Surgical sealing systems are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical sealing system includes a seal housing having a plurality of ports, in which each of port has a nominal size and shape, is configured to assume a selected and/or shape that is different from the nominal size and shape, and is constrained by the size and shape of each of the other plurality of ports. The position of an instrument and a force applied thereto is effective to change the size and/or shape of the ports based on the movement, direction, and force of the instrument, and the ability to alter the nominal shape of any one port is constrained or limited by the size and shape of the other ports, thereby enabling a force applied to one instrument positioned within one of the plurality of ports to stabilize at least one other instrument positioned within others of the plurality of ports.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

An implant configured for ingestion by a patient. After the implant has been swallowed by the patient and is disposed within the target location, e.g. the patient's stomach, an inflation subcomponent causes the implant to expand from a compact delivery state to an expanded, volume-occupying, deployed state. In the deployed state the implant creates a sensation of satiety in the patient stomach and thereby aids in limiting food intake and obesity. After a predetermined time a deflation subcomponent is actuated and the implant reduces in size so as to allow it to pass through the remainder of the patient's digestive track. The device may further incorporate tracking and visualization subcomponents, as well as pharmaceutical delivery subcomponents.

One or more medical devices may be provided that may be used, for example, in bariatric surgery including a vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Occlusion devices can be integrated with a catheter or tube to occlude one or more proximal or distal landmarks of a stomach and a stapling guide may be used to occlude a lateral boundary of the stomach to define a cavity. A volume of the potential resultant sleeve may be determined by inserting fluid or gas into the catheter or tube, measuring pressure, and calculating the volume of the cavity.

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.

Embodiments of the invention provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering drugs and other therapeutic agents within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device for delivering the agents. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering drugs into the intestinal wall or other GI lumen. Embodiments also provide various drug preparations that are configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the intestinal wall and degrade to release the drug into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect. The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the intestinal wall. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for the delivery of drugs which are poorly absorbed, tolerated and/or degraded within the GI tract.

A device and method for occluding the descending aorta includes inserting a gastroesophageal resuscitative aortic occlusion device into a stomach of a patient through the esophagus. The gastroesophageal resuscitative aortic occlusion device includes a catheter having a body and a first lumen, and a distal end having a first opening fluidly coupled to the first lumen. An inflatable balloon is disposed on the catheter. An interior of the inflatable balloon is fluidly coupled to the first opening. An inflation device is operably connected to the catheter and fluidly coupled to the first lumen. Activation of the inflation device forces fluid into the interior of the inflatable balloon through the first lumen and the first opening. Activating the inflation device to pressurizes the inflatable balloon with a fluid. An external pressure device applies pressure to the abdomen of the patient until blood flow through the descending aorta is reduced or stopped.

A method of reducing postpartum bleeding includes positioning a device comprising a vacuum element within the uterus; sealing the uterus; activating vacuum in the uterus with the vacuum element of the device while the uterus is sealed; and collapsing the uterus with the vacuum to reduce postpartum bleeding.

A delivery system (400) for delivering and deploying an implant (550) to a bodily lumen (600). The delivery system (400) comprises a delivery element (410) and a detach mechanism (420) connected to a distal portion of the delivery element (410). The detach mechanism (420) has a first configuration configured to grip the implant (550) and a second configuration configured to release the implant (550). An actuating mechanism (430) is configured to extend through the lumen of a delivery catheter (500) to the detach mechanism (420). Moving the actuating mechanism (430) from a first position to a second position changes the detach mechanism (430) from the first configuration to the second configuration. Also provided is an embolization system (110) comprising an embolization device (110) including a self-expandable skeleton (112) and a flow restricting layer (114) mounted on the skeleton (112), a detach mechanism (140) for connecting the embolization device (110) to a delivery element (150), and a flexible joint (130) for allowing the embolization device (110) to tilt with respect to the delivery element (150).

An implantable restriction device includes a plurality of beads, a plurality of links joining the beads together, and a parking feature. Each bead in the plurality of beads includes a housing, a passageway extending through the housing, and at least one magnet disposed around the passageway. The plurality of links are slidably disposed in corresponding passageways of the beads such that the plurality of beads can transition between a constricted configuration and an expanded configuration. The parking feature can consistently position the at least one link relative to the housing in the contracted configuration.