G.i. View Ltd.

Other

Vidamed, Inc.

Benad Goldwasser

Oz Cabiri

Yossi Gross

Hugh R Sharkey

Stuart D Edwards

Yosef Gross

Boris Degtiar

Shlomo Lewkowicz

Eran Shor

Nachum Erlich

Borisr Degtiar

Gastrointestinal apparatus () is provided for use with a fluid pressure source (). The gastrointestinal apparatus () includes a guiding element (), adapted to be inserted into a colon, and a piston head () coupled to a distal portion of the guiding element (). The piston head () is adapted to be inflated to form a first pressure seal between the piston head () and a wall of the colon after the guiding element () has been inserted into the colon, and be advanced distally through the colon in response to pressure from the fluid pressure source () applied to an external surface of the piston head (). The apparatus () further includes a gastrointestinal tool () adapted to be advanced along the guiding element (), and an annular balloon () coupled around a distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool (), the balloon () expandable to form a second pressure seal between the distal portion of the gastrointestinal tool () and the wall of the colon. Other embodiments are also described.

Advancement techniques for gastrointestinal tool with guiding element

Apparatus () is provided, including an elongate carrier (), configured to be advanced through an esophagus () of a subject. An anchor member () is coupled to a distal end of the carrier, and configured to be mounted in a stomach () of the subject in a vicinity of a lower esophageal sphincter (LES) () of the subject. An imaging capsule () is configured to move with respect to the carrier when the anchor member is in the vicinity of the LES. Other embodiments are also described.

Tools for use in esophagus

Apparatus () is provided for use in a gastrointestinal tract () of a patient, including an inflatable device () configured to be moved through the gastrointestinal tract () to a treatment site in response to a difference between fluid pressure proximal to the inflatable device () and fluid pressure distal to the inflatable device (). An optical system () coupled to the inflatable device () configured to image the gastrointestinal tract (). A working channel () coupled to the inflatable device () and shaped to define a channel lumen therein to provide access from outside of the patient to the treatment site. A tool () configured to be passed through the channel lumen and to emerge from a distal end of the working channel (). The tool () comprises a tool steering mechanism () to facilitate steering of the tool () from outside of the patient. Other embodiments are also described.

Diagnostic or treatment tool for colonoscopy

Gastrointestinal apparatus () is provided, including a guiding element () and an inflatable mechanical device (), adapted to pull the guiding element () through a colon of a patient. A gastrointestinal tool () is shaped to define a bore () therethrough, and the guiding element () is adapted to pass through the bore (). Other embodiments are also described.

Gastrointestinal tool over guiding element

Apparatus for use in a body lumen is provided including an introducer tube configured to be advanced into a gastrointestinal tract of a subject. A guide member is coupled to a distal end of the introducer tube and is configured to be mounted in a vicinity of a valve of the subject. The apparatus also includes a capsule removably coupled to a distal portion of the introducer tube, and configured to be decoupled from the introducer tube and propelled through a small intestine of the subject once the guide member has been mounted in the vicinity of the valve. The apparatus also includes a gas supply configured to propel the capsule distally through the small intestine by generating positive gas pressure proximal to the capsule. Other embodiments are also described.

Capsule for use in small intestine

A gastrointestinal system including a carrier including an actuator in operative communication with at least one traction member, the actuator moving the at least one traction member relative to the carrier, wherein the at least one traction member is movably supported across supports extending from the carrier, and wherein a portion of the at least one traction member between the supports is sufficiently compliant so as to deform in conformance with a shape of a gastrointestinal tract during traction therealong.

Gastrointestinal system with traction member

According to the present invention, an anastomosis catheter with internally mounted cam pieces holding a plurality of curved needles adjacent apertures in the side of the catheter is provided. The curved needles are attached to lengths of suture material which are installed to run along the outer surface of the central cam pieces to their distal end, where they reverse back along the inner core of the catheter. When the central cam pieces are withdrawn, and moved proximally, the cam surface forces the curved needles out the associated apertures. As the catheter is deployed in a hollow organ, such as a human urethra, the curved needles, as they are deployed, grasp the end of the urethra, which then can be held in position for suturing to the bladder. The other end of the suture materials could have straight needles attached to them to facilitate attaching the urethra to the bladder.

Anastomosis catheter

A passive fixation device, defined by a generally elongated body with proximal and distal ends, and a connecting member to connect the two, is used for the anastomosis of body lumens without sutures. The proximal and distal ends are non-deployed in a non-deployed position, and are deployed in a deployed position. While in the non-deployed positions, the passive fixation device is inserted into one or more body lumens. After insertion, both the proximal and distal ends are deployed and become expanded. One end is first deployed, and then the other. The deployed proximal end becomes retained in a first lumen, and the deployed distal end becomes retained in a second lumen. In one embodiment, the first lumen is the urethra, and the second lumen is the bladder. The two lumens are permitted to become anastomized without sutures. The passive fixation device may be made of different materials and can have coiled proximal and distal ends that are expanded to their deployed positions by a Foley catheter. Additionally, the passive fixation device can be a tightly wound coil that is self-deployed when it is advanced out of a delivery catheter. The coil can also be made of a shaped memory metal. At certain temperatures, it becomes deployed. With a change in temperature, either higher or lower, the coil collapses, and is then removed from the respective body lumen.

Growing community of inventors

Tel Aviv, Israel

Benad Goldwasser