Back to results
US 7,955,253 B2Granted
Apparatus and methods for achieving endoluminal access
AssigneeUSGI Medical, Inc.
InventorsRichard C. Ewers, Boris Reydel, Eugene G. Chen, Vahid Saadat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for pleating at least a portion of a patient's body lumen, such as the colon. Pleating is achieved via relative motion between an endoscope and a flexible conduit having an engagement element configured to reversibly engage the body lumen.
Claims7
A method for advancing an endoscope through a body lumen, comprising:
- advancing an endoscope having a steerable distal end and a flexible conduit through the body lumen;
- engaging a region of body lumen distal to the flexible conduit via the steerable distal end;
- retracting the endoscope relative to the flexible conduit such that a portion of the body lumen is retracted relative to the flexible conduit;
- rigidizing the flexible conduit;
- disengaging the steerable distal end from the region of body lumen;
- and
- advancing the endoscope relative to the rigidized flexible conduit.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.