The actuator has a shaft substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism and rigidly spaced from the fastener in a second plane. The actuator has at least one radially extending advancer disposed along a length thereof, and a mechanism for rotating the actuator so that the advancer engages the fastener.

Abstract: A screw fixation system includes a plate having opposed first and second surfaces, and a hole defined in the plate which extends between the first and second surface. A screw is included having a head and a shaft extending from the head and defining a longitudinal axis for the screw, the shaft of the screw being configured and adapted to be inserted into the hole. A retainer is circumferentially positioned around the shaft of the screw and proximate to the screw head. The retainer is configured to engage with the plate proximate the hole when the shaft of the screw has been inserted into the hole so as to resist removal of the screw from the hole and to allow removal of the screw from the hole when a preset torque is applied to the screw.

Abstract: A method for treating obesity by reducing the volume and/or alter the functioning of the gastric cavity to limit food consumption and induce early satiety. The method includes accessing the cavity endoscopically to visualize the interior of the cavity. The peritoneal cavity is accessed through a small incision in the abdominal wall. Using endoscopic visualization, suture anchoring devices are introduced into the peritoneal cavity through the incision and deployed from the exterior surface through the gastric cavity wall. Suture from pairs of the anchoring devices is drawn through the gastric cavity wall and tightened outside of the cavity to form a serosa to serosa plication. Any number of plications may be formed in the cavity wall and the contacting tissue within a plication may be treated to promote healing and a more durable bond.

Abstract: A surgical stapling device for deploying staples connected with suture to tissue includes a handle having a staple actuator mechanism, a tubular support shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from the handle, and a staple cartridge mounted on the support shaft and connected to the staple actuator mechanism for applying one or more staples to the tissue. The cartridge has a cartridge housing adapted to receive a plurality of staples in a row for longitudinal movement therethrough and an anvil mounted on the housing. The cartridge further includes a mechanism for advancing the forwardmost staple in the row into engagement with the anvil, and a suture guide supporting a length of suture that extends in a loop for attachment to the staples as they are secured to the tissue.

Abstract: A cutter for cutting a member has a first jaw and a second jaw mounted relative to each other to articulate along a range of motion between an open condition and a closed condition. The jaws are configured to provide a shearing action cutting between the first jaw and the second jaw on a first side of the member and an opposite shearing action cutting on an opposite second side of the member. In a single stroke cutting method the edges come together. They may be at an angle off-parallel to each other or oppositely stepped and intersecting in superposition. With centrally recessed edges, there may be opposite bypass cutting on opposite sides of the member. In a central region between the first side and the second side, there may be no bypass (e.g., approach being more conventional non-bypass cleaving).

