A device for applying rubber bands in the human body and in other living beings includes: an axial element having a first handle; a trigger movably mounted on the axial element having one or more handles for moving the trigger along the axial element wherein the trigger serves to pull a wire; and an assembly that has a spool for winding up the wire. The spool is tightly connected with the trigger by a gear mechanism formed in such a way that, when the trigger is pulled, the spool is not rotationally driven and the wire is pulled along by way of the pulling movement of the trigger, whereby one or more rubber bands can be applied to a part of a living being to be treated, and that when the trigger moves back into a starting position, the wire is wound onto the spool.

Disclosed are devices for pericardial access to the heart, including direct access to the left atrium. In certain embodiments, the device may comprise a device and/or an atrial appendage (AA) portal having a configuration such that the distal end of the device and/or the portal can access an atrial appendage while the proximal end of the device and/or portal can extend to outside of the subject. The devices and methods may also include a pericardial portal for emplacement of the device and/or the AA portal. Also, methods for using such devices and/or AA portals and pericardial portals to perform surgery on the heart, and systems (e.g., kits) comprising these devices and/or portals in combination with other therapeutic devices are disclosed.

Disclosed are devices for pericardial access to the heart, including direct access to the left atrium. In certain embodiments, the device may comprise a device and/or an atrial appendage (AA) portal having a configuration such that the distal end of the device and/or the portal can access an atrial appendage while the proximal end of the device and/or portal can extend to outside of the subject. The devices and methods may also include a pericardial portal for emplacement of the device and/or the AA portal. Also, methods for using such devices and/or AA portals and pericardial portals to perform surgery on the heart, and systems (e.g., kits) comprising these devices and/or portals in combination with other therapeutic devices are disclosed.

A sphincter augmentation device includes a plurality of bodies and a linking structure linking the plurality of bodies together to form an annular array. Each body includes a housing and magnets positioned within the housing. The magnets magnetically bias the bodies toward one another and are movable within the housing. The annular array is sized to be positioned around a human lower esophageal sphincter so that the bodies and the linking structure bear inwardly against the lower esophageal sphincter. The annular array is configured to transition between a radially expanded state and a radially contracted state to constrict the lower esophageal sphincter. The magnets are configured to move relative to the housing of each body between a first position and a second position. In the first position the magnets are magnetically aligned with each other. In the second position the magnets are aligned with an externally applied magnetic field.

A sphincter augmentation device includes a plurality of interlinked bodies and a pair of device ends configured to releasably couple together to secure the bodies in a loop formation sized to fit around an internal anatomical passageway of a patient. The device further includes a plurality of resilient members, with each resilient member extending between an adjacent pair of the bodies. The resilient members are configured to elastically deform to permit the device to transition between a radially contracted state and a radially expanded state. The resilient members bias the device toward the radially contracted state in which the device exerts an inwardly directed force on the anatomical passageway to selectively limit passage of fluids therethrough. The device further includes an expansion limiting member that extends between and is slidably received by an adjacent pair of the bodies, and is configured to limit radial expansion of the device.

Disclosed are an apparatus and method for forming a passage extending along a plane crossing an organ's volumetric region from an entry point to an opposing exit point at a surface of the organ, and for passing a tension member around the volumetric region by pulling the tension member from the exit point to the entry point through the passage. The apparatus can include a rigid outer tube with a tip for penetrating the organ and reach a penetration depth; an inner needle with an elastic body configured to pass straightened through the outer tube lumen and to partially protrude and voluntarily flex to a curved form greater than the diameter of the volumetric region; and a tension member passer with a pulling portion for engaging with a portion of the tension member and for pulling the tension member when withdrawn.

A telescopic attachment mechanism includes an inner cylinder configured to attach around a distal end of a scope and an outer cylinder slidingly attached around the inner cylinder. The outer cylinder is configured to move from a proximal retracted position to a distal extended position. The outer cylinder in the distal extended position is configured to extend distally beyond the distal end of the scope.

Methods, devices, and systems are provided herein for loading a band ligation barrel onto a surgical instrument. For example, a surgical system is provided for loading a band ligation barrel onto a surgical instrument that has a loading tube with a lumen to receive one or more band deployment cords of a band ligation barrel. The loading tube can be inserted through a first lumen of a surgical instrument. The system can also have a loading cap that receives a distal end of the loading tube, and a distal portion of the loading cap can be inserted into a distal-most opening of the band ligation barrel to secure band deployment cords therein. The system can also have a loading key that can be inserted into a second lumen of the surgical instrument, and a distal end of the loading key can engage with a proximal end of the loading tube.

A device for treating hemorrhoids includes a housing sized and shaped for insertion to a target site within a rectum. The device also includes an inner member received within the housing such that the member may move longitudinally relative to the housing. In addition, the device includes a ligating mechanism at a distal end of the member which includes grasping arms movable between a receiving configuration in which distal ends of the arms are separated from one another and a grasping configuration in which the distal ends are drawn together to grasp tissue. The mechanism includes a ligating band received around the arms that is movable distally off of the arms to constrict around tissue grasped by the arms.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, systems, and methods for tissue resection in a body lumen of a patient, and may include an elongate body having a cavity at a distal end and a tissue retractor extendable distally from the distal end of the elongate body. The tissue retractor may include an expansion mechanism. The expansion mechanism may include a plurality of arms each having a first end coupled around a distal cap and expandable radially outward from the distal cap such that an anchoring mechanism on a second end of the arms is engageable with selected tissue for resection of the body lumen. The tissue resection device may further include a tissue resecting device.