Abstract: An elongate medical instrument has an operative tip that is translatable and rotatable. A Translation and rotation are effectuated by the same elongate shifter member. The shifter member rotates together with a tubular catheter member about a longitudinal axis of the instrument. The simultaneous rotation enables the user to rotate a rotation control member on a handle assembly so that the operative tip rotates through the same angle as the control member. Where an electrical current is conducted to the operative tip for cauterization purposes, a rotary joint is provided with conductive capability.

Abstract: A needle biopsy instrument for retrieving a tissue sample from an internal organ such as needle biopsy forceps, includes a pushing surface for safely dislodging a tissue sample from the needle after the instrument containing the sample is retrieved from the patient using mechanical control means operated from the proximal handle to thereby avoid the risk of accidental cuts, punctures and other injuries to medical personnel while trying to manually remove the sample. The instrument has a cam mechanism, or other mechanical links scissor links for operating the cups and producing relative movement between the pushing surface and axis of the needle to cause a tissue sample to be moved toward and eventually off of the tip of the needle into a sample receiving cup. An axial reciprocating control member attached to either the needle or the pushing surface produces the relative movement and is manually controlled by a handle or other grip at the proximal end of the forceps.

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 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 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 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: An endoscopic tissue resection device and related method is used in conjunction with a flexible or rigid endoscope. Tissue is resected by shaving thin layers of tissue for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

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: An endoscopic fastening system having a diameter sufficiently small so that the fastening system is slidably insertable into a working channel of a flexible or rigid endoscope for performing a stapling, clipping, or other fastening operation, comprises one or more fasteners, and a fastener delivery and deployment assembly. One or more fasteners being disposed in a substantially closed prefiring configuration inside the fastener delivery and deployment system are configured for being delivered and deployed into a target tissue while remaining in a substantially closed configuration throughout the entire operation. Other related embodiments of fasteners and their respective delivery and deployment assemblies enabling fastening operations in conjunction with a flexible or rigid endoscope are described.

Abstract: An endoscopic suture needle and related surgical endoscopic suturing devices are to be used in conjunction with an endoscope. The invention relates to suturing of internal body tissue as part of a surgical procedure which may be diagnostic, therapeutic or both. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an endoscopic surgery system comprising a temperature biased suture needle, a needle grasping device, and an elongated catheter or other delivery tube, a endoscopic surgery system configured for use in conjunction with a flexible or rigid endoscope insertion member.

Abstract: An endoscope sheath includes a web member disposable in a tubular configuration in engagement with an endoscope insertion member, the member being provided with a tear string in the form of a tensile member. The tear string preferably extends longitudinally along the web member. In addition, the tear string preferably extends from one end of the web member to an opposite end thereof and is disposed along a weakened area of the web member. The web member is provided in a plurality of regions with a layer of adhesive material. The adhesive material of at least one of the regions is permanent adhesive, whereas the adhesive material of at least another of the regions forms a separable bond. These regions extend along opposing longitudinal edges of the web member.

Abstract: An endoscopic retractor instrument has (a) a plurality of parts movably connected to one another, (b) componentry for mounting the parts in a collapsed or reduced-size configuration to a flexible and steerable insertion member of an endoscope, and (c) one or more actuation elements operatively connected to the parts for enabling a movement of the parts relative to one another so that the parts assume an enlarged or expanded configuration for spreading internal tissues of a patient. The movable parts of the retractor instrument may be inflatable balloon parts enabling insertion of the retractor in a substantially collapsed configuration and a later expansion at the site of interest.

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 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 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.

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: 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 needle biopsy instrument for retrieving a tissue sample from an internal organ such as needle biopsy forceps, includes a pushing surface for safely dislodging a tissue sample from the needle after the instrument containing the sample is retrieved from the patient using mechanical control means operated from the proximal handle to thereby avoid the risk of accidental cuts, punctures and other injuries to medical personnel while trying to manually remove the sample. The instrument has a cam mechanism,or other mechanical links scissor links for operating the cups and producing relative movement between the pushing surface and axis of the needle to cause a tissue sample to be moved toward and eventually off of the tip of the needle into a sample receiving cup. An axial reciprocating control member attached to either the needle or the pushing surface produces the relative movement and is manually controlled by a handle or other grip at the proximal end of the forceps.

Abstract: An endoscope sheath includes a web member disposable in a tubular configuration in engagement with an endoscope insertion member, the member being provided with a tear string in the form of a tensile member. The tear string preferably extends longitudinally along the web member. In addition, the tear string preferably extends from one end of the web member to an opposite end thereof and is disposed along a weakened area of the web member. The web member is provided in a plurality of regions with a layer of adhesive material. The adhesive material of at least one of the regions is permanent adhesive, whereas the adhesive material of at least another of the regions forms a separable bond. These regions extend along opposing longitudinal edges of the web member.

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.