Provided herein are medical apparatuses and methods and more particularly devices and methods for positioning and anchoring a lining to a hollow body organ, such as a stomach, intestine or gastrointestinal tract. For example, in one embodiment, an endoluminal applier includes a fastening assembly configured to receive tissue and lining, a suction device configured to acquire tissue and lining, and a stitching mechanism configured to stitch into the fastening cavity and to apply a running suture to the tissue portion and lining.

Systems and methods are provided for automatically forming an incision in a tympanic membrane of an ear and placing a tympanic membrane pressure equalization tube into the incision. The systems include a housing with a shaft extending therefrom. A mechanism is disposed within the housing. A distal end of the shaft is placed against a tympanic membrane, and the mechanism is triggered to causes the tympanic membrane to be automatically incised and dilated and a tympanic membrane pressure equalization tube to be placed in the dilated incision.

A catheter device with a cutting structure or means on the distal portion is disclosed, along with a medical procedure for using the device. The catheter is configured in such a way as to create a permanent interatrial aperture in the heart, including creating a permanent interatrial hole and/or removing tissue.

Systems and methods for effecting bariatric procedures are disclosed. Each system includes an instrument, a control valve and, optionally, a suction controller. The instrument is in the form of an elongated, flexible sizing tube having a distal end portion including a plurality of apertures. The control valve enables suction to be applied to the patient's stomach via the apertures to drain gastric fluids and to bring adjacent portions of the patient's stomach into engagement the sizing tube to provide a visually perceptible delineation line along which a portion of the stomach may be resected, sealed and tested.

A method includes coupling, at least temporarily, a support member adjacent to a target tissue. The support member is configured to support the target tissue and to define a path along which a cutting device can move. The method includes moving the cutting device along the path defined by the support member to cut and/or dilate the target tissue. In some embodiments, the method optionally includes disposing a cannula of a device within the cut defined in target tissue. The cannula is coupled to the target tissue such that a lumen defined by the cannula is in fluid communication with a volume defined at least in part by the target tissue.

An apparatus for treating obesity of a patient having a stomach with a food cavity. The apparatus comprising a volume filling device adapted to be at least substantially invaginated by a stomach wall portion of the patient with the outer surface of the volume filling device resting against the stomach wall, such that the volume of the food cavity is reduced in size by a volume substantially exceeding the volume of the volume filling device. The apparatus further comprises at least one adjustable stretching device adapted to be at least substantially invaginated by a stomach wall portion of the patient with the outer surface of the stretching device resting against the stomach wall and adapted to stretch a portion of stomach wall, and a fluid connection device interconnecting the volume filling device and the stretching device.

Described herein are systems and methods for securing sutures that obviate the need for tying knots. Disclosed suture clips can comprise a first part and a second part that are attachable together to secure one or more sutures in a suture engagement region between the first and second parts. The first and second parts can include locking projections and slots at opposing ends of the suture engagement region to align the two parts, contain sutures, and/or secure the clip onto sutures. When the first and second parts are attached together, first engagement features of the first part inter-engage with second engagement features of the second part to grip and secure sutures within suture engagement region. An exemplary delivery device holds a plurality of such suture clips in an elongated shaft portion and deploys the clips successively to sutures via actuation of a handle portion.

Devices, systems, and methods for use with suction within a mammalian body. In an exemplary embodiment of a device of the present disclosure, the device comprises one or more of the following: an inner tube, an outer tube, and a foldable portion, whereby movement of the two tubes relative to one another causes the foldable portion to form a suction cup, and conversely causes a suction cup to form a foldable portion, depending on the direction of relative movement.

A tonsillectomy suction dissector apparatus (100) having a proximal handle (101) and a distal curved tip (102) which has a suction channel (103) within and along the tip connecting at least one suction inlet port (105) to a vacuum port. The apparatus has a flexible cutting blade member (106) slidably retained and orientated widthwise within a corresponding slot (107) and configurable by hand operable locking mechanism (108) between an extended position wherein a distal cutting end (109) of the cutting blade member extends from the end of the tip and a retracted position. The shape and orientation of the blade allows the blade to bend within the slot when being extended for cutting.

Described herein are technologies, methods, and/or devices for treating skin (e.g., eliminating tissue volume, tightening skin, lifting skin, and/or reducing skin laxity) by selectively excising a plurality of microcores without thermal energy being imparted to surrounding (e.g., non-excised) tissue. The technologies, methods, and/or devices described herein satisfy an unmet need for rapid and safe treatment of skin, including, e.g., faster pretreatment preparation and post-treatment healing times compared to current surgical and thermal treatment methods.