MEANS AND METHOD FOR REVERSIBLY CONNECTING A PATCH TO A PATCH DEPLOYMENT DEVICE

• US 20110066166A1
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Polytouch Medical Ltd. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Levin, Ofek, Levy, Arie
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0072 Delivery tools therefor

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for reversibly coupling an implant to a deployment device.

Claims

1. A system for closing an aperture in a biological tissue, the system comprising:

a handle;

an elongate shaft connected to the handle;

a deployment scaffold connected to the shaft; and

a plurality of attachment members connected to the scaffold, wherein the attachment members are configured to releasably retain a surgical implant, and releasing the implant from the scaffold comprises actively transforming the attachment members from a retaining configuration to a releasing configuration.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that is operably linked with each of the plurality of attachment members.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to reversibly lock the attachment members, wherein when the locking mechanism is in a locked configuration, the attachment members are held in the retaining configuration and when the locking mechanism is in an unlocked configuration, the attachment members are transformed to the releasing configuration.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the scaffold comprises:

a plurality of arms that are configured to move from a retained position to at least one deployed position, wherein the attachment members are connected to the arms.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the arms are flexible.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the arms are rigid.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the number of attachment members is independent of the number of arms.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the scaffold comprises:

a frame; and

a plurality of deployment arms hingedly connected to the frame, wherein the frame is configured to move from a retained position to at least one deployed position, and the attachment members are connected to the arms.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the deployment scaffold is configured to allow for deployment of the implant and retraction of the implant while the implant is within a patient'"'"'s body.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the deployment scaffold is configured to allow for a plurality of deployment positions.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the deployment scaffold comprises an articulating member that allows for adjustment of the position and the orientation of the surgical implant relative to the aperture in the tissue.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the articulating member allows for vertical flexibility of the deployment scaffold in order to press the implant against the tissue.

13. The system according to claim 1, further comprising the surgical implant.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the implant is connected to the system in an operating room.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the surgical implant is a patch.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the patch is comprised of surgical mesh.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft is flexible.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft is rigid.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the aperture in the biological tissue is an aperture in an abdominal wall.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein deployment is accomplished by liner movement of the shaft with respect to the handle.

21. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment member return mechanism, wherein the mechanism assists in transforming the members to the retaining configuration once the implant is detached from the system.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein prior to the inserting step, the method further comprises attaching the surgical implant to the instrument.

22. A method for closing an aperture in a biological tissue, the method comprising:

inserting into a surgical site of a patient an instrument having an elongate shaft and a deployment scaffold connected to the elongate shaft, wherein the deployment scaffold is configured to releasably retain a surgical implant;

deploying the surgical implant;

actively transforming attachment members connected to the scaffold from a closed configuration to an open configuration, thereby releasing the implant from the instrument; and

attaching the implant to the biological tissue, thereby covering the aperture in the tissue.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein attaching comprises:

contacting the implant to the deployment scaffold of the instrument such that the implant may be pierced by the attachment members connected to the scaffold;

contacting the deployment scaffold holding the implant to a stapling device;

engaging the stapling device to cause the attachment members to pierce the implant and to transform the attachment members from a releasing configuration to a retaining configuration; and

disconnecting the instrument from the plurality of staplers.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the deployment scaffold is in a partially closed configuration when it is contacted to the stapling device, thereby allowing for stretching of the implant when the scaffold is in an open configuration.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the stapling device temporarily holds the attachment members in a releasing configuration in order to facilitate piercing of the implant by the attachment members.

27. The method according to claim 22, wherein prior to the transforming step, the method further comprises adjusting the position and the orientation of the implant relative to the aperture in the tissue.

28. The method according to claim 22, wherein the aperture in the biological tissue is an aperture in an abdominal wall.

29. The method according to claim 22, wherein deploying is accomplished in a controlled and continuous manner.

30. The method according to claim 22, wherein prior to the transforming step, the method further comprises:

assessing the deployment of the implant relative to the aperture in the tissue;

retracting the implant; and

re-deploying the implant.

31. The method according to claim 22, wherein the transforming and the attaching steps are performed sequentially.

32. The method according to claim 22, wherein the transforming and the attaching steps are performed simultaneously.

33. A device for attaching an implant to a surgical instrument, the device comprising:

a plurality of staplers, wherein the staplers are adapted to reversibly connect a patch to a deployment device through a clip; and

at least one stabilizing bar connecting at least two of the staplers.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the stabilizing bar is removable from the staplers.

35. The device according to claim 33, comprising:

a frame;

a first set of two staplers that are arranged parallel to each other connected to the frame;

a second set of two staplers that are arranged parallel to each other connected to the frame, wherein the first and second set are arranged such that a stapling end of each of the staplers in the first set faces a stapling end of each of the staplers in the second set;

a first stabilizing bar connecting across a top of each of the staplers in the first set; and

a second stabilizing bar connecting across a top of each of the staplers in the second set.

36. The device according to claim 33, wherein a bottom portion of each of the staplers is configured to temporarily hold attachment members of an instrument in a configuration that facilitates piercing of an implant by the attachment members.

37. The device according to claim 33, further comprising packaging caps that compress the staplers during shipping.

38. A kit, the kit comprising:

a system for closing an aperture in a biological tissue, the system comprising;

a handle;

an elongate shaft connected to the handle;

a deployment scaffold connected to the shaft;

and a plurality of attachment members connected to the scaffold, wherein the attachment members are configured to releasably retain a surgical implant, and releasing the implant from the scaffold comprises actively transforming the attachment members from a retaining configuration to a releasing configuration; and

a device for attaching an implant to a surgical instrument, the device comprising;

a plurality of staplers, wherein the staplers are adapted to reversibly connect a patch to a deployment device through a clip; and

at least one stabilizing bar connecting at least two of the staplers.

39. The kit according to claim 38, wherein the aperture closing system is connected to the implant attachment device.

40. The kit according to claim 39, wherein the deployment scaffold of the aperture closing system is connected to the implant attachment device in a partially deployed configuration.