Apparatus and method for positive closure of an internal tissue membrane opening
First Claim
1. A method for closure of an opening in a tissue membrane located beneath the skin of a patient, the tissue membrane having a distal side and a proximal side, comprising the steps of:
- providing a tubular member having a lumen therein beneath the skin of the patient and in close proximity to the opening in the tissue membrane;
inserting a first, distal end of a retrieval assembly through said lumen and past the opening to a location on the distal side of the tissue membrane;
providing needle means for penetrating through the tissue membrane and for carrying at least two lengths of suture material from the proximal side to the distal side of the tissue membrane;
advancing said needle means through the tissue membrane from the proximal side to the distal side of the tissue membrane adjacent but spaced from the opening at two separate suture locations, the needle means carrying the suture material through the tissue membrane at the two separate suture locations;
grabbing the suture material with the distal end of said retrieval assembly at the location on the distal side of the tissue membrane;
retrieving said suture material through the opening by withdrawing the distal end of said retrieval assembly out through the opening; and
,drawing the suture locations together with said suture material passing through the suture locations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a device having two components: a needle advancing apparatus slidable longitudinally along a catheter to advance needles into a tissue membrane, such as a blood vessel wall, around an opening in the membrane; and, a suture retrieval assembly insertable through the catheter beyond a distal side of the tissue membrane. The needle advancing apparatus advances suture through the tissue wall. The suture retrieval assembly grabs the suture on the distal side of the tissue membrane for extraction thereof through the opening in the tissue membrane. A method for suturing a membrane beneath the patient'"'"'s skin is also disclosed.
925 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for closure of an opening in a tissue membrane located beneath the skin of a patient, the tissue membrane having a distal side and a proximal side, comprising the steps of:
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providing a tubular member having a lumen therein beneath the skin of the patient and in close proximity to the opening in the tissue membrane; inserting a first, distal end of a retrieval assembly through said lumen and past the opening to a location on the distal side of the tissue membrane; providing needle means for penetrating through the tissue membrane and for carrying at least two lengths of suture material from the proximal side to the distal side of the tissue membrane; advancing said needle means through the tissue membrane from the proximal side to the distal side of the tissue membrane adjacent but spaced from the opening at two separate suture locations, the needle means carrying the suture material through the tissue membrane at the two separate suture locations; grabbing the suture material with the distal end of said retrieval assembly at the location on the distal side of the tissue membrane; retrieving said suture material through the opening by withdrawing the distal end of said retrieval assembly out through the opening; and
,drawing the suture locations together with said suture material passing through the suture locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for providing sutures through a tissue membrane located beneath the skin of a patient, the tissue membrane having a distal side and a proximal side, the sutures extending through the membrane at locations positioned around an opening in the tissue membrane, comprising:
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a tubular body having a side wall defining a lumen therein, said tubular body having a portion thereof extendable through the opening and beyond the distal side of the tissue membrane to allow introduction of material into the patient through the lumen beyond the tissue membrane; an array of at least two needles disposed around said tubular body, said needles carrying a respective length of suture, said needles being advanceable through the tissue membrane from the proximal side to the distal side to provide suture material at separate suture locations in the tissue membrane around the opening. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for retrieving suture, comprising:
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a retrieval assembly having an elongated portion with a first distal end, wherein the first end includes; at least one flexible outer bow member having a distal end, a proximal end, and a central portion between said distal end and said proximal end, the proximal end of the bow member being attached to the elongated portion of said retrieval assembly; a tension member attached to the distal end of the bow member, said tension member and the proximal end being selectively movable with respect to each other to urge the distal end and the proximal end toward each other, causing the central portion of said bow member to deflect outwardly away from said tension member to receive suture material, said tension member and the proximal end also being selectively movable with respect to each other to urge the distal end and the proximal end apart from each other, causing the central portion of said bow member to deflect inwardly toward said tension member in a collapsed position to secure suture at the first end, the first end in the collapsed position being sized to be withdrawn through a catheter lumen; and
,grabbing means for grabbing suture when said outer bow member is deflected outwardly. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification