APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAGNETIC ALTERATION OF ANATOMICAL FEATURES

• US 20090048618A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Harrison, Michael R., Moran, Arthur, Fechter, Richard J., Christensen, Darrell
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/153
• 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 17/0483 Hand-held instruments for holding sutures A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1114 of the digestive tract, e.g. bowels or oesophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1789 for the sternum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7055 connected to sacrum, pelvis or skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8076 for the ribs or the sternum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00411 actuated by application of energy from an energy source outside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1117 adapted for discharge after necrotisation, e.g. by evacuation, expulsion or excretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1139 Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure

Abstract

A system for auto-anastomosing a region of the body using magnetic members that may be individually delivered to different locations in the body. The magnetic members have a polar alignment that generates an attractive force to compress tissue in the region between them. The tissue in the region necroses as a result of the compressive force such that tissue surrounding the necrosed tissue heals together to form an anastomosis. A cutting member may be coupled to either the first or second magnetic member to create a temporary opening in the tissue.

Claims

1. A system for auto-anastomosing a region of the body, comprising:

a first magnetic member configured to be delivered to a location in the body adjacent the region;

a second magnetic member configured to be located adjacent the region opposite from the first magnetic member such that the region is disposed in between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member;

the first magnetic member having a first bore running through the first magnetic member;

the second magnetic member having a second bore running through the second magnetic member;

wherein the first and second magnetic members are configured to generate an attractive force to compress tissue in the region between them; and

a cutting member coupled to the first magnetic member;

the cutting member being disposed in the first bore and configured to cut the tissue to create a temporary opening in the tissue;

wherein the tissue in the region necroses as a result of the compressive force such that tissue surrounding the necrosed tissue heals together to form an anastomosis.

2. A system as recited in claim 1:

wherein the region comprises tissue occupied by first and second viscera segments in the body;

wherein the first magnetic member is configured to be delivered into the first viscera segment;

wherein the second magnetic member is configured to be delivered to the second viscera segment at a location in proximity to the first magnet to generate the compressive force in the tissue between first and second viscera segments;

wherein the first and second bores are located to line up substantially concentric when the first and second magnetic members are positioned at the region; and

wherein the cutting member reciprocates in the first bore to cut said tissue, thereby generating a temporary opening in the tissue for fluid communication between the first and second viscera segments.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second magnetic members and the cutting member are configured to pass as a unit along with the necrosed tissue through one of the first or second viscera segments and out the body.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second magnetic members comprise magnets housed in biocompatible casings.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second magnetic members comprise first and second mating surfaces that compress the tissue to generate a non-uniform compressive force distribution across the tissue.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the first and second mating surfaces are configured such that the compressive force increases radially inward from the periphery of the surfaces.

7. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the first and second mating surfaces comprise at least one curvilinear surface.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein the first mating surface comprises a planar surface and the second mating surface comprises a curvilinear surface.

9. A system as recited in claim 7:

wherein the first mating surface comprises a concave curvilinear surface having a first radius; and

wherein the second magnetic member comprises a convex curvilinear surface having a second radius.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the first radius is larger than the second radius such that a non-uniform compressive force is distributed across the region of compressed tissue.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the concave spherical surface and the convex spherical surface are configured such the compressive force increases radially inward from the periphery of the surfaces.

12. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the compressive force is configured to necrose tissue radially inward with respect to the surfaces, and

wherein the compressive force at the periphery is configured to promote growth and fuse the tissue at the periphery.

13. A system as recited in claim 2:

wherein the cutting member comprises a blade shaped to slideably mate with the first bore; and

wherein the cutting member slides along the bore to cut the tissue located between the first and second magnets.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the cutting member has a through-hole to allow fluid communication through the first and second magnetic members and between the first viscera segment and the second viscera segment.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the first and second magnetic members have an oblong shape to promote transport within the first and second viscera.

16. A system as recited in claim 13:

wherein the blade terminates at a tab to limit motion of the blade within the bore; and

wherein the tab retains the blade within the bores of the first and second magnetic members.

