Patent ID: 6343731
Filing Date: 2002-02-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A full-thickness resection system for removing a full-thickness portion of a body organ, the system comprising:a flexible endoscope; a stapling mechanism which, in an operative position is located within a body of a patient, wherein the endoscope is slidably received through at least a portion of the stapling mechanism, the stapling mechanism comprising: an anvil; a stapling head coupled to the anvil so that the anvil and the stapling head are moveable with respect to one another along an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stapling mechanism between a tissue receiving position and a stapling position, wherein a gap formed between the stapling head and the anvil is larger in the tissue receiving position than in the stapling position; a position adjusting mechanism for moving at least one of the anvil and the stapling head relative to the other of the anvil and the stapling head between the tissue receiving and stapling positions; a staple firing mechanism for sequentially firing, when the stapling head and the anvil are in the stapling position, staples received in the stapling head from the stapling head across the gap against the anvil and through any tissue received in the gap; and a knife operable independently of the staple firing mechanism to cut a portion of tissue received within the gap; and a control unit which, when the stapling head is in the operative position, remains outside the body, the control unit being coupled to the stapling mechanism for controlling operation of the position adjusting mechanism and the staple firing mechanism.