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g-Cath™ EZ Delivery Catheter with Snowshoe Suture Anchors™

The g-Cath™ is an integral accessory to the g-Prox® tissue approximation system. The catheter ends in a hollow needle and contains a pair of Snowshoe Suture Anchors™. A sliding button on the g-Cath allows the surgeon to advance the tissue anchors and deliver them on either side of a tissue fold or apposition. Then, the operator uses the g-Cath to bring the two anchors together with adjustable tensioning. The cinching is user-controlled under direct vision with tactile feedback, similar to a traditional suture. Also, the tension flattens out the mesh anchors, securing the tissue.

The Snowshoe Suture Anchors are a suturing technology designed to overcome the challenges of endolumenal suturing in the GI tract. It is well known that mucosa is resistant to reconfiguration and the forces applied by traditional "point loading" suture, staples, clips, or T-tags can often result in inadequate healing. However, a Snowshoe Suture Anchor distributes the forces over a tissue contact "footprint" 2,400% larger than the size in which it was delivered. Furthermore, the anchors not only spread out these forces, they also have a semi-compliant nature that accommodates postoperative swelling. This plasticity allows the anchors to withstand the swelling, yet maintain their hold on the tissue.