Tissue fixation devices and assemblies for deploying the same

• US 20050187567A1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endogastric Solutions
• Original Assignee: EsophyX, Inc.
• Inventors: Carter, Brett J., Baker, Steve G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,632,287 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners

Abstract

Tissue fasteners carried on a tissue piercing deployment wire fasten tissue layers of a mammalian body together include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member extending between the first and second members. One of the first and second members has an elongated slot permitting fastener deployment while avoiding excessive tissue compression.

Claims

18. A fastener assembly for use in a mammalian body, comprising:

a fastener including a first member, a second member, wherein the first and second members have first and second ends, and a connecting member fixed to each of the first and second members intermediate the first and second ends and extending between the first and second members, wherein the first and second members are separated by the connecting member, and wherein one of the first and second members has a longitudinal axis, a through channel along the axis, and an elongated slot communicating with the through channel;

a deployment wire arranged to be slidingly received by the through channel of the one of the first and second members and to pierce into the tissue and arranged to be received by the elongated slot during retraction of the deployment wire to enable early deployment of the one of the first and second members and reduced tissue compression; and

a pusher that pushes the one of first and second members into the tissue while on the deployment wire.

1. A fastener for use in a mammalian body, comprising:

a first member;

a second member,

the first and second members having first and second ends; and

a connecting member fixed to each of the first and second members intermediate the first and second ends and extending between the first and second members,

the first and second members being separated by the connecting member, and

one of the first and second members having a longitudinal axis, a through channel along the axis arranged to be slidingly received on a tissue piercing deployment wire, and an elongated slot communicating with the through channel and dimensioned to receive the tissue piercing deployment wire.

2. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the elongated slot is substantially parallel to the through channel.

3. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the connecting member is flexible permitting another one of the first and second members to be next to the one of the first and second members when the one of the first and second members is on the tissue piercing deployment wire.

4. The fastener of claim 1 wherein one end of the one of the first and second members further includes a pointed tip.

5. The fastener of claim 4 wherein the pointed tip is conical.

6. The fastener of claim 4 wherein the pointed tip comprises a sectioned portion.

7. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the through channel comprises a through bore.

8. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the connecting member is formed of elastic material.

9. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the first member, the second member, and the connecting member are all formed of plastic material.

10. The fastener of claim 9 wherein the first member, the second member, and the connecting member are all formed in one piece.

11. The fastener of claim 9 wherein the connecting member is formed of plastic elastic material.

12. The fastener of claim 9 wherein the connecting member is formed of a plastic, permanently deformable material.

13. The fastener of claim 9 wherein the plastic material includes a color pigment contrasting with body tissue color to enable visualization of the fastener with an endoscope.

14. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the first and second members and the connecting member are formed of different materials.

15. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the fastener is formed of metal.

16. The fastener of claim 15 wherein the metal is a shape memory material.

17. The fastener of claim 16 wherein the metal is Nitinol.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the elongated slot is substantially parallel to the through channel.

20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the pusher is also arranged to be slidingly received on the deployment wire.

21. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the connecting member of the fastener is flexible, and wherein the assembly further comprises a guide tube extending over the deployment wire and the fastener, the other one of the first and second members being disposed next to the one of the first and second members within the guide tube.

22. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the first and second members are arranged to be side by side when the one of the first and second members is slidingly received on the deployment wire.

23. The assembly of claim 18 wherein one end of the one of the first and second members of the fastener further includes a pointed tip.

24. The assembly of claim 23 wherein the pointed tip comprises a truncated cone.

25. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the through channel of the fastener comprises a through bore.

26. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the first member, the second member, and the connecting member of the fastener are all formed of plastic material.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the first member, the second member, and the connecting member of the fastener are all formed in one piece.

28. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the connecting member of the fastener is formed of plastic elastic material.

29. The assembly of claim 28 wherein the connecting member of the fastener is formed of one of polyurethane, themoplastic elastomer, and polypropylene.

30. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the connecting member of the fastener is formed of a plastic, permanently deformable material.

31. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the fastener includes a color pigment contrasting with body tissue color to enable visualization of the fastener with an endoscope.

32. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the fastener is formed of metal.

33. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the fastener is formed of a shape memory material.

34. The assembly of claim 33 wherein the fastener is formed of Nitinol.

35. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the one of the first and second members of the fastener is self-deployable when the tissue piercing deployment wire is received by the elongated slot.

25-1. The assembly of claim 18 further comprising a guide tube extending over the deployment wire and the fastener.