Tissue reconfiguration
A medical instrument for engaging tissue includes a flexible shaft, a tissue piercing coil at a distal portion of the shaft, and a tissue stabilizer positioned over the shaft and biased in a distal direction such that as the tissue piercing coil enters tissue, the tissue stabilizer is urged against a surface of the tissue. A medical instrument for reconfiguring tissue includes a flexible shaft defining a lumen housing actuating controls, and a distal actuating assembly with a sealing portion configured to substantially seal the shaft lumen from contact with bodily fluids. A cartridge assembly includes first and second members configured for releasable attachment to a medical instrument, and a holder configured to receive the first and second members and to be released from the first and second members upon action of the first and second members attaching to the medical instrument.
1. A medical instrument, comprising:
a flexible shaft, at least a portion of which is formed of a length of shaft coil;
a tissue piercing coil extending from a distal portion of the shaft; and
a tubular member selectively positioned over the tissue piercing coil, the tubular member and the tissue piercing coil coupled for relative movement,
wherein the shaft coil and the tissue piercing coil are wound in opposite directions, and
wherein the tissue piercing coil extends from between opposed jaws of an end effector and is configured to rotate relative to the opposed jaws to pull tissue into the opposed jaws, at least one of the opposed jaws having a fastener disposed in contact therewith and being configured for delivering the fastener into tissue.
2. The medical instrument of claim 1 wherein the tubular member is biased in a distal direction.
3. The medical instrument of claim 2 further comprising a spring biasing the tubular member in the distal direction.
4. A medical instrument, comprising:
a flexible shaft,
a coiled tissue piercing member wound around a distal portion of the shaft, and
a tissue stabilizer coupled to the shaft for movement relative to the tissue piercing member, the tissue stabilizer being biased in a distal direction such that as the tissue piercing member enters tissue, the tissue stabilizer is urged against a surface of the tissue,
wherein the coiled tissue piercing member extends from between opposed jaws of an end effector and is movable relative to the end effector to pull tissue into the opposed jaws, at least one of the opposed jaws having a tissue piercing member extending therefrom.
5. The medical instrument of claim 4 further comprising a spring biasing the tissue stabilizer in the distal direction.
6. The medical instrument of claim 4 wherein the shaft includes a length of coil.
7. A medical instrument, comprising:
an elongate member having a tissue piercing coil formed around a distal end thereof, the tissue piercing coil extending from between opposed jaws of an end effector and being configured to rotate relative to the end opposed jaws to pull tissue into the opposed jaws, the tissue piercing coil having a distal tip configured to form a hole in tissue;
a tissue stabilizer coupled to the coil for movement relative to the coil, the tissue stabilizer being biased by a spring in a distal direction such that as the coil enters tissue, the tissue stabilizer is urged against a surface of the tissue.
8. A medical instrument comprising:
an elongate member having a tissue piercing coil formed around a distal end thereof, the tissue piercing coil extending from between opposed jaws of an end effector and being movable relative to the end effector to pull tissue into the opposed jaws, at least one of the opposed jaws having a tissue piercing member extending therefrom;
a member selectively positioned over the coil and at least a portion of the elongate member, the member and the coil coupled for relative movement; and
a stop configured to limit the relative movement between the member and the coil.
9. The medical instrument of claim 8 wherein the member comprises a tube surrounding the coil.
10. A medical instrument, comprising:
a flexible coil shaft,
a tissue piercing coil coupled to a distal end of the shaft, the tissue piercing coil being wound in a direction opposite to at least a portion of the flexible coil shaft,
wherein the tissue piercing coil extends from between opposed jaws of an end effector and is configured to move relative to the opposed jaws to pull tissue into contact with the opposed jaws, at least one of the opposed jaws having a fastener disposed in contact therewith and being configured to deliver the fastener into tissue.
11. A medical instrument, comprising:
an elongate, flexible coil shaft having a tissue piercing coil formed at a distal end thereof, the tissue piercing coil movably coupled to an end effector and extending from between opposed jaws pivotally coupled to the end effector and being configured to rotate relative to the opposed jaws to pull tissue into the opposed jaws, and
a member positioned to selectively circumferentially enclose the shaft, wherein the member and the shaft are configured for relative movement.
12. The medical instrument of claim 11 wherein the tissue piercing coil is formed from the shaft.
13. The medical instrument of claim 11 wherein the member is configured to stabilize tissue.