An improved gastroesophageal reflux preventer and related methods are provided. The improved gastroesophageal reflux preventer may include an absorbable material able to be placed in contact with a body organ and configured to induce a scarification of the body organ in response to absorption by the body organ of the material. In this manner, a proximate sphincter may be tightened, such as to ameliorate reflux through a gastroesophageal sphincter.

A medical instrument, comprising a flexible strap portion having a proximal end and a distal end; a head portion distally extending from and connected to the distal end of the strap portion; and a tail portion proximally extending from and connected to the proximal end of the strap portion; wherein the head portion and the strap portion have a locking feature that allows the strap portion to be tightened to the head portion at a desired position, a loop having a desired size composed of a distal end side part of the strap portion and the head portion can be formed when tightened by the locking feature, and a plurality of features for keeping connected to thread are along the longitudinal direction on at least the distal end side part of the strap portion that forms the loop.

A handle of a device such as an endoscopic surgical appliance is provided with a grip for actuation of an effector mechanism positioned at a distal end. A grip force attenuator within the handle absorbs excessive force after the grip force required to fully actuate the effector mechanism has been reached. The handle includes a first spring which deflects in response to hand grip force up to a predetermined level for actuation of the effector mechanism and a second spring which deflects in response to hand grip force which exceeds the predetermined level without applying such excess force to the first spring.

A retractor with a specialized blade head assembly. The blade head assembly has a central plate. The central plate extends between a first side edge and a second side edge. A first rotatable arm is attached to the first side edge with a first hinge joint. A second rotatable arm is attached to the second side edge with a second hinge joint. Both rotatable arms can be rotated about the hinge joints. Both the first hinge joint and the second hinge joint are friction hinges that require a threshold force to move. An elongated shaft interconnects with the central plate at a pivot joint. The elongated shaft can be attached to the blade head assembly after the blade head assembly has been inserted into a patient’s body.

Methods, devices, and systems for mechanically reducing the volume of the lung. Some embodiments include endobronchially positioning an anchoring device within a lung, the anchoring device comprising at least a distal anchor, expanding at least a portion of the distal anchor to anchor the distal anchor against lung lumen tissue, and tensioning at least a portion of the device to reduce the volume of the lung.

An apparatus includes a plurality of beads. Each bead includes a housing and a magnet positioned within the housing. The apparatus also includes a plurality of interconnection elements. Each interconnection element movably joins together a corresponding pair of beads. The plurality of beads and the plurality of interconnection elements are sized and configured to form an expandable loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The expandable loop is configured to apply a constrictive force to the anatomical structure. The constrictive force has a first rate of change when a dilation ratio of the expandable loop is within a first range, a second rate of change when the dilation ratio of the expandable loop is within a second range, and a third rate of change when the dilation ratio of the expandable loop is within a third range.

Devices, methods, and systems are provided for consistent and effective delivery of ligating bands. In one embodiment, a crisscross orientation of pull cords along an exterior surface of a ligation barrel can be used to ensure consistent delivery of ligation bands to tissue, resulting in better results for patients and an easier, safer operation for users.

A left atrium appendage (LAA) isolator, including: a body sized and shaped to fit an at least partially inverted LAA of a human adult, wherein a distal end of said body defines a two-state sealing adaptor interface configured in a first state to apply a radially outward force against a wall of said LAA or against a wall of said LAA opening sufficient to anchor said body to the LAA wall, and in a second state the sealing adaptor interface is configured to apply a radially inward force on a portion of the inverted LAA positioned within said body.

A clip device with separable connection and having variable connection force, comprising a clipping portion and a delivery portion. The clipping portion comprises at least two side clipping arms and a clipping base. The side clipping arms are provided in the clipping base, and the proximal ends of the side clipping arms are connected to a control wire. A connection member for fixation and a connection member for separation are provided on the clipping portion. A distal end of the control wire is provided with a releaser, and the tail ends of the side clipping arms are connected to the releaser. During a clipping process, the side clipping arms may apply a larger gripping force on clipped tissues. During a releasing process, the control wire is ensured to apply a smaller dragging force, so as to separate the tail ends of the side clipping arms and the releaser.

An apparatus includes at least one link and a plurality of beads. The plurality of beads is joined using the at least one link and is configured to be arranged in an annular arrangement. The annular arrangement is sized and configured to form a loop around an anatomical structure in a patient. The annular arrangement is configured to move between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration. The loop in the contracted configuration is configured to prevent fluid flow through the anatomical structure. Each bead includes a housing, a magnet contained within the housing, and a secondary element that is different from the magnet. The magnet is configured to emit a magnetic field. The magnets of the plurality of beads are configured to magnetically bias the loop toward the contracted configuration. The secondary element is contained within the housing and is configured to increase the magnetic field of the magnet.