Linear anchors for anchoring to tissue

• US 20050251208A1
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Saadat, Vahid, Maahs, Tracy D., Michlitsch, Kenneth J., Elmer, Marvin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/869,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20050251208A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/232
• 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 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• 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 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• 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 17/22031 Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0443 the shaft being resilient and having a coiled or helical shape in the released state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0446 Means for attaching and blocking the suture in the suture anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 : snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 : Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 : the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 : Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 : Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0459 : Multiple holes in the anchor through which the suture extends and locking the suture when tension is applied
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0461 : with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 : One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 : Knot pushers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0475 : using sutures having a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0477 : with pre-tied sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 : Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 : for tensioning sutures
• 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: A61B 2017/06171 : helically or spirally coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 : Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/081 : Tissue approximator A61B2017/1103, A61B17/8866 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 : Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue

Abstract

Linear anchors for anchoring to tissue are disclosed herein. The anchors are adapted to be delivered and implanted into or upon tissue, particularly tissue within the gastrointestinal system of a patient. The anchor, which may be a ribbon, flattened wire, etc., is adapted to be delivered in an elongate straightened configuration through or against the tissue and then compressed along a longitudinal direction such that a tissue plication may be cinched between anchors. The elongate anchor defines a plurality of holes along its length in any number of patterns. A length of suture is routed through these holes such that tensioning the suture urges the elongate anchor to compress into its expanded anchoring configuration. A locking mechanism facilitates the cinching of the anchor against the tissue surface.

Claims

1. An anchoring system for placement against a tissue surface, comprising:

an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length therebetween defining a plurality of holes;

a length of suture for passage through at least one of the holes, and

wherein the elongate member is adapted to be reconfigured from a straightened configuration to an expanded anchoring configuration when the elongate member is compressed longitudinally.

2. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the elongate member comprises a flexible material.

3. The anchoring system of claim 2 wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyester, polystyrene, polycarbonate, nylon, teflon, elastomers, and co-polymers thereof.

4. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the proximal and distal ends are configured to be atraumatic.

5. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the length of the elongate member is between 3.50 and 7.25 inches.

6. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the elongate member is between 0.010 and 0.020 inches.

7. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein a width of the elongate member is between 0.030 and 0.050 inches.

8. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein each of the holes have a diameter of 0.015 inches.

9. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of holes are defined at a uniform distance from one another along the length of the elongate member.

10. The anchoring system of claim 9 wherein the distance between the holes range from 0.375 and 0.750 inches.

11. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of holes are staggered along the length of the elongate member.

12. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of holes are arbitrarily defined along the length of the elongate member.

13. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein portions of the length of the elongate member between adjacent holes are adapted to bend at a predetermined angle when the elongate member is compressed longitudinally.

14. The anchoring system of claim 1 further comprising a hollow needle through which the elongate member is adapted to be delivered when in the straightened configuration.

15. The anchoring system of claim 1 further comprising a locking member adapted to slide distally over the suture and retain the elongate member in the expanded anchoring configuration.

16. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the suture comprises a knot located distally of at least one of the holes such that the knot is configured to prevent passage of the suture proximally relative to the hole.

17. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the suture is fastened near or at the distal end of the elongate member.

18. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the elongate member defines at least one notched area along its length.

19. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the length of the elongate member defines a plurality of undulations.

20. The anchoring system of claim 1 further comprising at least one spring element adjacent the elongate member.

21. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the elongate member comprises a tubular member.

22. The anchoring system of claim 21 wherein the tubular member defines at least one cut-out along its length.

23. The anchoring system of claim 21 wherein the tubular member defines a plurality of cut-outs along its length.

24. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the elongate member comprises a plurality of support elements linearly aligned and having a coating or covering thereupon.

25. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the elongate member comprises at least one wire formed integrally through the length of the elongate member.

26. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the elongate member comprises a ribbon member having a length of non-uniform thickness.

27. The anchoring system of claim 1 wherein the elongate member comprises a wire having eyelets defined therealong.

28. A method of positioning an anchor against a tissue surface, comprising:

positioning an elongate member in a straightened configuration against the tissue surface, the elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length therebetween; and

compressing the elongate member longitudinally such that the elongate member reconfigures to an expanded anchoring configuration against the tissue surface.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein positioning the elongate member comprises delivering the elongate member in the straightened configuration through at least one portion of tissue.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein delivering the elongate member comprises passing the elongate member through a hollow needle.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising ejecting the elongate member from the hollow needle.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein compressing the elongate member longitudinally comprises tensioning a length of suture attached at or near the distal end of the elongate member.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising passing the suture through a plurality of holes defined along the length of the elongate member prior to compressing the elongate member.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein passing the suture through the plurality of holes comprises passing the suture in a staggered pattern along the elongate member.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein passing the suture through the plurality of holes comprises passing the suture in a uniform pattern along the elongate member.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein passing the suture through the plurality of holes comprises passing the suture in an arbitrary pattern along the elongate member.

37. The method of claim 28 wherein compressing the elongate member longitudinally comprises bending adjacent portions of the elongate member at angles relative to one another.

38. The method of claim 28 further comprising locking the elongate member to retain the expanded anchoring configuration.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein locking the elongate member comprises urging a locking member distally over a length of suture against the elongate member such that the locking member retains the expanded anchoring configuration.