Patent ID: 7338505
Filing Date: 2008-03-04
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An endoscopic device for approximating tissue within a hollow body organ, comprising: an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis comprising a selectively steerable distal portion and an articulatable proximal portion; means for automatically controlling the articulatable proximal portion to assume a selected shape defined by said selectively steerable distal portion when the elongate body is advanced distally or proximally; a first tissue approximation component positioned about the elongate body and adapted to adhere to a first region of tissue; and a second tissue approximation component positioned about the elongate body proximal to the first tissue approximation component, wherein the second tissue approximation component is adapted to adhere to a second region of tissue, wherein the first tissue approximation component or the second tissue approximation component are moveable relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body to approximate the first region of tissue to the second region of tissue.