Methods for sealing of staples and other fasteners in tissue

• US 5,690,675 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fusion Medical Technologies Inc. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Sawyer, Philip M., Reich, Cary J., Sawyer, Philip N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bawa, Raj
• Application Number:
  US08/481,712
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 424/400, 606/7, 606/8, 606/10, 606/12, 606/17, 606/213, 606/214, 606/40, 606/3, 606/215, 606/27, 606/32, 606/2, 606/228, 606/229, 606/230, 606/233, 128/898, 128/DIG. 8, 607/1
• US Class Current: 606/229
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07292 Reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/32 Proteins, polypeptides; Degradation products or derivatives thereof, e.g. albumin, collagen, fibrin, gelatin A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/325 Collagen
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/24 Collagen

Abstract

Wounds in lung tissue are closed in a two step method consisting essentially of applying fasteners to a region adjacent to the wound, wherein the fasteners may cause penetrations. The fasteners are present in a preformed layer of collagen, fibrin, fibrinogen, elastin, albumin, or a combination thereof, and energy is applied to the region to fuse the material to the tissue and seal perforations in the tissue.

Claims

1. A method for closing a wound in tissue, said method consisting essentially of the following two steps performed sequentially:

applying fasteners selected from the group consisting of staples, clips, pins, hooks, and suture to a region adjacent to the wound to close the wound, wherein the fasteners cause penetrations in the tissue and the fasteners are present in a preformed layer of a material selected from the group consisting of collagen, fibrin, fibrinogen, elastin, albumin, and combinations, thereof, which fuses to the tissue upon the application of energy; and

applying energy selected from the heat, radiofrequency, laser, ultrasonic, and electrical energy to the region to fuse the material to the tissue and seal perforations in the tissue.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the layer comprises a solid or mesh layer.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the performed sheet has peripheral dimensions corresponding to the wound region.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the applied energy is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, heat energy, laser energy, and ultrasonic energy.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein the energy applying step comprises directing energy from a radio frequency inert gas coagulator applicator against the wound region.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the material comprises gelatin and the energy is applied at a level from 1 W/cm² to 100 W/cm² to fuse to the tissue without substantial loss of mechanical strength.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the fasteners are staples and applying the fasteners comprises simultaneously placing multiple staple lines with a stapler.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the material is a reinforced solid, wherein the reinforcement is composed of a non-bioabsorbable material.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein the energy applying step comprises directing energy from a radio frequency inert gas coagulator applicator against the material covering the wound region.

9. A method for sealing a resection line in lung tissue, said method consisting essentially of the following two steps performed sequentially:

applying along the resection line fasteners selected from the group consisting of staples, clips, pins, hooks, and suture to close the lung tissue, wherein the fasteners are present in a preformed layer of a material selected from the group consisting of collagen, fibrin, fibrinogen, elastin, albumin, and combinations thereof, which fuses to the lung tissue upon the application of energy; and

applying energy selected from the heat, radiofrequency, laser, ultrasonic, and electrical enerqy to the region to fuse the material to the tissue and seal perforations in the tissue.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the fastener applying step is performed with an in-line stapler having a cutting blade disposed adjacent to a multiple staple line.

11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the applied energy is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, heat energy, laser energy, and ultrasonic energy.

13. A method as in claim 9, wherein the material comprises gelatin and the energy is applied at a level from 1 W/ to 100 W/ to fuse to the tissue without substantial loss of mechanical strength.

14. A method as in claim 9, wherein the material is a reinforced solid, wherein the reinforcement is composed of a non-bioabsorbable material.