Articulating suturing device
First Claim
1. A method for closing an opening extending through a tissue wall, the method comprising:
- inserting a distal end of a tissue locator through the opening, the tissue locator comprising a shaft formed with a first arm and a second arm, each of the first arm and the second arm comprising a first end and a second end and being resiliently bendable at the second end that is formed with the shaft, the first arm and the second arm being aligned along the shaft of the tissue locator in a retracted configuration, the tissue locator being inserted far enough through the opening that the first and second arms are positioned distal of the tissue wall, first and second ends of a filament respectively being removably coupled with the first and second arms;
advancing an elongate expander from a first position axially separated from the first arm and the second arm to a second position contacting a portion of the first arm and the second arm;
pivoting the first end of each of the first and second arms of the tissue locator about the second end of the respective arm to move the first ends of the first and second arms from the retracted configuration to a deployed configuration in which the first ends of the first and second arms extend laterally away from the shaft;
advancing a first penetrator and a second penetrator through the tissue wall, and to end faces of the first and second arms, such that the first and second penetrators respectively couple with the first and second ends of the filament, each end face comprising an opening configured to receive a tip of one of the first penetrator and the second penetrator, each end face facing generally proximally in both the deployed configuration and the retracted configuration; and
withdrawing the first and second penetrators through the tissue wall, thereby causing the first and second ends of the filament to uncouple from the first and second arms, the first end of the filament remaining coupled with the first penetrator such that the first end of the filament withdraws through the tissue wall with the first penetrator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for closing an opening in a body tissue. The apparatus includes a shaft, a plurality of arms, and an expander. The arms each extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of each arm is hingedly attached to or integrally formed with the shaft. The arms are laterally spaced apart from each other. The arms are movable between a retracted configuration, in which the arms are each aligned along the shaft, and a deployed configuration, in which the proximal end of each arm pivots respectively about the distal end of the arm so as to extend laterally away from the shaft. The expander is positioned within the shaft, and movement of the expander causes the arms to move between the retracted and deployed configurations. Methods of using the apparatus are also included.
1056 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for closing an opening extending through a tissue wall, the method comprising:
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inserting a distal end of a tissue locator through the opening, the tissue locator comprising a shaft formed with a first arm and a second arm, each of the first arm and the second arm comprising a first end and a second end and being resiliently bendable at the second end that is formed with the shaft, the first arm and the second arm being aligned along the shaft of the tissue locator in a retracted configuration, the tissue locator being inserted far enough through the opening that the first and second arms are positioned distal of the tissue wall, first and second ends of a filament respectively being removably coupled with the first and second arms; advancing an elongate expander from a first position axially separated from the first arm and the second arm to a second position contacting a portion of the first arm and the second arm; pivoting the first end of each of the first and second arms of the tissue locator about the second end of the respective arm to move the first ends of the first and second arms from the retracted configuration to a deployed configuration in which the first ends of the first and second arms extend laterally away from the shaft; advancing a first penetrator and a second penetrator through the tissue wall, and to end faces of the first and second arms, such that the first and second penetrators respectively couple with the first and second ends of the filament, each end face comprising an opening configured to receive a tip of one of the first penetrator and the second penetrator, each end face facing generally proximally in both the deployed configuration and the retracted configuration; and withdrawing the first and second penetrators through the tissue wall, thereby causing the first and second ends of the filament to uncouple from the first and second arms, the first end of the filament remaining coupled with the first penetrator such that the first end of the filament withdraws through the tissue wall with the first penetrator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for closing an opening extending through a tissue wall, the method comprising:
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inserting a distal end of a tissue locator distally through the opening, the tissue locator comprising a shaft with a plurality of arms formed with the shaft, each of the plurality of arms comprising a first end and a second end and being resiliently bendable at the second end that is formed with the shaft, the first arm and the second arm being aligned along the shaft of the tissue locator in a retracted configuration, the tissue locator being inserted far enough through the opening that the plurality of arms are positioned distal of the tissue wall, at least one filament or web being removably coupled with the plurality of arms; advancing an elongate expander from a first position axially separated from the first arm and the second arm to a second position contacting a portion of the first arm and the second arm; moving the plurality of arms from the retracted configuration to a deployed configuration in which the plurality of arms extend laterally away from the shaft; for each arm, advancing a penetrator through the tissue wall toward an end face of the arm, having an opening configured to receive a tip of the penetrator, to couple with the at least one filament or web associated with the arm, the penetrators being movable independent of each other and the end face facing generally proximally in both the deployed configuration and the retracted configuration; and withdrawing the penetrators through the tissue wall, thereby causing the at least one filament or web to uncouple from the plurality of arms and withdraw through the tissue wall with the penetrators. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification