TISSUE CONNECTOR WITH YIELDABLE BARBS EQUALLY SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE CONNECTOR AT SUCCESSIVE AXIAL LOCATIONS

• US 20100298868A1
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1993
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Quill Medical, Inc. (Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ruff, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US12/849,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298868A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/215
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0493 Protective devices for suturing, i.e. for protecting the patient's organs or the operator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/083 Clips, e.g. resilient
• 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 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks

Abstract

A tissue connector has a first end, a second end, a body with a periphery and a plurality of barbs extending from said periphery of said body. The plurality of barbs are yieldable in one direction and are rigid in an opposite direction. At axial locations of said body, three of said barbs are about equally located about the periphery of said body. At axial locations on a cylindrical periphery of the body, barbs are located at about 120 degree spacings.

Claims

1. A tissue connector comprising:

an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a periphery, and a plurality of barbs projecting from said periphery of the body,

wherein a first portion of said barbs extend along a portion of said body and are oriented in one direction and a second portion of said barbs extend along another portion of said body and are oriented in an opposite direction, the barbs being configured such that the barbs are yieldable in a direction toward the body and are generally rigid in an opposite direction; and

wherein at an axial location of said body, three said barbs are about equally positioned about the periphery of the body.

2. The tissue connector of claim 1 wherein:

said three barbs are spaced at intervals of about 120 degrees about the periphery of the body at a cross-section.

3. The tissue connector of claim 1 wherein:

wherein at each of a plurality of axial locations of said body, three said barbs, oriented in one direction, are about equally and circumferentially spread about the circular periphery of the body.

4. The tissue connector of claim 1 wherein:

said connector is formed of bioabsorbable material.

5. A tissue connector comprising:

an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a periphery, and a plurality of barbs projecting from said periphery of the body,

wherein said barbs extend along a portion of said body and are oriented in one direction, the barbs being configured such that the barbs are yieldable in a direction toward the body and are generally rigid in an opposite direction; and

wherein at an axial location of said body, three said barbs are about equally positioned about the periphery of the body.

6. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

said three barbs are spaced at intervals of about 120 degrees about the periphery of the body at a cross-section.

7. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

said body periphery is one of triangular shaped and cylinder shaped.

8. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

said body periphery is non-circular cross-sectional shape.

9. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

said barbs are triangular in cross-section.

10. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

wherein said body is triangular shaped with three edges and said barbs are formed into said edges.

11. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

said body is one of rectangular shaped with edges and hexagonal shaped with edges, and said barbs are located respectively one the edges of the rectangular shaped body and on the edges of the hexagonal shaped body.

12. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

at said axial location of said body one of less than three barbs and more than three barbs are formed.

13. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

said connector is formed of bioabsorbable material.

14. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

said connector is formed of a first material and a second material with superior strength to said first material.

15. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

said body is made of bioabsorbent material consisting of one of;

polyglycolic acid polymer, polyglycolic acid copolymer, polylactic acid polymer and polylactic acid copolymer.

16. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

said barbs are arranged in a helical pattern on the body.

17. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein:

said connector is configured to minimize at least one of scarring and tissue necrosis.

18. The tissue connector of claim 5 including:

a needle at the first end of the body and an anchor at the second end of the body.

19. The tissue connector of claim 5 wherein said tissue connector is a one-way tissue connector.

20. A tissue connector comprising:

an elongated body with a circular cross-sectional shape having a first end, a second end, a circular periphery, and a plurality of barbs projecting from said circular periphery of the body,

wherein said barbs extend along a portion of said body and are oriented in one direction, the barbs being configured such that the barbs are yieldable in a direction toward the body and are generally rigid in an opposite direction; and

wherein at each of a plurality of axial locations of said body, three said barbs, oriented in one direction, are about equally and circumferentially spread about the circular periphery of the body.