Inventors:
John Mark Provenza - Shreveport LA, US
Barrett Hutto - Santa Cruz CA, US
Philip Trenholme - Santa Cruz CA, US
International Classification:
A61B 17/12, A61B 17/08, A61B 17/04
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for gastric reduction is provided comprising a tissue gathering assembly for applying a force to inner portions of a stomach to collapse the inner portions toward the tissue gathering assembly, and a suture assembly moveably mounted to the tissue gathering assembly for advancing a suture into the inner portions to form a gastric sleeve. The tissue gathering assembly may further comprise a vacuum shaft having sections of apertures, 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.