An endoscopic suturing method includes penetrating an indwelling member into a first portion of a mucous membrane, moving the indwelling member toward a second portion of the mucous membrane while pushing the first portion of the mucous membrane and penetrating the indwelling member into the second portion of the mucous membrane with the indwelling member penetrated into the first portion of the mucous membrane, and leaving the indwelling member in a body in a state in which the indwelling member penetrates the first portion of the mucous membrane and the second portion of the mucous membrane.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

A suturing device includes a longitudinal axis member, an operation unit, a grasp portion, a suture needle, a first engaging member, a second engaging member, a first linear member connected to the first engaging member and the operation unit and configured to switch the first engaging member and the engaging portion into an engaged state or a disengaged state, and a second linear member connected to the second engaging member and the operation unit and configured to switch the second engaging member and the engaging portion into an engaged state or a disengaged state, wherein the first and the second linear member intersect a central axis of the longitudinal axis member between the grasp portion and a distal end of the longitudinal axis member and are inserted into an insertion path to be connected to the operation unit.

A traction tool for performing traction, of a suture thread under a flexible endoscope is provided. The traction toot includes a first holder configured to hold the suture thread or a suture needle attached to the suture thread; a second holder having an engaging surface configured to engage the suture, thread such that the suture thread is capable of advancing and retracting and configured to release an engagement with the suture thread; and a guide member holding the first holder and the second holder such that the first holder and the second holder are relatively movable.

A traction tool for performing traction of suture thread under a flexible endoscope is provided. The tool includes a shaft, a first holder which is provided at a distal end of the shaft and is configured to hold the suture thread or a suture needle attached to the suture thread, and second holder which is provided closer to a proximal end side of the shaft than the first holder and to which the suture thread is hooked. The second holder is expandable in a radial direction of the shaft.

Navigation and tissue capture systems and methods for navigation to and/or capture of selected tissue using the innate electrical activity of the selected tissue and/or other tissue are described. In the context of left atrial appendage closure, the systems and methods can be used to navigate to the left atrial appendage and capture/control the appendage while a closure instrument (suture, clip, ring) is placed over the appendage and tightened down or a closure method (ablation, cryogenic procedures, stapling, etc.) is performed to close the left atrial appendage. The use of innate electrical activity for navigating devices may be used in connection with other tissues and/or areas of the body.

A coil structure used in an endoscope includes a coil tube formed by densely winding a wire rod, both ends of the coil tube being fixed, a first contact surface formed on one surface of the wire rod on a distal end side, and a second contact surface formed on the other surface of the wire rod on a proximal end side, the first contact surface coming into contact with the second contact surface. The first contact surface is formed as a convex curved surface arcuate in cross section, a curvature center of which is located further on an inner side than an outer circumferential portion of the coil tube. For the convex curved surface, a curvature radius larger than a radius of the coil tube and smaller than a curvature radius during maximum bending of an insertion section is set.

A medical insertion device includes an elongated shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having flexibility sufficient for insertion through a working channel of an endoscope along a tortuous path. The elongated shaft includes a coil extending from the proximal end to the distal end and having a channel extending longitudinally therethrough and a braided portion extending around a portion of the coil, the braided portion including a plurality of lines wound together such that first and second ones of the lines intersect to enclose a predetermined angle therebetween, the angle being between 25 and 55 degrees.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a tissue traction device for endoscopic procedures such as tissue dissection. For example, a tissue traction device may include first and second attachment members pivotably attached by first and second swivels to opposite ends of a stretchable traction band comprising a compliant or semi-compliant material.

A surgical system includes a fluid-delivery device configured to deliver fluid to a surgical site, a surgical instrument including a heat-generating component, and a fluid inflow path defined from a fluid source to the fluid-delivery device to provide fluid to the fluid-delivery device for delivery to the surgical site. At least a portion of the fluid inflow path is thermally coupled to the heat-generating component to simultaneously draw heat from the heat-generating component and warm fluid flowing through the fluid inflow path. A method of surgery includes using a surgical instrument having a heat-generating component that generates heat during use, and introducing fluid along a fluid inflow path from a fluid source to a surgical site. At least a portion of the fluid inflow path is thermally coupled to the heat-generating component to simultaneously draw heat from the heat-generating component and warm the fluid introduced along the fluid inflow path.