Suture anchor applicator
First Claim
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1. A medical instrument comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is adapted to penetrate tissue; and
a tissue stop disposed on the shaft and changeable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the distal end is penetratable into tissue approximately to a predetermined depth when the tissue stop is in the expanded configuration.
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Abstract
A medical instrument is provided including a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end that define an axis, wherein the distal end is penetratable into tissue. The instrument also includes a tissue stop disposed on the shaft near the distal end and changeable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the distal end is penetratable into the tissue approximately to a predetermined depth when the tissue stop is in the expanded configuration.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A medical instrument comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is adapted to penetrate tissue; and
a tissue stop disposed on the shaft and changeable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the distal end is penetratable into tissue approximately to a predetermined depth when the tissue stop is in the expanded configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A medical instrument for applying a suture anchor to the tissue of a patient, the instrument comprising:
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a handle including a first, a second and a third actuator; and
a shaft having proximal and distal ends defining an axis, wherein the proximal end is attached to the handle and the shaft includes;
an inner tube having a channel therethrough, wherein at least one suture anchor may be retained in a loaded position inside of the distal portion of the channel;
an actuating element extending through the channel, wherein the proximal end of the actuating element is operatively connected to the third actuator and the distal end of the actuating element is proximal to the suture anchor;
an intermediate tube coaxially retained on the inner tube, wherein the proximal end of the intermediate tube is operatively connected to the first actuator and the distal end of the intermediate tube is movable between an extended position distal to the distal end of the inner tube and a retracted position proximal to the distal end of the inner tube;
an outer tube coaxially and slidably retained over the intermediate tube, wherein the proximal end of the outer tube is operatively connected to the second actuator; and
a tissue stop coaxially retained on the distal portion of the intermediate tube and operatively connected to the distal end of the outer tube, wherein the tissue stop comprises at least one arm that is radially extendable between a position near the axis when the tissue stop is in the collapsed configuration and a position spaced apart from the axis when the tissue stop is in the expanded configuration, whereby the second actuator may be actuated to position and hold the distal end of the intermediate tube between the extended and retracted positions at a desired longitudinal distance from the distal end of the inner tube, and the first actuator may be actuated to change the tissue stop between the collapsed and expanded configurations such that the distal end of the inner tube is penetratable into tissue approximately to a predetermined depth, and the third actuator may be actuated to eject the suture anchor from the distal end of the channel of the inner tube. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A suture anchor applicator comprising:
a shaft having proximal and distal ends defining an axis therebetween, wherein the shaft is flexible and sized for insertion into the working channel of a conventional, flexible endoscope when the tissue stop is in the collapsed configuration, and wherein the shaft includes;
an inner tube having a channel extending therethrough, wherein the distal end of the inner tube is formed into a tissue penetrating tip, and wherein a distal portion of the channel is adapted to retain at least one suture anchor;
an actuating element slidably retained in the channel, wherein the actuating element is movable in the distal direction such that the distal end of the actuating element ejects a suture anchor positioned in the distal portion of the channel;
an outer tube retained on the inner tube;
a tissue stop retained on the inner tube and connected to the distal end of the outer tube, wherein the tissue stop comprises at least one arm radially extendable between a position near the axis in a collapsed configuration and a position spaced apart from the axis in an expanded configuration, whereby the penetrating tip is penetratable into the tissue approximately to a predetermined depth when the arm of the tissue stop is in the expanded configuration. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification