Tracy D Maahs, Age 53Lake Forest, CA

7520884, Apr 21, 2009

May 7, 2004

10/841233

Lee L. Swanstrom - Portland OR,
Richard C. Ewers - Fullerton CA,
Tracy D. Maahs - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Eugene G. Chen - Carlsbad CA,
Vahid Saadat - Atherton CA,

USGI Medical Inc. - San Clemente CA

A61B 17/08

606153

Methods for performing gastroplasty include reducing the effective volume or cross-sectional area of the stomach via approximation of gastric tissue. Such reduction preferably is achieved endoluminally, either with or without laparoscopic ports. In one variation, a sleeve, pouch, Magenstrasse and Mill, Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (“VBG”), etc. ,is formed within the stomach by approximating opposing anterior and posterior segments or ridges of the stomach wall at locations inferior to the gastroesophageal junction. In another variation, opposing walls of the stomach are approximated at a plurality of substantially random locations to reduce an effective volume of the stomach. In yet another variation, both a sleeve and random approximations are formed, the random approximations preferably disposed in a portion of the stomach excluded by the sleeve. In still another variation, opposing walls of the stomach are approximated over significant lengths at random or specified locations.

2009020, Aug 20, 2009

Apr 20, 2009

12/426894

Lee L. SWANSTROM - Portland OR,
Richard C. EWERS - Fullerton CA,
Tracy D. MAAHS - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Eugene G. CHEN - Carlsbad CA,
Vahid SAADAT - Atherton CA,

USGI MEDICAL, INC. - San Clemente CA

A61B 17/08

606153

Methods for performing gastroplasty include reducing the effective volume or cross-sectional area of the stomach via approximation of gastric tissue. Such reduction preferably is achieved endoluminally, either with or without laparoscopic ports. In one variation, a sleeve, pouch, Magenstrasse and Mill, Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (“VBG”), etc., is formed within the stomach by approximating opposing anterior and posterior segments or ridges of the stomach wall at locations inferior to the gastroesophageal junction. In another variation, opposing walls of the stomach are approximated at a plurality of substantially random locations to reduce an effective volume of the stomach. In yet another variation, both a sleeve and random approximations are formed, the random approximations preferably disposed in a portion of the stomach excluded by the sleeve. In still another variation, opposing walls of the stomach are approximated over significant lengths at random or specified locations.

2006018, Aug 17, 2006

Feb 16, 2005

11/060231

Tracy Maahs - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Richard Ewers - Fullerton CA,

USGI Medical Inc. - San Clemente CA

A61B 18/18
A61B 18/04

606002000, 606027000, 606033000, 606041000

Flexible shaft systems having interchangeable end effectors are described herein. A shaft with a flexibility sufficient to allow advancement through a lumen of an endoscopic device has an interface at its distal end for engaging a removable end effector tool. The shaft and end effector tool are configured to enable endoluminal deployment through a patient, e.g., through the esophagus and into the stomach. The removable end effector tool may comprise any number of different tools, such as graspers, forceps, scissors, snares, needles, etc., each being interchangeable upon the flexible shaft distal end. Once a procedure is done within the patient, the flexible shaft may be withdrawn and another distal end effector tool may be interchanged. The new end effector tool and flexible shaft can then be reintroduced into the patient.

2006025, Nov 16, 2006

Apr 7, 2006

11/400297

Vahid Saadat - Saratoga CA,
John Cox - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Tracy Maahs - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,

USGI Medical, Inc. - San Clemente CA

A61B 1/00

600121000

Methods and apparatus for maintaining sterility during transluminal procedures are described. The sterility is achieved by making use of a membrane in either the form, e.g., of a sheath, cap or umbrella to keep the instruments (endoscopes, overtubes, etc.) sterile while being advanced through lumens in the body and into the various cavities. Methods, such as vacuum acquisition, mechanical tissue anchoring, etc., of the underlying tissue followed by incision of the tissue with, e.g., a needle knife, can be utilized to gain access to the various cavities. It is expected that this procedure will provide the desired level of sterility for transluminal procedures.

2006028, Dec 21, 2006

Jun 15, 2005

11/154168

Vahid Saadat - Saratoga CA,
Eugene Chen - Carlsbad CA,
Tung Le - Tustin CA,
Tracy Maahs - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Richard Ewers - Fullerton CA,
John Cox - Macungie PA,
Chris Rothe - San Jose CA,

USGI Medical Inc. - San Clemente CA

A61M 29/00

606198000

Apparatus and methods for endoluminal advancement are described herein. A shape-lockable tissue anchoring assembly generally has an elongate body, a handle assembly, and an anchoring assembly positioned at or proximal to a distal tip of the elongate body. A distal portion of the elongate body may optionally be steerable or curvable. The anchoring assembly may include various expandable or projecting anchoring features to contact and retain tissue relative to the elongate body such that pleated tissue is temporarily immobile relative to the elongate body. This anchoring can be actuated simultaneously with or independently from shape-locking of elongate body. The anchoring assembly can be actuated simultaneously with the shape-locking of the elongate body. Alternatively, the steerable distal portion of the elongate body can be angled against the pleated tissue to retain it while the endoscope is advanced relative to the pleated tissue.

2007001, Jan 18, 2007

Jul 12, 2006

11/457053

John Cox - Macungie PA,
Tracy Maahs - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,

USGI Medical Inc. - San Clemente CA

A61B 1/00

600114000, 600104000, 600156000, 600116000, 600144000

Apparatus and methods are provided for cleaning a patient's colon in preparation for colonoscopy. A rigidizable overtube is described, as well as several variations of a colon-cleaning element configured for use with the overtube to clean the patient's colon. In one variation, the colon-cleaning element comprises a fluid jet. In another variation, the colon-cleaning element comprises a mechanical brush. Aspiration optionally may be provided for removing blockage material disrupted during colonic cleaning.

2007017, Aug 2, 2007

Jan 27, 2006

11/342288

John Cox - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Tracy Maahs - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Richard Ewers - Fullerton CA,
Eugene Chen - Carlsbad CA,
Cang Lam - Irvine CA,
Lee Swanstrom - Portland OR,

USGI Medical Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61B 17/138

128898000

Methods and apparatus for the endoluminal revision of previously performed obesity procedures which have failed are described. One or more endoluminal instruments may be advanced per-orally into the previously formed failed pouch where a number of different procedures can be performed. One or more tissue folds can be formed and secured to reduce the size of the pouch, or the stoma connecting the pouch to the intestinal tract can be reduced in size using endoluminally deployed tissue anchors. These procedures can be performed entirely from within the pouch lumen or upon the exterior surface of the pouch via transgastric entry of the instruments into the peritoneal cavity of a patient. Alternatively, the interior tissue within the pouch can be injured or sclerosed to shrink the pouch lumen. In another alterative, a length of the Roux limb can be shortened endoluminally to create a malabsorptive region.

2008000, Jan 10, 2008

Jul 5, 2007

11/773933

Richard Ewers - Fullerton CA,
Tracy Maahs - Rancho Santa Margarita CA,
Shirley Vong - Aliso Viejo CA,

USGI Medical, Inc. - San Clemente CA

A61B 17/03

606151000, 606232000

Tissue anchors include a flat, broad, and large contact surface for engagement with a portion of tissue. Several embodiments of composite tissue anchors include a support element and an overlay element. Tissue anchor assemblies include two or more tissue anchors, a connector, and a cinching mechanism. In some embodiments, the tissue anchors included in the tissue anchor assemblies are of different types, sizes, and/or shapes.