Tissue connector apparatus and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Tissue connector assemblies having at least two piercing members, each releaseably coupled to a surgical fastener such as a surgical clip. A flexible member such as a suture may be used to couple one or both piercing members to respective ends of the fastener.
-
Citations
82 Claims
- 1. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion.
- 36. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener having first and second end portions, a first tissue piercing member, a second tissue piercing member, and at least one flexible member having first and second end portions, said at least one flexible member first end portion being attached to said first tissue piercing member, said at least one flexible member second end portion being coupled to said first end portion of said surgical fastener, said second end portion of said surgical fastener being coupled to said second tissue piercing member.
- 68. A tissue connector assembly comprising two needles, a surgical clip and a flexible member having a portion releaseably coupled to said surgical clip and a portion coupled to one of said needles, the other one of said needles being coupled to said surgical clip.
- 70. Tissue connector apparatus comprising a wire, a tissue piercing member, a generally tubular member having first and second end portions and surrounding said wire and a coupling, said piercing member being coupled to said coupling and said coupling including members having portions that have a radially outward bias and extend within said tubular member second end portion, said tubular member second end portion being releasably constrained.
-
72. Tissue connector apparatus comprising a surgical fastener, a tissue piercing member, a flexible member, a coupling, and a coil, said flexible member having a portion coupled to said piercing member and a portion coupled to said coupling, said coil surrounding said surgical fastener and being compressed against said coupling, said coupling including a first member fixedly secured to said fastener and a second member slidably coupled to said fastener, and said flexible member being positioned between said coupling members, and said coil surrounding said surgical fastener and having one end releaseably constrained and the other end compressed against said slidably coupled member.
-
73. Tissue connector apparatus comprising a surgical fastener, tissue piercing member and a coupling said fastener including a groove and projection and said coupling including a member having a groove and projection and a sleeve slidably mounted thereon, said fastener groove and projection being configured to mate with said coupling member groove and projection.
-
74. Tissue connector apparatus comprising a surgical fastener, a tissue piercing member, a flexible member having a portion coupled to said tissue piercing member and a knotted portion, and a tubular member having a bore, said fastener being coupled to said tubular member and said knotted portion being in said bore, said bore having a portion with a diameter less than that of a section of said knotted portion.
-
75. Tissue connector apparatus comprising a surgical fastener, an annular blade and a tissue piercing member, said tissue piercing member being coupled to said annular blade, and said annular blade surrounding and being secured to a portion of said surgical fastener.
-
76. A method of decoupling multiple tissue piercing members from a surgical fastener comprising actuating release of multiple piercing members, which are coupled to a surgical fastener, essentially simultaneously.
-
77. A method of decoupling multiple tissue piercing members from a surgical fastener comprising releasing multiple tissue piercing members, which are coupled to a surgical fastener, with a single release actuator.
-
78. A method of decoupling multiple tissue piercing members from a surgical fastener including simultaneously actuating release of multiple needles from a surgical fastener.
-
79. The method of setting a tissue connector assembly including a surgical fastener and multiple tissue piercing members coupled thereto comprising manipulating a single portion of the tissue connector assembly to both release the tissue piercing members from the fastener and actuate closure of the fastener.
- 80. A method of securing portions of material together, at least one of which comprises tissue, the method comprising placing at least a portion of a first piercing member, having a surgical fastener coupled thereto, in a vessel lumen, placing at least a portion of a second piercing member, which also is coupled to the surgical fastener and where at least one of the piercing members is coupled to the surgical fastener with a flexible member, in a tubular graft, passing the first piercing member through the wall of the vessel from an interior surface thereof, passing the second piercing member through the wall of the tubular graft from an interior surface thereof, and positioning the fastener with one portion thereof extending through said vessel wall and another portion extending through said graft wall.
Specification