Soft tissue depth-finding tool
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a tissue anchor, which (a) comprises a helical tissue-coupling element which has a distal tissue-penetrating tip at a distal end of the tissue anchor, and which is configured to be advanced into soft tissue, and (b) is shaped so as to define a longitudinal channel extending to the distal end of the tissue anchor; and
a depth-finding tool, which comprises a radiopaque bead that is axially moveable along the channel to come in contact with and remain at a surface of the soft tissue as the helical tissue-coupling element is advanced into the soft tissue, such that the radiopaque bead serves as a marker indicating a depth of penetration of the tissue-coupling element into the soft tissue.
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Abstract
Apparatus is provided that includes a tissue anchor, which (a) includes a helical tissue-coupling element which has a distal tissue-penetrating tip at a distal end of the tissue anchor, and which is configured to be advanced into soft tissue, and (b) is shaped so as to define a longitudinal channel extending to the distal end of the tissue anchor. The apparatus further includes a depth-finding tool, which includes a radiopaque bead that is axially moveable along the channel so as to serve as a marker indicating a depth of penetration of the tissue-coupling element into the soft tissue.
660 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a tissue anchor, which (a) comprises a helical tissue-coupling element which has a distal tissue-penetrating tip at a distal end of the tissue anchor, and which is configured to be advanced into soft tissue, and (b) is shaped so as to define a longitudinal channel extending to the distal end of the tissue anchor; and a depth-finding tool, which comprises a radiopaque bead that is axially moveable along the channel to come in contact with and remain at a surface of the soft tissue as the helical tissue-coupling element is advanced into the soft tissue, such that the radiopaque bead serves as a marker indicating a depth of penetration of the tissue-coupling element into the soft tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus comprising:
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a tissue anchor, which (a) comprises a helical tissue-coupling element which has a distal tissue-penetrating tip at a distal end of the tissue anchor, and which is configured to be advanced into soft tissue, and (b) is shaped so as to define a longitudinal channel extending to the distal end of the tissue anchor; and a depth-finding tool, which comprises a radiopaque bead that is axially moveable along the channel so as to serve as a marker indicating a depth of penetration of the tissue-coupling element into the soft tissue, wherein the radiopaque bead is shaped so as to define a hole therethrough, wherein the hole of the radiopaque bead is configured to ride over the helical tissue-coupling element, such that the helical-coupling element passes through the hole of the radiopaque bead and the radiopaque bead is axially moveable along the channel in a helical path.
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9. A method comprising:
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providing a tissue anchor, which (a) includes a helical tissue-coupling element which has a distal tissue-penetrating tip at a distal end of the tissue anchor, and (b) is shaped so as to define a longitudinal channel extending to the distal end of the tissue anchor; providing a depth-finding tool, which includes a radiopaque bead that is axially moveable along the channel; and advancing the helical tissue-coupling element into soft tissue, such that the radiopaque bead comes into contact with and remains at a surface of the soft tissue so as to serve as a marker indicating a depth of penetration of the tissue-coupling element into the soft tissue. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification