The present disclosure relates to the field of endoscopy. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to delivery systems and methods for coagulating sites of bleeding within mucosal tissues, and in particular, for eradicating esophageal varices.

A clip unit includes: an arm portion including arms extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion so as to be openable and closeable; a holder than can hold the arms in a closed state by accommodating the proximal end portion of the arm portion; and a thread grip attached to at least one of the arms and positioned between the arms. In a state where the arms are spread open, a dimension of the thread grip in the opening/closing direction of the arms is equal to or larger than a distance between the arms in the closed state. The thread can be elastically deformed in the closed state.

A medical image processing device acquires an endoscopic image obtained by imaging a subject with an endoscope, detects a gravity direction in the endoscopic image on the basis of the endoscopic image, generates a gravity direction indication indicating the gravity direction, and displays the gravity direction indication on a display. An endoscope system includes the medical image processing device and the endoscope.

An endoscopic catheter assembly including a catheter portion is disclosed. The catheter portion includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The catheter portion includes a tube-shaped body defining a passage extending there-through.

A medical image processing device includes a processor, in which the processor acquires an examination image of a subject captured by an endoscope, and identifies an incision suitable site in the subject included in the examination image and performs control for outputting incision suitable site information regarding the incision suitable site on the basis of the examination image, and the identification of the incision suitable site information is performed by using a learning image associated with a position of a muscular layer in the subject.

A medical image processing device acquires a medical image, detects a position of a specific blood vessel having a predetermined thickness or more on the basis of the medical image, and performs control for outputting specific blood vessel position information regarding the position of the specific blood vessel to provide a notification. The detection of the position of a specific blood vessel is performed by using a learning image that is the medical image associated with information regarding a position of at least a part of the specific blood vessel.

Improved methods and devices for performing an endoscopic surgery including a system for performing minimally invasive procedures including a flexible catheter having a working space expanding system positioned at a distal portion, the working space expanding system movable from a non-expanded insertion position to an expanded position forming an expanded region to expand the working space within the body lumen. A tissue retractor having an inner member positioned within an outer member has a plurality of closed loops at a distal portion forming a petal-like structure. The loops are positioned in a collapsed position within the outer member and are movable to an expanded position when exposed from the outer member.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for assisting with submucosal dissections include a retraction strip body. The retraction strip body is formed at least partially from a deformable material. The retraction strip body is capable of being selectively moved between a first condition and a second condition. In the first condition, the retraction strip body is capable of engaging a target patient tissue. In the second condition, the retraction strip body is capable of retracting the target patient tissue. At least one tissue engagement member is located on the retraction strip body.

Methods are disclosed for dissecting a mucosa and a submucosa from a muscularis propria from a region of an organ of a subject, wherein the organ is not the esophagus. In some embodiments, the organ is in the gastrointestinal tract. These methods include injecting submucosally into the organ of the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising an extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel to form a cushion between the submucosa and the underlying muscularis propria at the region of the organ, wherein the ECM hydrogel has the following characteristics: a) a time to 50% gelation of less than 30 minutes at a temperature of about 37° C.; b) a flow viscosity suitable for infusion into the organ; and c) a stiffness of about 10 to about 400 Pascal (Pa).

A tissue-engagement member having a pair of jaws movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration, an actuator movable to shift the jaws between the closed and open configurations, and a biasing element biasing the jaws into a closed configuration. The biasing element may be provided over a portion of the tissue-engagement member. A cam mechanism may be provided in operative association with at least one of the jaws and/or the actuator. The biasing element may operatively engage at least one of the jaws and/or the actuator to actuate the cam mechanism to return the jaws to a closed configuration from an open configuration. A manipulator having an actuator-engagement element may be provided to engage an actuation element operatively associated with the actuator. The actuator-engagement element may operatively engage the actuation element in a range of orientations.