Double jaw apparatus for attaching implanted materials to body tissue

• US 5,290,299 A
• Filed: 02/09/1993
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ventritex Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Ventritex Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Fain, Eric S., Bush, Mary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/016,484
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/142, 606/143, 606/1, 606/205-207, 128/46, 227/902
• US Class Current: 606/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 227/902 Surgical clips or staples

Abstract

A system is provided for fastening an implantable medical device, for example a defibrillator lead, to the heart. A lead electrode is placed in a desired position against the pericardium, pericardial tissue is grasped with a fastening tool, and the pericardial tissue is drawn away from epicardium and toward the fastening tool. A fastening member is applied to the pericardial tissue and to the lead electrode to secure the lead in the desired position. The application tool comprises a first pair of jaws for grasping membranous tissue and drawing the tissue away from other tissues and toward the tool. A second pair of jaws is provided for holding fastener members and delivering the fastener members to the membranous tissue.

Claims

1. A tool which comprises:

a first pair of jaws for grasping membranous tissue and drawing said tissue away from other tissue and towards said tool; and

a second pair of jaws arranged in longitudinal sliding relation with said first pair of jaws and releasably carrying a fastener member for delivering and emplacing said fastener member to and in said membranous tissue, said fastener member having an open position and a closed position, in which said fastener member has in its open position a sharp end and an opposite end that is open to receive said sharp end, said sharp end being buried within said opposite end in its closed position, said fastener member being moved from said open position to the closed position by bending caused by said second pair of jaws.

2. A tool which comprises:

a first pair of jaws for grasping membranous tissue and drawing said tissue away from other tissue and towards said tool; and

a second pair of jaws arranged in longitudinal sliding relation with said first pair of jaws and releasably carrying a fastener member for delivering and emplacing said fastener member to and in said membranous tissue, said fastener member having an open position and a closed position, in which said fastener member has in its open position a sharp end and an opposite end that is open to receive said sharp end, said sharp end being buried within said opposite end in its closed position, said fastener member being moved from said open position to the closed position by bending caused by said second pair of jaws.