INTERLOCKING TISSUE ANCHOR APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20090326578A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: ROTHE, Chris, SAADAT, Vahid, EWERS, Richard C., MAAHS, Tracy D., LAM, Cang C.
• Application Number:
  US12/552,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20090326578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/213
• 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 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0446 Means for attaching and blocking the suture in the suture anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0459 Multiple holes in the anchor through which the suture extends and locking the suture when tension is applied
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0461 with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0475 : using sutures having a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 : Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 : for tensioning sutures

Abstract

Interlocking tissue anchor apparatus and methods are described herein. In creating tissue folds within the body of a patient, a tissue manipulation assembly may generally have an elongate tubular member, an engagement member slidably disposed through the tubular member and a distal end adapted to engage tissue via a helical member, tissue stabilizing members positioned at the tubular member distal end which are adapted to stabilize tissue therebetween, and a delivery tube pivotable about the tissue stabilizer. Anchor assemblies can be delivered via the tissue manipulation assembly into or through the tissue. The anchors can incorporate various temporary interlocking features or spacing elements between one another to ensure that an anchor is not prematurely ejected from the needle assembly. This allows the anchor assembly to be advanced distally as well as withdrawn proximally within a deployment sheath while avoiding inadvertently ejecting an anchor.

Claims

1. A method for deploying a tissue anchor in a controlled manner through a lumen, comprising:

positioning the lumen relative to a region of tissue to be secured via the tissue anchor;

advancing a first anchor body via an elongate pusher through the lumen while maintaining an interlocked orientation between the first anchor body and pusher; and

releasing the first anchor body from the pusher upon the first anchor body exiting the lumen.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the lumen comprises advancing the lumen into or through the region of tissue to be secured.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein advancing a first anchor body comprises advancing or withdrawing the first anchor body via the elongate pusher through the lumen.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein advancing a first anchor body comprises advancing the first anchor body through an arcuate path defined by the lumen.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein advancing a first anchor body comprises advancing the first anchor body from the lumen until the first anchor body assumes an expanded deployed configuration.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein advancing a first anchor body comprises further advancing a second anchor body via the elongate pusher, wherein the second anchor body is located collinearly distal of the first anchor body within the lumen.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising maintaining an interlocked orientation between the first anchor body and the second anchor body.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein releasing the first anchor body from the pusher comprises allowing the first anchor body to fall from the pusher to thereby release the interlocked orientation.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein releasing the first anchor body from the pusher comprises energizing an electrolytically erodable joint between the first anchor body and the pusher.