Systems, methods and devices for performing endoscopic procedures

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for performing an endoscopic procedure are provided herein, including an endoscopic plug designed to create a sealed environment within a body cavity using an internal expandable portion which maintains a collapsed configuration during an insertion process or removal process, but which can be expanded upon insertion into the body cavity to secure an internal portion of the endoscopic plug within the body cavity while creating a seal to prevent leakage of gas or fluid out of the body cavity during the endoscopic procedure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An endoscopic plug comprising:
 a base pad located at a proximal end of the endoscopic plug and configured for positioning adjacent a body cavity opening;   a shaft extending from the base pad to a distal end of the endoscopic plug and configured for insertion into a body cavity via the body cavity opening; and   an expandable portion positioned at the distal end of the endoscopic plug, wherein the expandable portion is configured to expand into an expanded position to securely seal the plug within a body cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The endoscopic plug of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable portion is configured to collapse into a collapsed position for insertion and removal of the shaft from the body cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The endoscopic plug of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable portion is an inflatable balloon positioned around an outer circumference of the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The endoscopic plug of  claim 1 , wherein the base pad is configured to create a seal between the body cavity opening and an external environment. 
     
     
         5 . The endoscopic plug of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a scope channel opening for insertion of an endoscopic tool into the body cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The endoscopic plug of  claim 5 , wherein the scope channel opening includes a seal preventing a fluid or a gas from leaking from the body cavity to the external environment. 
     
     
         7 . The endoscopic plug of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes an opening to allow passage of a fluid or gas from an external environment to the expandable portion to expand and collapse the expandable portion. 
     
     
         8 . The endoscopic plug of  claim 7 , wherein the opening is integrated into an outer circumference of the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A method of performing an endoscopic procedure, comprising the steps of:
 inserting a shaft of an endoscopic plug through a body cavity opening into a body cavity;   positioning a base pad located at a proximal end of the endoscopic plug against the body cavity opening; and   expanding an expandable portion positioned at a distal end of the endoscopic plug within the body cavity to securely seal the plug within a body cavity.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising collapsing the expandable portion into a collapsed position for removal of the shaft from the body cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein expanding the expandable portion further comprises inflating an inflatable balloon positioned around an outer circumference of the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising inflating the inflatable balloon with air. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising inflating the inflatable balloon via an opening in the shaft which connects the inflatable balloon with an external environment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the positioning of the base pad against the body cavity opening creates a seal between the body cavity opening and an external environment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising inserting an endoscopic tool into the body cavity through a scope channel opening in the shaft.