ABSORBABLE ANCHOR AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING MESH TO TISSUE

• US 20110238095A1
• Filed: 06/01/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Original Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Inventors: Browning, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,454,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• 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 17/06109 Big needles, either gripped by hand or connectable to a handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0435 the barbs being separate elements mechanically linked to the anchor, e.g. by pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0007 for adjusting length

Abstract

A method for attaching flexible material to soft tissue in a patient'"'"'s body includes providing a soft tissue anchor formed from absorbable material. The anchor includes a central portion having proximal and distal ends, one or more tissue engaging members extending from the central portion, and a bore extending through the central portion between the proximal and distal ends. An introducer tool is provided and engaged with the soft tissue anchor, including inserting an elongated body of the introducer tool into the bore of the tissue anchor and positioning the tool with respect to the anchor with the point of the tool body extending beyond the distal end of the anchor central portion. After insertion, the soft tissue anchor is released from the introducer tool and the introducer tool is removed from the patient, including retracting the point of the tool body through the central portion of the anchor.

Claims

1. A method for attaching flexible material to soft tissue in a patient'"'"'s body, including:

providing a soft tissue anchor formed from absorbable material, the anchor comprising;

a central portion having proximal and distal ends;

one or more tissue engaging members extending from the central portion; and

a bore extending through the central portion between the proximal and distal ends;

providing an introducer tool having an elongated body and a point on a distal end of the body;

engaging the introducer tool with the soft tissue anchor, including inserting the elongated body of introducer tool into the bore of the tissue anchor and positioning the tool with respect to the anchor with the point of the tool body extending beyond the distal end of the anchor central portion;

inserting the anchor and securing flexible material to soft tissue in the patient by manipulating the introducer tool and the soft tissue anchor to engage the anchor into soft tissue;

releasing the soft tissue anchor from the introducer tool and removing the introducer tool from the patient, including retracting the point of the tool body through the central portion of the anchor; and

causing the soft tissue anchor to be absorbed by the patient'"'"'s body.

2. The method of claim 1 for attaching mesh material to the soft tissue in the patient'"'"'s body.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

providing the soft tissue anchor further includes providing an anchor having movable tissue engaging members;

inserting the anchor further includes causing the movable tissue engaging members to be pushed towards the central portion when forcing the anchor into soft tissue; and

releasing the anchor further includes causing the movable tissue engaging members to move to a tissue engaging position.

4. The method of claim 3 for attaching mesh material to the soft tissue in the patient'"'"'s body.

5. An absorbable soft tissue anchor, including:

a central portion formed of absorbable material, the central portion having a proximal end, a blunt distal end and an introducer tool-receiving bore extending between the proximal and distal ends; and

a plurality of wings formed of absorbable material extending from the central portion, the wings movable between insertion and tissue engaging positions.

6. The absorbable tissue anchor of claim 5 wherein the wings extend from the distal end of the central portion.

7. The absorbable tissue anchor of claim 6 and further including a resilient hinge formed of absorbable material coupling the wings to the central portion.

8. The absorbable tissue anchor of claim 5 wherein the anchor is formed from polyglactin.

9. The absorbable tissue anchor of claim 5 and further including a resilient hinge formed of absorbable material coupling the movable tissue engaging members to the central portion.

10. The absorbable tissue anchor of claim 9 wherein the anchor is formed from polyglactin.

11. An absorbable tissue anchor and delivery tool in combination for attaching flexible material to soft tissue in a patient'"'"'s body, including:

a soft tissue anchor formed from absorbable material, the anchor comprising;

a central portion having a proximal end and a blunt distal end;

one or more movable tissue engaging members extending from the central portion; and

a bore extending through the central portion between the proximal and distal ends; and

an introducer tool, comprising;

an elongated body; and

a point on a distal end of the body.

12. The absorbable tissue anchor and introducer tool of claim 11, wherein the introducer tool is engaged with the anchor, the elongated body of the introducer tool extends through the bore in the anchor central portion, and the point of the tool extends beyond the distal end of the anchor central portion.

13. The absorbable tissue anchor and delivery tool of claim 12 wherein the tissue engaging members of the anchor include wings formed of absorbable material extending from the central portion, the wings movable between insertion and tissue engaging positions.

14. The absorbable tissue anchor and delivery tool of claim 13 wherein the wings of the anchor extend from the distal end of the central portion.

15. The absorbable tissue anchor and delivery tool of claim 14 wherein the anchor further includes a resilient hinge formed of absorbable material coupling the wings to the central portion.

16. The absorbable tissue anchor and delivery tool of claim 15 wherein the anchor is formed from polyglactin.

17. The absorbable tissue anchor and delivery tool of claim 11 wherein the tissue engaging members of the anchor include wings formed of absorbable material extending from the central portion, the wings movable between insertion and tissue engaging positions.

18. The absorbable tissue anchor and delivery tool of claim 17 wherein the wings of the anchor extend from the distal end of the central portion.

19. The absorbable tissue anchor and delivery tool of claim 18 wherein the anchor further includes a resilient hinge formed of absorbable material coupling the wings to the central portion.

20. The absorbable tissue anchor and delivery tool of claim 19 wherein the anchor is formed from polyglactin.