COMPRESSION ASSEMBLIES AND APPLICATORS FOR USE THEREWITH
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A compression assembly for use in compressing tissue comprising a first portion which includes a first compression element and a second portion which comprises a second compression element, at least one support element, and at least one spring element. Typically the spring element is formed of a shape-memory material. The at least one spring element is in compressive force contact with the second compression element and the tissue to be joined is positioned between the first and second compression elements. A plurality of needles on one of the support elements is operative to pierce the tissue and the first portion of the assembly, holding the first compression element to the second portion of the assembly. The invention is appropriate for joining severed tissue in anastomosis procedures or closing natural or surgically produced tissue perforations.
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Citations
73 Claims
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1-45. -45. (canceled)
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46. A compression assembly which comprises:
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a first portion which comprises; a first compression element; and a second portion which comprises; a second compression element positioned substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said first compression element, said first and second compression elements being adapted to be brought together in the presence of a closure force applied thereacross; at least one support element, where one of said at least one support elements is a needle bearing support element, said needle bearing support element having a plurality of needles extending generally transversely therefrom toward said first compression element; and at least one spring element formed at least partially of a material which, when providing a restorative force, behaves in a manner other than that predicted by Hooke'"'"'s Law over at least a portion of its expected extension range, said spring element in compressive force transmissive contact with said second compression element, wherein when said compression assembly is positioned so as to hold between said first and second compression elements tissue portions to be compressed therebetween, said needle bearing support is operative in response to the closure force to drive said plurality of needles through the tissue portions to be compressed and to anchor said plurality of needles in said first portion, and wherein when said first and second compression elements are brought together in the presence of the closure force holding the tissue portions therebetween, the restorative force provided by said at least one spring element is operative on said second compression element to compress the tissue portions. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A method for compressing tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
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positioning the tissue to be compressed between first and second portions of a compression assembly operable for compressing tissue; moving the first portion of the assembly into close proximity to the second portion so as to hold the tissue therebetween; and compressing the held tissue between the first and second portions of the compression assembly with a force produced by at least one spring element formed at least partially of a material which when it provides a restorative force, behaves in a manner other than that predicted by Hooke'"'"'s Law over at least a portion of the element'"'"'s expected extension range. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. An applicator for applying a compression assembly having a first portion and a second portion, said applicator having a proximal end and a distal end, said applicator comprising:
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i) attachment means including a first connecting member for attachment to said first portion of said compression assembly and a second connecting member for attachment to said second portion of said compression assembly, said connecting members operable to move said attached first portion toward said second portion of said assembly or vice versa until a predetermined distance is reached; ii) at least one deployment means positioned on said distal end of said applicator and operable to deploy said second portion of said compression assembly positioned thereon so that said plurality of needles may be brought to a position where they pierce said first portion and the tissue portions to be compressed, mechanically connecting said first and second portions of said assembly maintaining the predetermined distance therebetween; and iii) at least one activator operationally connected to said at least one deployment means and said attachment means for activating said attachment means and said deployment means.
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Specification