Anastomosis system

Abstract

There is provided an endoscopic system. The system comprises a flexible endoscope insertable into a first tubular organ from a natural opening of a human body. The system further comprises an opening member which forms on a wall part of the first tubular organ an opening used to insert the endoscope into an abdominal cavity from the first tubular organ in the body, an anastomosing member which is able to anastomoses the first tubular organ with a second tubular organ in the abdominal cavity, and a cutting member with which the second tubular organ is able to be cut.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for accessing the abdominal cavity of a mammal comprising the steps of:
 positioning an elongated conduit having proximal and distal sections to extend from the exterior of the mammal through a natural orifice into and along at least a portion of a hollow body organ to a target wall segment in the hollow body organ, wherein said conduit has a first operable configuration in which said conduit is generally flexible and a second operable configuration in which at least a portion of said conduit is generally rigid;   forming an opening through said wall;   advancing the distal section of said elongated conduit through said wall; and   operating said elongated conduit from said first operable configuration to said second operable configuration.   
     
     
         2 . A method for accessing the abdominal cavity of a mammal comprising the steps of:
 positioning an elongated conduit having proximal and distal sections to extend from the exterior of the mammal through a natural orifice into and along at least a portion of the digestive tract to a target wall segment in the digestive tract, wherein said conduit has a first operable configuration in which said conduit is generally flexible and a second operable configuration in which at least a portion of said conduit is generally rigid;   forming an opening through said wall;   advancing the distal section of said elongated conduit through said wall; and   operating said elongated conduit from said first operable configuration to said second operable configuration.   
     
     
         3 . An endoscopic system for accessing the abdominal cavity of a mammal, the endoscopic system comprising:
 an endoscopic assembly;   a first guide tube having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending therethrough, said first guide tube extending through a natural orifice of a mammal to a wall of a hollow body organ wherein the distal end of said first guide tube is positioned through and secured to said wall of said hollow body organ; and   a second guide tube having proximal and distal ends, said second guide tube is slidably positioned within the lumen of said first guide tube wherein the distal end of said second guide tube is positioned within the abdominal cavity.   
     
     
         4 . The endoscopic system according to  claim 3 , wherein said second guide tube has a first operable configuration in which the distal end is generally flexible and a second operable configuration in which the distal end is generally inflexible. 
     
     
         5 . The endoscopic system according to  claim 4 , wherein the distal end of said second guide tube is bent in said second operable configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The endoscopic system according to  claim 4 , wherein the distal end of said second guide tube is curved in said second operable configuration.