APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ENDOSCOPIC SUTURING

摘要

An adjustable suture assembly is provided that may be employed in various surgical procedures to draw and/or hold tissue and/or muscle together. The suture assembly may include a suture lock or tensioner that is adjustably securable to two or more lengths of suture to provide a surgeon with an ability to maintain tissue or muscle in one secured position and subsequently readjust the suture assembly to maintain the tissue or muscle in a different secured position. The suture assembly may include two or more sutures having an anchor attached to an end of each suture for anchoring the suture to desired tissue or muscle. An endoscopic suturing device is provided to deliver and place two or more sutures in tissue or muscle during a surgical procedure. The suturing device may be configured to carry a plurality of sutures so that multiple sutures can be placed in tissue or muscle during a single intubation of the device. The suture assembly and suturing device may be employed with an endoscope to facilitate surgical treatment of obesity which involves narrowing and/or disabling the pyloric sphincter to reduce the rate of gastric emptying.