Patent ID: 10154851

Abstract:
Provided herein are expandable endoscopic devices. In accordance with certain aspects of an embodiment of the invention, an endoscopic expandable device is disclosed that comprises an expandable jaw at the distal tip, a control wire connected to the jaw, a sheath enclosing the control wire, and a handle connected to the sheath or wire having an actuating trigger. The expandable jaw is configured to allow its delivery in a retracted configuration to a target site within a patient's body through the working channel of an endoscope, after which the jaw may reconfigure to an expanded configuration that is larger than the retracted configuration. This allows the expandable jaw to be easily delivered to the target site while allowing an operable jaw size that is larger than would be allowed if limited to size of the working channel. The expandable jaw of the endoscopic expandable device may optionally be detachable from the sheath, in which case a jaw release mechanism may also be provided and controlled from the handle. The endoscopic expandable device described herein may, in accordance with certain aspects of the invention, have utility as a clip, and may, in accordance with further aspects of the invention, have utility as forceps. Also disclosed are methods of using the devices identified above.