Endoscopic tissue apposition device and method of use
First Claim
1. An endoscopic tissue apposition device, comprising:
- a device body having a first end portion and a second end portion;
a vacuum chamber within the device body for receiving tissue drawn thereinto, the vacuum chamber being located between the first end portion and the second end portion;
a vacuum line communicating with the vacuum chamber for applying a vacuum to the vacuum chamber;
a carrier needle retractable within the first end portion of the device body and traverseable across the vacuum chamber to the second end portion of the device body;
a punch needle engageable with the second end portion of the device body, wherein the punch needle is configured to receive the carrier needle; and
a hold and release mechanism for intermittently retaining the punch needle in the second end portion of the device body, wherein a suture is attachable to the punch needle, and wherein the punch needle with the attached suture is traverseable across the vacuum chamber upon the carrier needle being received within the punchy needle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic tissue apposition device that includes a vacuum chamber configured to securely hold a portion of tissue therein, the vacuum chamber being defined by a proximal wall and a distal wall opposite to the proximal wall. Working and vacuum channels are provided in communication with the vacuum chamber. A portion of tissue is held in the vacuum chamber when vacuum is applied in the vacuum chamber through the vacuum channel. A carrier needle is disposed on a proximal side of the vacuum chamber and is longitudinally advanceable into and across the vacuum chamber, while a punch needle is disposed on a distal side of the vacuum chamber and is configured to receive the carrier needle therein. A hold and release mechanism holds and releases the punch needle to facilitate joining portions of tissue together.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An endoscopic tissue apposition device, comprising:
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a device body having a first end portion and a second end portion;
a vacuum chamber within the device body for receiving tissue drawn thereinto, the vacuum chamber being located between the first end portion and the second end portion;
a vacuum line communicating with the vacuum chamber for applying a vacuum to the vacuum chamber;
a carrier needle retractable within the first end portion of the device body and traverseable across the vacuum chamber to the second end portion of the device body;
a punch needle engageable with the second end portion of the device body, wherein the punch needle is configured to receive the carrier needle; and
a hold and release mechanism for intermittently retaining the punch needle in the second end portion of the device body, wherein a suture is attachable to the punch needle, and wherein the punch needle with the attached suture is traverseable across the vacuum chamber upon the carrier needle being received within the punchy needle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of joining internal body tissue endoscopically, comprising:
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navigating a distal end of an endoscopic apposition device to a treatment site, the apposition device having a vacuum chamber configured to securely hold a U-shaped portion of tissue therein, a carrier needle retractably disposed on a first end portion of the vacuum chamber and traverseable across the vacuum chamber, a punch needle disposed on a second end portion of the vacuum chamber opposite the first end portion and configured to receive the carrier needle therein, and a hold and release mechanism which holds and releases the punch needle;
advancing the carrier needle across the vacuum chamber and into the punch needle;
retracting the carrier and punch needles to the first end portion proximal of the vacuum chamber;
applying the vacuum to the vacuum chamber; and
advancing the carrier and punch needles toward the second end portion of the vacuum chamber to secure the U-shaped portion of tissue together. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An endoscopic tissue apposition device, comprising:
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tissue retaining means for securely retaining a portion of tissue therein, the tissue retaining means having first and second ends, wherein the second end opposes the first end;
vacuum means for supplying a vacuum pressure to the tissue retaining means;
a carrier needle longitudinally advanceable across the tissue retaining means;
a punch needle configured to receive the carrier needle; and
a hold a release means for holding and releasing the punch needle, the hold and release means being in communication with the tissue retaining means, wherein a suture is attacheable to the punch needle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification