IP Library Granted Patent US 7,156,857
Granted Patent B2
US 7,156,857 · App. 10/114,128 · Granted Jan 2, 2007

Endoscopic instruments

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,156,857
App. No.
10/114,128
Granted
Jan 2, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An endoscopic instrument used to form an artificial valve for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Claims (32)

1. A tissue piercing device, to be used with an endoscope for suturing or ligating tissues in body cavities, said tissue-piercing device comprising:

two piercing members each comprising a needle, said two needles being parallel and spaced apart at a constant interval;

two slidable suture holding means for holding a suture, said suture holding means being respectively slidably inserted through the two needles to be extendable and retractable with respect to distal ends of the needles; and

holding operation means for operating both said suture holding means.

2. A tissue piercing device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the suture holding means comprises a loop;

wherein a respective driving member is connected to a proximal end of each said suture holding means, the driving member being operable for rotating, advancing, and retracting the corresponding suture holding means; and

wherein a center axis of each of the suture holding means is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding driving member.

3. A treatment system comprising:

a first endoscope;

the tissue piercing device according to claim 1 mounted on a distal end of the first endoscope;

a second endoscope that is different from the first endoscope;

a tissue fixing device provided at least at a distal end of the second endoscope for fixing a site to be sutured; and

a suture slidably inserted through the second endoscope.

4. The treatment system according to claim 3 , wherein the tissue fixing device comprises an engaging portion that engages the suture, and wherein a knot formed in the suture is delivered to a sutured site by advancing the second endoscope toward the sutured site while the suture is engaged with the engaging portion.

5. The tissue piercing device according to claim 1 , further comprising an engaging portion that engages the suture, wherein a knot formed in the suture is delivered to a sutured site by advancing the tissue piercing device toward the sutured site while the suture is engaged with the engaging portion.

6. A tissue piercing device to be used with an endoscope for suturing or ligating tissues in body cavities, said tissue piercing device comprising:

two piercing members each comprising a needle, said two needles being parallel and spaced apart at a constant interval;

two slidable suture holding portions respectively slidably inserted through the two needles to be extendable and retractable with respect to distal ends of the needles; and

a holding operation portion for operating the suture holding portions;

wherein each of the suture holding portions comprises a suture holding section adapted to extend from the distal end of the respective needle to capture a suture and to retract into the distal end of the needle to pull the suture into the needle.

7. A tissue piercing device according to claim 6 , wherein each of the suture holding portions comprises a loop;

wherein a respective driving member is connected to a proximal end of each of the suture holding portions, the driving member being operable for rotating, advancing, and retracting the suture holding portion; and

wherein a center axis of each of the suture holding portions is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the respective driving member.

8. A treatment system, to be used with an endoscope for suturing or ligating tissues in body cavities, said treatment system comprising:

first and second endoscopes for peroral insertion through body cavities;

a tissue piercing device mountable to the first endoscope, said tissue piercing device having two piercing members each comprising a needle, and said two needles being parallel and spaced apart at a constant interval;

a tissue fixing device projecting from a distal end of the second endoscope for fixing a site to be pierced;

a suture holding portion slidably inserted through at least one of the needles of the tissue piercing device; and

a suture being slidably inserted through one of: one of the needles of the tissue piercing device, and the second endoscope.

9. A treatment system according to claim 8 , wherein each said suture holding portion comprises a loop;

wherein a respective driving member is connected to a proximal end of each said suture holding portion, the driving member being operable for rotating, advancing, and retracting the suture holding portion; and

wherein a center axis of each said suture holding portion is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the respective driving member.

Assignments (19)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXPUNGED PROPERTY 12406874 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 066132 FRAME: 0914. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded Mar 5, 2024
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
To: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
Reel/Frame 066739/0804 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2023
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC.
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 066132/0801 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2023
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
To: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
Reel/Frame 066132/0914 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 5, 2023
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.; APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC.; APOLLO ENDOSURGERY INTERNATIONAL, LLC; LPATH THERAPEUTICS, INC.
To: INNOVATUS LIFE SCIENCES LENDING FUND I, LP
Reel/Frame 063264/0046 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2021
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.; APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC. (F/K/A LPATH, INC.)
To: INNOVATUS LIFE SCIENCES LENDING FUND I, LP
Reel/Frame 058980/0199 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 18, 2019
From: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES II ACQUISITION LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC. (F/K/A APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.)
Reel/Frame 048622/0328 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 18, 2019
From: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES II ACQUISITION LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC. (F/K/A APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.)
Reel/Frame 048622/0343 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 27, 2017
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC.
Reel/Frame 042106/0912 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 30, 2016
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY US, INC.
To: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES II ACQUISITION LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041224/0821 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 27, 2016
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039344/0502 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 2, 2015
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
To: ATHYRIUM OPPORTUNITIES II ACQUISITION LP, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 035120/0843 →
TERMINATION OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST (RECORDED ON 12/3/13 AT REEL/FRAME 031756/0729 AND ON 1/2/14 AT REEL/FRAME 031910/0460) Recorded Mar 2, 2015
From: OXFORD FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 035120/0740 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2013
From: BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM AND ITS COMPONENT INSTITUTION UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 031712/0172 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 3, 2013
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
To: OXFORD FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 031756/0729 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 2, 2013
From: COMERICA BANK
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 031699/0959 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2011
From: BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
To: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 026548/0209 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2011
From: PASRICHA, PANKAJ JAY
To: BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
Reel/Frame 026543/0278 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 30, 2011
From: APOLLO ENDOSURGERY, INC.
To: COMERICA BANK, A TEXAS BANKING ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 026530/0286 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2011
From: SHIMONAKA, HIDEKI; KAWASHIMA, KOICHI; SUZUKI, TAKAYUKI; TSUKAGOSHI, TSUYOSHI; ONUKI, YOSHIO
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 025821/0202 →