Catheter-based devices and methods for endoluminally accessing and occluding hollow anatomical structures are disclosed. Occlusion clips are contained in one or more needles that pierce opposing walls of the anatomical structure to deploy the clips externally of the structure. The clips then are drawn together to press the opposing anatomical walls together.

An anchor guide includes an elongate shaft, an atraumatic tip, a channel defined at least in part by the elongate shaft and configured to retain a suture associated with an anchor, and a spacing feature configured to provide a spacing distance between the channel and a device disposed in physical contact with the spacing feature.

A method of cannulating a coronary sinus within a heart chamber includes deploying, from a catheter, an imaging hood to a deployed configuration by extending the imaging hood from a distal end of the catheter and radially expanding the imaging hood to define a constant deployed volume within an open area of the imaging hood. The method further includes positioning a contact edge of the imaging hood and the open area of the imaging hood in the deployed configuration over or upon an ostium of the coronary sinus, displacing an opaque fluid with a transparent fluid from the open area defined by the imaging hood and tissue surrounding the ostium, visualizing the ostium through the transparent fluid by viewing the ostium via an imaging element attached to an inner surface of the imaging hood, and introducing a guidewire through the imaging hood and into the ostium while under visual guidance.

A surgical sheath adapted for use in the nasal cavity has an elongated hollow body made of a braided material having interstitial spaces with a dimension of 0.25 mm to 1.50 mm. The interstitial spaces filled with a filling material, such as silicone. The sheath has a low profile configuration during placement into the naris, and may be stretched into an expanded configuration. In methods of placing the sheath in the naris, the sheath is folded and then pulled into the naris using a surgical tool.

A locator system deployable at a target site in a first anatomical structure and identifiable from within a second anatomical structure. The locator system includes a signal generator and a tissue-engagement member. The tissue-engagement member engages tissue at the target site so that a delivery system may deliver the locator system and be withdrawn without disturbing the position of the locator system with the tissue-engagement member engaging tissue at the target site. The signal generator may be powered by a wireless energy source, such as a battery, or radio waves. The locator system may be deployed at a target site within a patient's intestines, and identified from within the patient's stomach to create an anastomosis between the stomach and the target site.

A locator system deployable at a target site in a first anatomical structure and identifiable from within a second anatomical structure. The locator system includes a signal generator and a tissue-engagement member. The tissue-engagement member engages tissue at the target site so that a delivery system may deliver the locator system and be withdrawn without disturbing the position of the locator system with the tissue-engagement member engaging tissue at the target site. The locator system may be deployed at a target site within a patient's intestines, and identified from within the patient's stomach to create an anastomosis between the stomach and the target site.

Methods and devices described herein facilitate diaphragm entry for posterior access of body organs.

A system for endoscopically forming an anastomosis between two naturally adjacent points in the digestive tract. The system utilizes elongate magnetic devices that, when connected across a tissue boundary, necrose tissue until an anastomosis forms and the devices are passed naturally. Despite the elongate shape of the devices, the resulting anastomosis is substantially round. As such, round anastomoses can be formed having increased diameters merely by increasing the lengths of the devices, obviating the need for wider endoscopes.

Devices for approximating multiple tissue edges internal to a body are disclosed.

An volume filling device for treatment of obesity is placed outside the stomach wall of the patient to reduce the inner volume of the stomach, thereby affecting the patient's appetite. By providing the volume filling device outside the stomach wall, contact with stomach acids is avoided, thereby increasing the life of the device.