Method and device for full thickness resectioning of an organ

A full-thickness resection system for removing a full-thickness portion of a body organ using a flexible endoscope, the system comprising:

• a stapling mechanism which, in an operative position is located within a body of a patient, wherein the endoscope is slidably received through at least a portion of the stapling mechanism, the stapling mechanism comprising:
• an anvil;
• a stapling head rotatably coupled to the anvil so that the anvil and the stapling head may rotate with respect to one another between a tissue receiving position and a stapling position, wherein a gap formed between the stapling head and the anvil is larger in the tissue receiving position than it is in the stapling position;
• a position adjusting mechanism for rotating at least one of the anvil and the stapling head relative to the other of the anvil and the stapling head between the tissue receiving and stapling positions;
• a staple firing mechanism for sequentially firing, when the stapling head and the anvil are in the stapling position, staples received in the stapling head from the stapling head across the gap against the anvil and through any tissue received in the gap, and
• a knife for cutting a portion of tissue received within the gap;
• a blade shield attached to said anvil or said stapling head and adapted to define a blade gap through which said blade travels, said blade gap having a width corresponding to a width of said knife, said blade shield disposed to resist movement of a portion of the tissue encountered by said knife, and
• a control unit which, when the stapling head is in the operative position, remains outside the body, the control unit being coupled to the stapling mechanism for controlling operation of the position adjusting mechanism and the staple firing mechanism.