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: The invention is a transgastric method for the endoscopic partial fundoplication for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The method makes use of an articulated endoscope, which is introduced through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach of the patient. A cutting tool is introduced through the working channel of the endoscope to cut a hole in the wall of the stomach. The endoscope is pushed through the hole and a grabbing tool is introduced through the working channel and used to grab the tissue at a location on the outer surface of the stomach and move the grabbed tissue close to the esophagus. The grabbed tissue is then stapled to the esophagus using a stapling device that is an integral part of the endoscope. If desired, after stapling the endoscope can be rotated one or more times and the procedure repeated.

Abstract: The invention is a method of lowering the gastroesophageal junction below the diaphragm of a patient with a hiatal hernia during the performance of surgical procedures performed via natural orifices. The method comprises applying positive pressure ventilation with positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) to the patient.

Abstract: The invention is an articulation section for an endoscope (10). The articulation section (50) is characterized in that each one of its vertebrae (52) is comprised of several pieces that can be easily assembled or disassembled. This arrangement allows the replacement of individual ones of the vertebrae and/or the replacement of individual ones of the wires, cables, fibers, and tubes that pass through the vertebrae section without having to disassemble and reassemble the entire articulation section.

Abstract: An endoscopic device includes ultrasonic emitters, receivers, and reflectors for the precise alignment of parts of an endoscope relative to each other. The methods for determining the relative position of two parts of the endoscope are based on measuring the distance between them based on the use of one or more transducers or arrays of transducers functioning as transmitters of ultrasonic signals and one or more transducers or arrays of transducers functioning as receivers of the ultrasonic signals. In preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one of the receivers is replaced by a reflector and at least one of the transmitters also functions as a receiver.

Abstract: A surgical method of treating morbid obesity via bariatric procedures, carried out endoluminally and transluminally using endoscopic devices that are introduced through natural body openings without the necessity of creating any incisions in the abdominal wall.

Abstract: The invention is a stapling device comprised of an articulation section having a staple cartridge containing staples and parts of a staple-firing mechanism located at one end and an anvil portion located at the other end. The front surfaces of the anvil and the cartridge are curved. When the articulation section is bent the curved front surfaces of the anvil and the cartridge are brought opposite each other. As the distance between said curved surfaces is reduced, their curvature helps to correct transverse misalignment and to bring the anvil and the cartridge into the correct working relationship.

Abstract: The invention is a transgastric method for the endoscopic partial fundoplication for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The method makes use of an articulated endoscope, which is introduced through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach of the patient. A cutting tool is introduced through the working channel of the endoscope to cut a hole in the wall of the stomach. The endoscope is pushed through the hole and a grabbing tool is introduced through the working channel and used to grab the tissue at a location on the outer surface of the stomach and move the grabbed tissue close to the esophagus. The grabbed tissue is then stapled to the esophagus using a stapling device that is an integral part of the endoscope. If desired, after stapling the endoscope can be rotated one or more times and the procedure repeated.

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: An endoscopy suite is adaptable for carrying out a plurality of endoscopy procedures and/or for supporting several endoscopes being used simultaneously in a given procedure. The endoscopy suite comprises a memory unit in which are stored a plurality of predetermined sets of parameters. Each of these sets comprises a unique set of parameters for each of a plurality of endoscopic procedures. Once a specific endoscopic procedure has been selected by the operator of the endoscopy suite and one or more endoscopes appropriate for carrying out the specific endoscopic procedure has been connected to the endoscopy suite, then the set of parameters appropriate to the specific procedure are transferred automatically to a controller, which controls the operation of the components of the endoscopy suite to provide the predetermined lighting, suction, and insufflation pressure levels for the selected endoscopy procedure.

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 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 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: The invention is a reusable miniature camera head (10) that can be attached to and detached from an object. The camera head comprises: a housing (18), a lens system (12), a solid-state sensor (14), components of an electronic driver (16), and an internal electrical connector (20) located at the proximal end of the housing and having a plurality of sockets (22) or pins (110) on its external face. The object has an external connector (24) for receiving the camera head. The internal and external electrical connectors comprise a plurality of pins or sockets arranged in matching patterns on opposing faces thereby allowing the camera head to be attached to or disconnected by engaging the two connectors. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the object to which the camera head is attached is an endoscopic or laparoscopic device, the solid-state sensor is a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), and the housing does not contain a printed circuit board.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises a sheath, an articulation section adjacent to its distal tip, and two or more separate optical channels that produce two or more distinct views. Each of the optical channels comprises an objective lens and a means of capturing and/or viewing the image. The objective lens or lenses of the optical channel that produces the first distinct view, is located at a first location on the distal tip. The objective lens or lenses of the optical channel that produces the second distinct view is located at a second location on the proximal end of the articulation section or on the sheath of the endoscope adjacent to or located proximally of the articulation section.

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 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: The invention is a device used to determine the depth of insertion and/or the angle of rotation of an elongated body passing through it. The device of the invention comprises at least one sensing element suitable to gauge the movement of the elongated body. In different embodiments of the invention the sensing element is selected from an optical sensor, a Hall effect sensor, or is a sensing element activated by mechanical friction. The device of the invention is especially suited use with endoscopic devices. In the case where the elongated body is a gastroscope, the device of the invention can be a modified bite block.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an endoscope comprising two or more optical channels that produce two or more distinct views. The endoscope of the invention is suitable for performing various surgical procedures, including fundoplications, stapling of the stomach for obesity management, bladder neck sling procedures for incontinence management, and other procedures that may benefit from having multiple interior views. Such treatments may be performed percutaneously, or by gaining access via natural body canals such as the esophagus or urethra.

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.