17. A method for auto-anastomosing a region of the body, comprising:

delivering a first magnetic member to a first location in the body adjacent the region;

locating a second magnetic member adjacent the region opposite from the first magnetic member such that the region is disposed in between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member;

generating an attractive force between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member to compress tissue in the region between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member;

cutting the tissue to generate a temporary opening at the region;

said temporary opening providing fluid communication between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member; and

necrosing the tissue in the region around said opening as a result of the compressive force;

wherein tissue surrounding the necrosed tissue heals together to form an anastomosis.

18. A method as recited in claim 17:

wherein the region comprises tissue occupied by first and second viscera segments in the body;

wherein the first magnetic member is delivered into the first viscera segment;

wherein the second magnetic member is delivered to the second viscera segment at a location in proximity to the first magnet to generate a compressive force in the tissue in between first and second viscera segments;

wherein the first and second magnetic members comprise first and second bores;

wherein cutting the tissue comprises reciprocating a cutting member in the first bore to cut said tissue, thereby generating the temporary opening in the tissue; and

wherein the first bore is in fluid communication with the second bore to allow fluid communication between the first and second viscera segments through the temporary opening.

19. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the first and second magnetic members generate a non-uniform compressive force distribution across the tissue.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the compressive force increases radially inward from the periphery of the surfaces.

21. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the first and second bores line up substantially concentric when positioned at the region;

wherein cutting the tissue comprises sliding a blade along the first bore and into the tissue.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the blade has a through-hole to allow fluid communication through the first and second magnetic members and between the first viscera segment and the second viscera segment.

23. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the blade is retained within the bores of the first and second magnetic members.

24. An apparatus for auto-anastomosing a region of the body, the region comprising first and second adjacent visceral walls, comprising:

a first magnetic member configured to be delivered to a first location at the first visceral wall, the first location being adjacent the region;

a second magnetic member configured to be positioned at a second location along the second visceral wall opposite from the first magnetic member such that the region of the first and second visceral walls is disposed in between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member;

the first and second magnetic members having bores there though that line up with respect to each other when the first and second members are positioned at the region; and

a cutting member slideably disposed in the bore of the first magnetic member;

the cutting member having a blade configured to cut the tissue to create a temporary opening in the tissue of the first and second visceral walls;

wherein the first and second magnetic members, when positioned at the region, generate an attractive force to compress the tissue of the visceral walls surrounding the temporary opening;

said compressive force fusing the visceral walls to form a fistula between the first and second visceral walls.

25. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the tissue in the region necroses as a result of the compressive force such that tissue surrounding the necrosed tissue heals together to form the fistula.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the first and second magnetic members comprise first and second mating surfaces having at least one curvilinear surface.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the mating surfaces generate a non-uniform compressive force across the region of compressed tissue.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the blade has a through-hole to allow fluid communication through the first and second magnetic members and between the first and second visceral walls.

29. A system for auto-anastomosing a region of the body, the region comprising first and second adjacent visceral walls, comprising:

a first magnetic member configured to be delivered to a first location at the first visceral wall, the first location being adjacent the region; and

a second magnetic member configured to be positioned at a second location along the second visceral wall opposite from the first magnetic member such that the region of the first and second visceral walls is disposed in between the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member;

wherein the first and second magnetic members comprise first and second mating surfaces having at least one curvilinear surface; and

wherein the first and second magnetic members, when positioned at the region, generate an attractive force to compress the tissue of the visceral walls;

said compressive force fusing the visceral walls to form a fistula between the first and second visceral walls.

30. A system as recited in claim 29, wherein the mating surfaces generate a non-uniform compressive force across the region of compressed tissue.

31. A system as recited in claim 29, wherein the first mating surface comprises a planar surface and the second mating surface comprises a spherical surface.

32. A system as recited in claim 29:

wherein the first mating surface comprises concave curvilinear surface having a first radius; and

wherein second magnetic member comprises a convex curvilinear surface having a second radius.

33. A system as recited in claim 29:

wherein the first and second magnetic members having bores there though that line up with respect to each other when the first and second members are positioned at the region;

said bores allowing access to the tissue to cut a temporary opening in the tissue of the first and second visceral walls.

34. A system as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

a cutting member slideably disposed in the bore of the first magnetic member;

the cutting member having a blade configured to cut the temporary opening.