Balloon actuator for use in a resectioning device

A resectioning device comprising:

• a housing which, when in an operative position, is located within a body lumen of a patient, the housing containing a staple firing mechanism and a tissue cutting blade;
• an anvil movably coupled to the housing;
• an inflatable element having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein a characteristic length of the inflatable element is greater when in the expanded configuration than when in the collapsed configuration, a first surface of the inflatable element contacting the housing and a second surface of the inflatable element contacting a moveable component of the device movably coupled to the housing such that changing the configuration of the inflatable element between the expanded and collapsed configurations moves the moveable component relative to the housing;
• and
• an inflation fluid lumen extending between a distal end connected to the inflatable element and a proximal end which, when the housing is in the operative position, remains outside the body of the patient.

An actuator for a resection device comprising:

• an inflatable member having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the inflatable member having a greater characteristic length in the expanded configuration than in the collapsed configuration;
• a first surface of the inflatable member contacting a first component fixed to a housing of the resection device;
• a second surface of the inflatable member contacting a second component movably coupled to the housing, such that the second component is moved when the inflatable member changes between the collapsed and expanded configurations;
• and
• a fluid supply line connected to the inflatable member for supplying inflation fluid thereto.

A resection device comprising:

• a housing for insertion into a body lumen, the housing containing a staple firing mechanism and a cutting blade actuation mechanism;
• an anvil portion movable relative to the housing between a tissue receiving position and a closed position;
• and
• an expandable component disposed in the housing, the expandable component being moveable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, a characteristic length of the expandable component being greater in the expanded configuration than in the collapsed configuration.