Percutaneous tether locking
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a tether-securing device, which comprises a tubular element, which is shaped so as define a lateral wall that entirely surrounds a lumen, wherein the lateral wall is shaped so as to define (a) a one-way locking opening and (b) first and second non-constraining openings at respective different circumferential locations;
at least one tether, which (a) has at least first and second tether end portions, and (b) passes through the lumen, the one-way locking opening, and the first and the second non-constraining openings; and
first and second tissue anchors, connected to the first and the second tether end portions, respectively,wherein the one-way locking opening is configured to (a) allow sliding of the at least one tether in a first direction through the one-way locking opening, and (b) inhibit sliding of the at least one tether in a second direction opposite the first direction, andwherein the first and the second non-constraining openings are sized and shaped to allow free sliding therethrough of two longitudinal portions, respectively, of the at least one tether.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tether-securing device is provided that includes a tubular element, which is shaped so as define a lateral wall that surrounds a lumen. The lateral wall is shaped so as to define a one-way locking opening. The tether-securing device further includes at least one tether, which (a) has at least a first tether end portion, and (b) passes through the lumen and the one-way locking opening. The tether-securing device additionally includes first and second tissue anchors. The first tissue anchor is connected to the first tether end portion. The one-way locking opening is configured to (a) allow sliding of the at least one tether in a first direction through the one-way locking opening, and (b) inhibit sliding of the at least one tether in a second direction opposite the first direction. Other embodiments are also described.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a tether-securing device, which comprises a tubular element, which is shaped so as define a lateral wall that entirely surrounds a lumen, wherein the lateral wall is shaped so as to define (a) a one-way locking opening and (b) first and second non-constraining openings at respective different circumferential locations; at least one tether, which (a) has at least first and second tether end portions, and (b) passes through the lumen, the one-way locking opening, and the first and the second non-constraining openings; and first and second tissue anchors, connected to the first and the second tether end portions, respectively, wherein the one-way locking opening is configured to (a) allow sliding of the at least one tether in a first direction through the one-way locking opening, and (b) inhibit sliding of the at least one tether in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the first and the second non-constraining openings are sized and shaped to allow free sliding therethrough of two longitudinal portions, respectively, of the at least one tether. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus comprising:
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a tether-securing device, which comprises a cylindrical tubular element, which is shaped so as define a lateral wall that entirely surrounds a lumen, wherein the lateral wall is shaped so as to define a one-way locking opening; at least one tether, which (a) has at least a first tether end portion, and (b) passes through the lumen and the one-way locking opening; and a first tissue anchor connected to the first tether end portion, wherein the one-way locking opening is configured to (a) allow sliding of the at least one tether in a first direction through the one-way locking opening, and (b) inhibit sliding of the at least one tether in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second tissue anchor that comprises a head and a tissue-coupling element, and wherein the tether-securing device is fixed to the head, such that the tether-securing device surrounds at least a portion of the head, and wherein the lateral wall is shaped so as to define a non-constraining opening, and wherein the at least one tether passes through the non-constraining opening, which is sized and shaped to allow free sliding therethrough of the at least one tether. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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delivering, to a vicinity of an anatomical site of a subject; (a) a tether-securing device, which includes a tubular element, which is shaped so as define a lateral wall that entirely surrounds a lumen, wherein the lateral wall is shaped so as to define (i) a one-way locking opening and (ii) first and second non-constraining openings at respective different circumferential locations, (b) at least one tether, which (i) has a first and second tether end portions, and (ii) passes through the lumen, the one-way locking opening, and the first and the second non-constraining openings, wherein the one-way locking opening is configured to (i) allow sliding of the at least one tether in a first direction through the one-way locking opening, and (ii) inhibit sliding of the at least one tether in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the first and the second non-constraining openings are sized and shaped to allow free sliding therethrough of two longitudinal portions, respectively, the at least one tether, and (c) first and second tissue anchors connected to the first and the second tether end portions, respectively; implanting the first and the second tissue anchors in tissue of the subject; and tensioning the at least one tether by sliding the at least one tether in the first direction through the one-way locking opening and the first and the second non-constraining openings. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method comprising:
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delivering, to a vicinity of an anatomical site of a subject; (a) a tether-securing device, which includes a cylindrical tubular element, which is shaped so as define a lateral wall that entirely surrounds a lumen, wherein the lateral wall is shaped so as to define a one-way locking opening, (b) at least one tether, which (i) has at least a first tether end portion, and (ii) passes through the lumen and the one-way locking opening, wherein the one-way locking opening is configured to (i) allow sliding of the at least one tether in a first direction through the one-way locking opening, and (ii) inhibit sliding of the at least one tether in a second direction opposite the first direction, and (c) a first tissue anchor connected to the first tether end portion; implanting the first tissue anchor in tissue of the subject; and delivering a second tissue anchor that includes a head and a tissue-coupling element, and wherein the tether-securing device is fixed to the head, such that the tether-securing device surrounds at least a portion of the head, wherein the lateral wall is shaped so as to define a non-constraining opening, which is sized and shaped to allow free sliding therethrough of the at least one tether, tensioning the at least one tether by sliding the at least one tether (a) in the first direction through the one-way locking opening and (b) through the non-constraining opening. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification