APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GASTRIC REDUCTION

摘要

An apparatus (100;1000) and method for gastric reduction is provided comprising a tissue gathering assembly (126; 1020) for applying a force to inner portions of a stomach to collapse the inner portions toward the tissue gathering assembly, and a suture assembly (154; 1070) moveably mounted to the tissue gathering assembly for advancing a suture (520; 1040) into the inner portions to form a gastric sleeve. The tissue gathering assembly may further comprise a vacuum shaft (136; 1160) having sections (1166) of apertures (138; 1168), wherein each section transmits a vacuum force through the apertures to gather a part of the inner portions of the stomach to form a channel that connects an upper pouch to a lower pouch of the stomach. The suture assembly may further comprise a rotatable helical suture for fastening the gathered inner portions to secure the gastric sleeve.