Grasping for tissue repair

• US 10,188,392 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Wei, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US14/577,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20160174979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/081 Tissue approximator A61B2017/1103, A61B17/8866 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/246 Devices for obstructing a leak through a native valve in a closed condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type

Abstract

The invention provides improved devices, systems, and methods for tissue approximation and repair at treatment sites. The invention provides devices, systems, and methods that may more successfully approximate and repair tissue by improving the capture of tissue into the devices. The invention may be a one-way mechanism that allows tissue to enter the mechanism but not easily exit, such as a leaf-spring, a protrusion, a pivoting arm and one or more frictional elements.

Claims

1. A fixation device for engaging tissue comprising:

a pair of distal elements each having a first end, a free end opposite the first end, and an engagement surface therebetween, the pair of distal elements having an open position and a closed position;

a pair of proximal elements each having a first end, a free end opposite the first end, and an engagement surface therebetween, the pair of proximal elements configured to be raised from and lowered toward the distal elements; and

a shaft to which the first ends of the proximal elements and distal elements are operably coupled;

wherein each of the distal elements comprises a retaining element joined to and extending from a location proximate the free end of the distal element, the retaining element being configured to permit tissue to move toward the first end of the distal element and to resist movement of the tissue away from the first end of the distal element, the retaining element extending along substantially an entire length of the distal element from proximate the free end towards the first end of the distal element when in the closed position,

wherein the retaining elements comprise at least one leaf spring configured to direct or urge the tissue toward engagement with one or more barbs located on one of the proximal elements.

2. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein each proximal element further comprises one or more frictional elements on the engagement surface.

3. The fixation device of claim 2, wherein the frictional elements located on each proximal element comprise one or more barbs.

4. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein each of the retaining elements further comprises at least one protrusion.

5. The fixation device of claim 1, wherein each retaining element is configured to resist movement of the tissue away from the first end of the distal element with the proximal elements lowered.