A prosthesis that when implanted in the gastrointestinal tract does not impede the normal function of the pyloric sphincter. In some instances, the prosthesis is implanted as part of, or after, a sleeve gastrectomy procedure. The prosthesis includes a stent with an outer surface and a polymeric cover fully covering the outer surface of the stent. The stent includes a proximal stent flange; a proximal stent segment extending distally from the proximal stent flange; and an enlarged stent segment extending distally from the proximal stent segment.

A gastroscopic method and instrument for treating obesity of a patient, using a device adapted to stretch a part of the stomach wall of said patient. The method comprises the steps of: inserting the device into the stomach through the esophagus, placing the device in contact with the stomach wall, and fixating the device to the stomach wall such that the device can stretch a part of the stomach wall.

An apparatus for treating obesity of a patient having a stomach with a food cavity. The apparatus comprising a volume filling device adapted to be at least substantially invaginated by a stomach wall portion of the patient with the outer surface of the volume filling device resting against the stomach wall, such that the volume of the food cavity is reduced in size by a volume substantially exceeding the volume of the volume filling device. The apparatus further comprises at least one adjustable stretching device adapted to be at least substantially invaginated by a stomach wall portion of the patient with the outer surface of the stretching device resting against the stomach wall and adapted to stretch a portion of stomach wall, and a fluid connection device interconnecting the volume filling device and the stretching device.

Embodiments include a surgical instrument having an end effector, the end effector including a first jaw having a first end, a second end, and an anvil, the anvil having an anvil face, a second jaw having a first end, a second end, and a cartridge to house a plurality of staples, the cartridge having a cartridge face, a first coupling that couples the first end of the first jaw to the first end of the second jaw, and a second coupling that movably couples the second end of the first jaw to the second end of the second jaw, where the second coupling includes a rigid link, an elongate tube, where a distal end is coupled with the end effector, a handle, where a distal end of the handle is coupled with a proximal end of the elongate tube, and a drive assembly comprising a motor.

A device for use in bariatric surgery includes a flexible hollow tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defines a channel therebetween. A series of openings is defined in a distal portion of the tube allowing for fixation of tissue using suction. A flexible member has an initial position disposed alongside the tube and is deployable to a subsequent position in which the flexible member engages a greater curvature of a stomach. The flexible member is configured to be deployable to automatically assume a shape of a greater curvature of a stomach. The flexible member includes a bulging region and a tapering region when deployed. The flexible member is releasably attached to the distal end of the tube.

A post gastrectomy anchoring procedure comprises anchoring a sleeve created by a gastrectomy to tissue structure that can better immobilize the sleeve to reduce complications relating to mobility of the sleeve. Namely, the anchoring procedure secures one or more portions of the sleeve to retroperitoneal fat of a patient. One or more bindings attach the sleeve to the retroperitoneal fat.

The bindings can be installed to hold the sleeve in a bent or other shape, such as to mimic the natural shape of the patient's stomach and maintain an opening in the angularis of the sleeve.

A surgical instrument for treating the stomach tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a handle comprising a display, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector extending from said shaft. The surgical system comprises a tissue treatment system configured to treat the stomach tissue along a path, an imaging system configured to capture a tissue image of the stomach tissue, and a controller configured to determine an edge of the stomach tissue, generate an image representing at least a portion of the edge of the stomach tissue, and display the image along with at least a portion of the tissue image on the display.

A gastric tube for use in a bariatric surgical procedure includes an elongate tube and a movable component supported on an outer surface of the elongate tube. The elongate tube has a non-circular cross section along at least a portion of a length of the elongate tube. The movable component is movable between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. In the unexpanded configuration, the movable component is disposed in abutting engagement with the outer surface of the elongate tube. In the expanded configuration, the movable component bows outwardly from the outer surface of the elongate tube.

A surgical instrument comprising a shaft, an end effector, and an articulation joint is disclosed. The end effector is rotatably connected to the shaft about the articulation joint, wherein the end effector is rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein the shaft comprises a longitudinal axis and the end effector comprises a tissue gap, wherein the tissue gap faces the longitudinal axis when the end effector is in its first orientation, and wherein the tissue gap extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis when the end effector is in its second orientation. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation drive system configured to articulate the end effector relative to the shaft and a dampener configured to prevent the end effector from being back-driven from its second orientation into its first orientation.

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.