APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MAINTAINING A FORCE UPON TISSUE USING A LOOP MEMBER

• US 20110106107A1
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wilson-Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Binmoeller, Kenneth F., Surti, Vihar C., McLawhorn, Tyler E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,144,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/139
• 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 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12004 for haemostasis, for prevention of bleeding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 with tissue or sample retaining means

Abstract

The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods for treating tissue by applying a force to the tissue. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a deployable segment having proximal and distal regions, a main body extending therebetween, and a loop member formed at the distal region of the deployable segment. A cannula having a bore is dimensioned to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the main body at a location proximal to the loop member, and a spring member is disposed between the cannula and the loop member. The proximal end of the spring member is affixed to the cannula, and the distal end of the spring member is movable to apply a compressive force to adjust the size of the opening of the loop member and compress tissue disposed within the opening of the loop member. In an alternative embodiment, the cannula is omitted, and a diameter of the loop member is configured to be reduced and increased any number of times before final deployment of the deployable segment.

Claims

1. Apparatus for treating tissue by applying a force to the tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a deployable segment having proximal and distal regions, and a main body extending therebetween;

a loop member formed at the distal region of the deployable segment, the loop member defining an opening that is adjustable in size;

a cannula having a bore extending therethrough, wherein the cannula is dimensioned to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the main body at a location proximal to the loop member; and

a spring member disposed between the cannula and the loop member, the spring member having proximal and distal ends, and dimensioned to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the main body,

wherein the proximal end of the spring member is affixed to the cannula, and wherein the distal end of the spring member is movable to apply a compressive force to adjust the size of the opening of the loop member and compress tissue disposed within the opening of the loop member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula frictionally engages the main body of the loop member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the spring member does not have sufficient force to overcome the friction between the cannula and the main body.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the main body of the deployable segment is configured for longitudinal movement only in a proximal direction through the cannula.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising teeth angled in a proximally direction into the bore of the cannula for causing one-way movement of the main body relative to the cannula.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the loop member causes compression of the spring member when the main body is retracted in a proximal direction through the cannula.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sclerosing agent that is configured to be eluted from at least a portion of the loop member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one barb coupled to the loop member and dimensioned for engaging the tissue.

9. A method for treating tissue by applying a force to the tissue, the method comprising:

providing a deployable segment having proximal and distal regions, a main body extending therebetween, and a loop member formed at the distal region of the deployable segment;

disposing a cannula around at least a portion of the main body at a location proximal to the loop member, and positioning a spring member between the cannula and the loop member;

deploying the loop member around target tissue with the loop member in a relatively large diameter state; and

retracting the loop member, relative to the cannula and the spring member, to reduce the diameter of the loop member to securely engage the tissue,

wherein retraction of the loop member causes compression of the spring member from a relaxed state to a compressed state, and

wherein the spring member subsequently applies a compressive force to adjust the size of the opening of the loop member and compress tissue disposed within the opening of the loop member.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the cannula frictionally engages the main body of the deployable segment.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the spring member does not have sufficient force to overcome the friction between the cannula and the main body.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the main body of the deployable segment is configured for longitudinal movement only in a proximal direction through the cannula.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing teeth angled in a proximally direction into the bore of the cannula that cause one-way movement of the main body relative to the cannula.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the loop member causes compression of the spring member when the main body is retracted in a proximal direction through the cannula.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising emitting a sclerosing agent from at least a portion of the loop member.

16. Apparatus for treating tissue by applying a force to the tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a deployable segment having proximal and distal regions, and a main body extending therebetween;

a loop member formed at the distal region of the deployable segment, the loop member defining an opening that is adjustable in size;

a spring member disposed proximal to the loop member, the spring member having proximal and distal ends, and dimensioned to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the main body,

wherein the distal end of the spring member is movable to apply a compressive force to adjust the size of the opening of the loop member and compress tissue disposed within the opening of the loop member, and

wherein a diameter of the loop member is configured to be reduced and increased any number of times before final deployment of the deployable segment.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a first retainer disposed at the proximal end of the deployable segment;

a stylet having proximal and distal ends; and

a second retainer disposed at the distal end of the stylet,

wherein longitudinal movement of the stylet effects corresponding longitudinal movement of the deployable segment when the first and second retainers are coupled together.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

a catheter having a lumen sized for movement of the stylet therein; and

a detachable end region having proximal and distal segments and a lumen extending therebetween, wherein the proximal segment is removably coupled to a distal end of the catheter, and the distal segment is securely attached to the spring member,

wherein the main body of the deployable segment extends through the spring member, through the lumen of the detachable end region, and at least partially into the lumen of the catheter, and engages the second retainer within the lumen of the catheter.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein proximal retraction of the stylet causes proximal retraction of the loop member, via the coupling of the first and second retainers, and corresponding compression of the spring member to selectively reduce the diameter of the loop member, and wherein distal advancement of the stylet causes distal advancement of the loop member to selectively increase the diameter of the loop member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

a plug member dimensioned for advancement within the lumen of the catheter, and further dimensioned to be wedged against the main body of the deployable segment within the lumen of the detachable end region to secure the positioning of the main body relative to the detachable end region.