Compressible tissue anchor assemblies

• US 20050277966A1
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Saadat, Vahid, Ewers, Richard C., Vong, Shirley
• Granted Patent: US 7,736,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/153
• 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 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• 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 hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

Apparatus & methods for optimizing anchoring force are described herein. In securing tissue folds, over-compression of the tissue directly underlying the anchors is avoided by utilizing tissue anchors having expandable arms configured to minimize contact area between the anchor and tissue. When the anchor is in its expanded configuration, a load is applied to the anchor until it is optimally configured to accommodate a range of deflections while the anchor itself exerts a substantially constant force against the tissue. Various devices, e.g., stops, spring members, fuses, strain gauges, etc., can be used to indicate when the anchor has been deflected to a predetermined level within the optimal range. Moreover, other factors to affect the anchor characteristics include, e.g., varying the number of arms or struts of the anchor, positioning of the arms, configuration of the arms, the length of the collars, etc.

Claims

1. An anchor assembly for securing tissue, comprising:

a compressible basket anchor having a first proximal collar, a first distal collar, and a plurality of deformable arms each extending between the first proximal and first distal collars; and

a mesh anchor having a second proximal collar, a second distal collar, and a deformable mesh surface extending between the second proximal and distal collars,

wherein the basket anchor is disposed within the mesh anchor such that the first and second proximal collars are adjacent to one another and the first and second distal collars are adjacent to one another.

2. The anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein the anchor assembly is adapted to self-configure from a delivery configuration to an expanded configuration for placement against a tissue surface.

3. The anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of deformable arms extend in an arcuate or spiral configuration between the first proximal and first distal collars.

4. The anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein the compressible basket anchor is comprised of a shape memory alloy.

5. The anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein the first proximal collar and second proximal collar are attached to one another.

6. The anchor assembly of claim 5 wherein the first distal collar and second distal collar are attached to one another.

7. The anchor assembly of claim 1 further comprising a length of suture routed through the anchor assembly.

8. The anchor assembly of claim 1 wherein the basket anchor and mesh anchor are freely movable relative to one another.

9. An anchor for securing tissue, comprising:

a proximal collar;

a distal collar; and

a mesh surface extending between the proximal and distal collars,

wherein the mesh surface is pre-formed to have one or more radially-biased bulges such that compression of the mesh surface from a delivery configuration to a securement configuration forms a circumferential ring which inhibits passage of the anchor through a tissue surface.

10. The anchor of claim 9 further comprising a basket anchor disposed within the mesh surface.

11. The anchor of claim 9 further comprising a length of suture routed through the proximal and distal collars.

12. The anchor of claim 9 wherein the mesh surface is pre-formed to have at least two radially-biased bulges.

13. The anchor of claim 12 wherein the mesh surface is further pre-formed to have at least one inwardly biased portion between the two radially-biased bulges.

14. The anchor of claim 13 where the inwardly biased portion is adapted to form a first diameter which is less than a second diameter of the two radially-biased bulges.

15. The anchor of claim 13 further comprising a ring or band formed at or about the inwardly biased portion for facilitating formation of the circumferential ring.