Biological vessel suspending assembly and systems and methods utilizing same

• US 20030078468A1
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tag Medical Devices
• Original Assignee: Tag Medical Products Limited
• Inventors: Skiba, Jeff, Oren, Ran, Moor, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 6,673,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06004 Means for attaching suture to needle tipping A61B17/06195; connecting wire to other metallic objects B21F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings

Abstract

A biological vessel suspending assembly is provided. The assembly includes a sling element and at least one anchoring device being attached to at least one end of the sling element, the at least one anchoring device being capable of self anchoring into a tissue to thereby enable suspension of the biological vessel from the sling element, wherein at least a portion of the sling element engaging the biological vessel is configured as a tubular sleeve-like structure capable of rolling upon the biological vessel thus decreasing the likelihood of frictional damage caused by movements of the biological vessel or the sling element at service.

Claims

1. A biological vessel suspending assembly comprising a sling element and at least one anchoring device being attached to at least one end of said sling element, said at least one anchoring device being capable of self anchoring into a tissue to thereby enable suspension of the biological vessel from said sling element wherein at least a portion of said sling element engaging the biological vessel is configured as a tubular sleeve-like structure capable of rolling upon the biological vessel thus decreasing the likelihood of frictional damage caused by movements of the biological vessel or said sling element at service.

2. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one anchoring device includes an attachment element for attaching to an inserter guide useful for positioning said at least one anchor device within said tissue.

3. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 1, wherein said sling element is constructed so as to enable adjustment of a distance between said at least a portion of said sling element supporting the biological vessel and said at least one anchoring device.

4. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 3, wherein said sling element includes cuffs attached thereto, whereas sliding of said cuffs along said sling element enables adjustment of said distance, between said at least a portion of said sling element supporting the biological vessel and said at least one anchoring device.

5. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one anchoring device is self deployable.

6. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one anchoring device includes a tissue piercing element for piercing said tissue.

7. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one anchoring device includes two anchoring devices each attached to a different end of said sling element.

8. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 1, wherein said tubular sleeve-like structure is a mesh tubular sleeve-like structure.

9. A biological vessel suspending system comprising:

(a) a vessel suspending assembly including a sling element and at least one anchoring device being attached to at least one end of said sling element said at least one anchoring device being capable of self anchoring into a tissue to thereby enable suspension of the biological vessel from said sling element, wherein at least a portion of said sling element engaging the biological vessel is configured as a tubular sleeve-like structure capable of rolling upon the biological vessel thus decreasing the likelihood of frictional damage caused by movements of the biological vessel or said sling element at service; and

(b) an inserter guide being attachable to said at least one anchoring device, said inserter guide being designed and constructed for positioning said at least one anchoring device within said tissue.

10. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 9, wherein said inserter guide include a tissue piercing element for piercing said tissue.

11. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 9, wherein said inserter guide and said at least one anchoring device are designed and constructed such that release of said at least one anchoring device from said inserter guide deploys said at least one anchoring device.

12. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 9, further comprising:

(c) an adjuster device being designed and constructed so as to enable adjustment of a distance between said at least a portion of said sling element supporting the biological vessel and said at least one anchoring device.

13. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 9, wherein said sling element is constructed so as to enable adjustment of a distance between said at least a portion of said sling element supporting the biological vessel and said at least one anchoring device.

14. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 12, wherein said sling element includes cuffs attachable to said adjuster device, whereas sliding of said cuffs along said sling element using said adjuster device enables adjustment of said distance between said at least a portion of said sling element supporting the biological vessel and said at least one anchoring device.

15. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 9, wherein said at least one anchoring device is self deployable.

16. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 9, wherein said at least one anchoring device includes a tissue piercing element for piercing said tissue.

17. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 9, wherein said at least one anchoring device includes two anchoring devices each attached to a different end of said sling element.

18. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 9, wherein said tubular sleeve-like structure is a mesh tubular sleeve-like structure.

19. A biological vessel suspending system comprising:

(a) a vessel suspending assembly including a sling element and at least one anchoring device being attached to at least one end of said sling element, said at least one anchoring device being capable of self anchoring into a tissue to thereby enable suspension of the biological vessel from said sling element, wherein at least a portion of said sling element engaging the biological vessel is configured as a tubular sleeve-like structure capable of rolling upon the biological vessel thus decreasing the likelihood of frictional damage caused by movements of the biological vessel or said sling element at service; and

(b) an adjuster device being attachable to said sling and being for adjusting a distance between said at least a portion of said sling element supporting the biological vessel and said at least one anchoring device.

20. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 19, wherein said sling element includes cuffs which are attachable to said adjuster device, whereas sliding of said cuffs along said sling element using said adjuster device enables adjustment of said distance between said at least a portion of said sling element supporting the biological vessel and said at least one anchoring device.

21. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 19, wherein said at least one anchoring device is self deployable.

22. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 19, wherein said at least one anchoring device includes or incorporates a tissue piercing element for piercing said tissue.

23. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 19, wherein said at least one anchoring device includes two anchoring devices each attached to a different end of said sling element.

24. The biological vessel suspending system of claim 19, wherein said tubular sleeve-like structure is a mesh tubular sleeve-like structure.

25. A method of suspending a biological vessel, the method comprising:

(a) anchoring at least one tissue anchoring device within a tissue, said at least one tissue anchoring device being attached to a sling element;

(b) engaging the biological vessel wit a portion of said sling element; and

(c) adjusting a distance between said anchoring device and said portion of said sling element to thereby suspend the biological vessel.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein step (a) is effected by an inserter guide attachable to said at least one anchoring device, whereas said inserter guide or said at least one anchoring device includes a tissue piercing element for introducing said at least one anchoring device into said tissue.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the biological vessel is the urethra and step (a) is effected by anchoring said at least one anchor into the fascia rectalis.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein step (c) is effected by an adjuster device designed and constructed so as to enable adjusting of said distance between said at least a portion of said sling element and said at least one anchoring device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said sling element includes cuffs which are attachable to said adjuster device, whereas sliding of said cuffs along said sling element using said adjuster device enables adjustment of said distance between said at least a portion of said sling element and said at least one anchoring device.

30. A biological vessel suspending assembly comprising a sling element and at least one anchoring device being attached to at least one end of said sling element, said at least one anchoring device being capable of self anchoring into a tissue to thereby enable suspension of the biological vessel from a support region of said sling element, wherein said sling element is configured with a mechanism which enables adjustment of a distance between said support region and said at least one anchoring device, thereby enabling adjustment of said suspension of the biological vessel.

31. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 30, wherein said at least one anchoring device is designed and configured for self anchoring into soft tissue.

32. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 30, wherein said sling element includes cuffs attached thereto, whereas sliding of said cuffs along said sling element enables adjustment of said distance between said support region and said at least one anchoring device.

33. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 30, wherein said at least one anchoring device includes an attachment element for attaching to an inserter guide useful for positioning said at least one anchor device within said tissue.

34. The biological vessel suspending assembly of claim 30, wherein said at least one anchoring device includes a tissue piercing element for piercing said tissue.