Doppler directed suture ligation device and method

• US 20040059352A1
• Filed: 09/18/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vascular Control Systems, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Vascular Control Systems, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Jones, Michael L., Altieri, Greig E., Burbank, Fred, Uyeno, Jill, Serra, R. J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,141,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12009 Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06104 interconnected at their distal ends, e.g. two hollow needles forming a loop for passing a suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to providing a method of preparing an anatomical vessel contained within a tissue bundle for ligation, including positioning a cannula adjacent to the tissue bundle, wherein the positioning is non-penetrating, the cannula including a first extendable member, a second extendable member, a Doppler wand, and a distal end, transmitting ultrasound signals toward the vessel through the tissue bundle with the Doppler wand, receiving ultrasound signals reflected by the vessel through the tissue bundle with the Doppler wand, invaginating the tissue bundle with the first extendable member on a first side of the tissue bundle, invaginating the tissue bundle with the second extendable member on a second side of the bundle opposite the first side, and interpenetrating a length of ligation material between the first and second extendable members on a side of the vessel opposite the cannula distal end.

Claims

1. A method of preparing an anatomical vessel contained within a tissue bundle for ligation, comprising the steps of:

positioning a cannula adjacent to said tissue bundle, wherein said positioning is non-penetrating, said cannula including a first extendable member, a second extendable member, a Doppler wand, and a distal end;

transmitting ultrasound signals toward said vessel through said tissue bundle with said Doppler wand;

receiving ultrasound signals reflected by said vessel through said tissue bundle with said Doppler wand;

invaginating said tissue bundle with said first extendable member on a first side of said tissue bundle;

invaginating said tissue bundle with said second extendable member on a second side of said bundle opposite said first side; and

interpenetrating a length of ligation material between said first and second extendable members on a side of said vessel opposite said cannula distal end.

2. The method as set forth to claim 1, wherein said first extendable member includes a detachable element to which said ligation material is attached, and further comprising grabbing said detachable element with portions of said second extendable member.

3. The method as set forth to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

retracting said second extendable member in a proximal direction; and

releasing said detachable element from said first extendable member.

4. The method as set forth to claim 1, wherein said first extendable member includes a tissue penetrating element to which said ligation material is attached, and further comprising piercing said tissue penetrating element into said tissue bundle.

5. The method as set forth to claim 4, wherein said tissue penetrating element includes a detachable element to which said ligation material is attached, and further comprising grabbing said detachable element with portions of said second extendable member.

6. The method as set forth to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

retracting said second extendable member in a proximal direction; and

releasing said detachable element from said first extendable member.

7. A ligation device for invaginating tissue adjacent to a vessel contained within the tissue bundle comprising:

means for noninvasively positioning a cannula about said tissue bundle, said cannula including a Doppler wand and a distal end;

means for transmitting ultrasound signals toward said vessel through said tissue bundle with said Doppler wand;

means for receiving ultrasound signals reflected by said vessel through said tissue bundle with said Doppler wand;

first means for invaginating said tissue bundle on a first side of said tissue bundle;

second means for invaginating said tissue bundle on a second side of said bundle opposite said first side; and

means for interpenetrating a length of ligation material between said first and second invaginating means on a side of said vessel opposite said cannula distal end.

8. The device as set forth to claim 7, wherein said first invaginating means comprises a first extendable member having a detachable element to which said ligation material is attached, and further comprising means for grabbing said detachable element with portions of said second invaginating means.

9. The device as set forth to claim 8, wherein said second invaginating means includes a second extendable member, and further comprising:

means for retracting said second extendable member in a proximal direction; and

means for releasing said detachable element from said first extendable member.

10. The device as set forth to claim 7, wherein said first extendable member includes a tissue penetrating element to which said ligation material is attached, and further comprising means for piercing said tissue penetrating element into said tissue bundle.

11. The device as set forth to claim 10, wherein said tissue penetrating element includes a detachable element to which said ligation material is attached, and further comprising means for grabbing said detachable element with portions of said second extendable member.

12. The device as set forth to claim 10, further comprising:

means for retracting said second invaginating means in a proximal direction; and

means for releasing said detachable element from said first extendable member.