Tissue anchor system

• US 20030078604A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher J. Walshe
• Original Assignee: Christopher J. Walshe
• Inventors: Walshe, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,056,333 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• 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 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0435 the barbs being separate elements mechanically linked to the anchor, e.g. by pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2911 rings

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein is a tissue-anchoring system, including a tissue-anchoring device and tissue anchors. The tissue-anchoring device includes a housing and a tissue anchor positioned on the tissue-anchoring device that will be inserted into a tissue or secured onto a tissue. The device may optionally have a plunger assembly slidably positioned in the housing to assist advancing anchor into a tissue. The tissue anchor has a barb end and a shaft. The barb end is adapted to resist removal from a tissue after the anchor has been inserted. The tissue anchor shaft and the barb end may be hollow. The anchor shaft has an attachment member distal from the barb end for direct attachment to a tissue or for attachment of sutures or slings. The tissue anchors may include an adjustment mechanism for intra- or post-operative adjustments.

Claims

1. A tissue anchor system comprising:

a. a delivery device having a housing and a plunger slidably positioned in said housing;

b. a tissue anchor having a barb positioned thereon, said barb having a tip shaped to penetrate soft tissue and being adapted to resist removal from a tissue once inserted; and

c. an attachment member, whereby said anchor is advanced away from said housing upon operation of said plunger.

2. A tissue anchor system according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a hollow portion and said plunger has a portion positioned within said hollow of said housing.

3. A tissue anchor system according to claim 2 wherein said hollow portion of said housing has an axial slot.

4. A tissue anchor system according to claim 3 wherein a portion of said anchor partially extends through said axial slot in said housing.

5. A tissue anchor system according to claim 3 wherein said hollow portion has a tip end, said tip end being shaped to allow said tip end to penetrate a tissue.

6. An adjustable tissue anchor comprising:

a. an anchor body having a first and second open end with an interior chamber running between said open ends, said interior chamber having a first interleaving member;

b. an anchor shaft sized to be positioned in said anchor body and having a second interleaving member, said first interleaving member and said second interleaving member cooperating, when said anchor shaft is positioned in said interior chamber, to adjustably fix the position of said anchor shaft with respect to said anchor body;

c. a barb positioned on said anchor shaft; and

d. an attachment member formed on said anchor body.

7. The tissue anchor according to claim 6, wherein said anchor shaft is adjustable both in a forward direction and in a rearward direction relative to said anchor body.

8. The tissue anchor according to claim 6, wherein said tissue anchor is positioned within a hollow barrel of a delivery device.

9. The tissue anchor according to claim 8, wherein said delivery device includes a plunger and a finger grip.

10. The tissue anchor according to claim 6, wherein said interleaving members are interlocking threads, finger members, or indentions in said anchor shaft.

11. The tissue anchor according to claim 6, wherein said attachment member is a ring, a tissue clamp, an annular projection, a series of indentations, or an aperture formed in said anchor shaft.

12. An adjustable tissue anchor comprising:

a. an anchor body having a first and second open end with an interior chamber running between said open ends, said interior chamber having a first interleaving member;

b. a barb positioned on said anchor body;

c. an anchor shaft sized to be positioned in said anchor body and having a second interleaving member, said first interleaving member and said second interleaving member cooperating, when said anchor shaft is positioned in said interior chamber, to adjustably fix the position of said anchor shaft with respect to said anchor body; and

d. an attachment member formed on said anchor shaft.