Apparatus and method for resectioning gastro-esophageal tissue

A system for stapling tissue comprising:

• an operative head including a pair of opposed, curved tissue clamping jaws sized to pass through an esophagus, the jaws being movable with respect to one another between an open tissue receiving configuration and a closed tissue clamping configuration, a first one of the curved jaws including a stapling mechanism and a second one of the jaws including a staple forming anvil surface, the stapling mechanism including stapling slots through which staples are fired arranged in a row extending from a proximal end of the first jaw to a distal end thereof, further including a first jaw moving mechanism for gross adjustment of the position of the jaws relative to one another an a second jaw moving mechanism for fine adjustment of the jaws relative to one another, wherein the second jaw moving mechanism includes an I-beam member a web of which extends through corresponding slots in the first and second jaws with a portion of the I-beam member being received within the first jaw and a second portion of the I-beam member being received within the second jaw;
• and
• a control handle which, when the operative head is in an operative position within one of a patient's stomach and esophagus, remains outside the patient, the control handle including a first actuator for moving the jaws relative to one another and a second actuator for operating the stapling mechanism.

A system for stapling tissue comprising:

• an operative head including a pair of opposed, curved tissue clamping jaws sized to pass through an esophagus, the jaws being movable with respect to one another between an open tissue receiving configuration and a closed tissue clamping configuration, a first one of the curved jaws including a stapling mechanism and a second one of the jaws including a staple forming anvil surface, the stapling mechanism including stapling slots through which staples are fired arranged in a row extending from a proximal end of the first jaw to a distal end thereof, further including a first jaw moving mechanism for gross adjustment of the position of the jaws relative to one another an a second jaw moving mechanism for fine adjustment of the jaws relative to one another, wherein the second jaw moving mechanism includes an I-beam member a web of which extends through corresponding slots in the first and second jaws with a portion of the I-beam member being received within the first jaw and a second portion of the I-beam member being received within the second jaw, and wherein the I-beam member serves as the staple pusher and wherein a first portion of the I-beam member includes a camming surface which sequentially contacts each of a plurality of staple pushers as the I-beam member is moved through the corresponding slots in the first and second jaws;
• and
• a control handle which, when the operative head is in an operative position within one of a patient's stomach and esophagus, remains outside the patient, the control handle including a first actuator for moving the jaws relative to one another and a second actuator for operating the stapling mechanism.

A system for stapling tissue comprising:

• an operative head including a pair of opposed, curved tissue clamping jaws sized to pass through an esophagus, the jaws being movable with respect to one another between an open tissue receiving configuration and a closed tissue clamping configuration, a first one of the curved jaws including a stapling mechanism and a second one of the jaws including a staple forming anvil surface, the stapling mechanism including stapling slots through which staples are fired arranged in a row extending from a proximal end of the first jaw to a distal end thereof, further including a first jaw moving mechanism for gross adjustment of the position of the jaws relative to one another an a second jaw moving mechanism for fine adjustment of the jaws relative to one another, wherein the second jaw moving mechanism includes an I-beam member a web of which extends through corresponding slots in the first and second jaws with a portion of the I-beam member being received within the first jaw and a second portion of the I-beam member being received within the second jaw, and wherein the I-beam member includes a tissue cutting blade extending from the web between the first and second portions of the I-beam member;
• and
• a control handle which, when the operative head is in an operative position within one of a patient's stomach and esophagus, remains outside the patient, the control handle including a first actuator for moving the jaws relative to one another and a second actuator for operating the stapling mechanism.