Abstract: A method for approximating tissue within a body including the step of providing a device having a handle, at least one actuator, an elongated hollow housing having a proximal end attached to the handle and a distal end extending therefrom, a first and second cartridge. Each the cartridge contains at least one fastener having at least two anchors connected together by a non-resilient flexible suture which does not resist deformation under compressible loads. The first cartridge being releasably connected to the distal end of hollow housing. The method also includes the step of inserting the first cartridge into a body and deploying each anchor into tissue in a spaced apart position. The method also involves moving the anchors adjacent one another by moving the suture in a proximal direction, and removing the first cartridge from the body and from the housing. The method then involves placing the second cartridge onto the housing thereby replacing the first cartridge with the second cartridge.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for forming and securing a tissue plication. More particularly, the devices and methods of the present invention can be used to create multiple tissue folds on an anterior and posterior wall of a stomach cavity to reduce the volume thereof. In one aspect, a tissue acquisition and fixation system is disclosed including a stapling member having first and second jaws that are effective to apply at least one staple to tissue engaged between the jaws, a tissue acquisition member coupled to at least one of the first and second jaws, and a secondary tissue acquirer coupled to the tissue acquisition member. The secondary tissue acquirer is configured to engage tissue and maintain the tissue in position relative to the tissue acquisition member.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for forming and securing a tissue plication. More particularly, the devices and methods of the present invention can be used to create tissue folds on an anterior and posterior wall of a stomach cavity to reduce the volume thereof. In one aspect, a tissue acquisition and fixation system is disclosed that includes an elongate shaft, an end effector coupled to the elongate shaft and having first and second jaws, and a tissue acquisition member coupled to the end effector by a linkage assembly. At least a portion of the linkage assembly and tissue acquisition member are slidably movable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the jaws. Further, the tissue acquisition member is vertically movable relative to the end effector such that a distance between a longitudinal axis of the tissue acquisition member and the jaws can be adjusted.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for forming and securing a tissue plication. More particularly, the devices and methods of the present invention can be used to create multiple tissue folds on an anterior and posterior wall of a stomach cavity to reduce the volume thereof. In one aspect, a tissue acquisition and fixation system is described that includes a staple applying assembly having first and second jaws, and a tissue acquisition member that extends substantially parallel to a plane running through the first and second jaws. The tissue acquisition member is effective to engage and position tissue between the first and second jaws, and the jaws are effective to apply at least one staple to the tissue engaged therebetween.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for forming and securing a tissue plication. More particularly, the devices and methods of the present invention can be used to create multiple tissue folds on an anterior and posterior wall of a stomach cavity to reduce the volume thereof. In one aspect, a method of acquiring and fixating tissue is disclosed that includes inserting a surgical device having first and second jaws and a tissue acquisition member into a body lumen, positioning the device in a first position in which the jaws extend substantially parallel to a tissue surface, drawing tissue through the jaws by moving the tissue acquisition member away from the jaws, and driving at least one fastener through the tissue disposed between the jaws.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for forming and securing a tissue plication. More particularly, the devices and methods of the present invention can be used to create multiple tissue folds on an anterior and posterior wall of a stomach cavity to reduce the volume thereof. In one aspect, a tissue acquisition and fixation system is disclosed that includes an elongate shaft, a staple applying assembly having a proximal end coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and having first and second jaws, and a tissue acquisition member coupled to the staple applying assembly by a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism is configured to move the tissue acquisition member between a first position that is longitudinally offset and proximal to the staple applying assembly, and a second position that is longitudinally adjacent to the staple applying assembly.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for forming and securing a tissue plication. More particularly, the devices and methods of the present invention can be used to create multiple tissue folds on an anterior and posterior wall of a stomach cavity to reduce the volume thereof. In one aspect, a method of gastric volume reduction is disclosed that includes advancing a tissue acquisition and fixation device endoscopically into a stomach, manipulating the device to form a first fold of tissue on an interior surface of an anterior wall of the stomach, and manipulating the device to form a second fold of tissue on an interior surface of a posterior wall of the stomach, where the second fold is not attached to the first fold.

Abstract: A stapling device for a surgical endoscopic device provided with at least one flexible portion. The stapling device has a staple-firing portion and an anvil portion. The staple firing portion and the anvil portion are located longitudinally displaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the endoscopic device, with at least a part of the flexible portion between them. The parts of the stapling device are in correct working relationship when one or more alignment and/or locking pins or screws that are stored in either of the staple firing portion or the anvil portion are extended and engage and lock or screw into receptacles that have been provided on the other of the staple firing portion or of the anvil portion.

Abstract: A stapling device for a surgical endoscopic device provided with at least one flexible portion, comprising a staple-firing portion and an anvil portion, wherein one of the staple firing portions and one of the anvil portions are located longitudinally displaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the endoscopic device, with at least a part of said flexible portion between them. The parts of the stapling device are in correct working relationship when one or more alignment and/or locking pins or screws that are stored in one of the staple firing portions or one of the anvil portions are extended and engage and lock or screw into receptacles that have been provided on the other of the staple firing portion or of the anvil portion.

Abstract: A tensioning system for restricting the available volume of a gastric cavity includes a base material that is shaped and dimensioned for surgical attachment to surfaces on or within the body. Multiple tensioning members are incorporated into the base material, each of the tensioning members including a first end and a second end, wherein pulling upon the tensioning member will cause edges of the base material to be drawn together. The method for restricting the available volume of a gastric cavity includes securing edges of a tensioning system to the gastric cavity and drawing the edges of the tissue together to create a fold in the tissue.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for forming one or more plications in the walls of a body cavity. In particular, endoscopic devices and methods are provided for forming and/or securing endoluminal tissue folds to reduce the volume of the gastric cavity. An end effector that includes a tissue receiving cavity can be delivered to a desired surgical site to allow a tissue fold to be formed within the tissue receiving cavity. A fastener can be used to secure the adjacent layers of tissue that form the tissue fold. The tissue folds can be effective to limit the stomach's capacity and create a feeling of satiety.

Abstract: A method for laparoscopically preventing insufflation of the small bowel during gastric procedures includes applying an obstruction member at the pyloric sphincter to block the passage of gas from the gastric cavity into the small bowel and insufflating the gastric cavity.

Abstract: A device for deploying fasteners including a handle and at least one actuator. The handle is connected to an elongated hollow housing having distal and proximal ends. The device has a first cartridge containing at least one fastener releasably connectable to the handle. The device also includes an elongated pusher movable through the hollow housing from the proximal to the distal end to deploy the fasteners. The device further includes a deforming member for deforming the pusher at a proximal end thereof while advancing the pusher to the distal end of the housing.