Soft tissue suspension clip, clip assembly, emplacement tool and method

• US 5,954,057 A
• Filed: 04/22/1998
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Li Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Li Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Lehmann K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/064,794
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/148, 600/29, 600/37, 128/898, 128/778
• US Class Current: 128/898
• 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 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• 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 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments

Abstract

A suspension clip assembly for suspending soft tissue from an appropriate bodily support structure, wherein the suspension clip assembly includes a suspension clip having a pointed structure for penetrating the soft tissue. The suspension clip assembly further includes a suspension strap mounted at a distal end thereof to the clip, the suspension strap being adapted so that a proximal end of the strap can be attached to the bodily support structure.

Claims

1. A method for effecting suspension of soft tissue from an appropriate bodily support structure, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a suspension clip assembly comprising an elongated, relatively rigid body having a longitudinal axis, and an elongated, relatively flexible suspension strap attached to said body, said suspension strap comprising a first distalmost portion formed out of a relatively flexible material, and a second, proximalmost portion formed out of a mesh material, said body being attached to said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap so that (i) said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap normally extends substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said body, and (ii) said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap may be bent so that at least some of said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap extends substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body, whereby when said body is driven through soft tissue with at least some of said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body, said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap will thereafter permit said body to turn so as to restore the original perpendicular orientation of said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap relative to said body;

passing the body of the suspension clip assembly through the soft tissue so that the body resides in the far side of the soft tissue and the suspension strap extends through the soft tissue; and

fixing said second, proximalmost portion of said suspension strap to the appropriate bodily support structure, whereby to draw the soft tissue toward the bodily support structure.

2. A method for effecting suspension of soft tissue from an appropriate bodily support structure, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a suspension clip assembly comprising a first elongated relatively rigid body having a first longitudinal axis;

a second elongated relatively rigid body having a second longitudinal axis;

an elongated relatively flexible suspension strap attached to said first and second bodies;

said suspension strap comprising first and second distalmost portions of relatively flexible material, and a proximalmost portion of a mesh material;

said first body being attached to said first distalmost portion of said suspension strap such that (i) said first distalmost portion of said suspension strap normally extends substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis, and (ii) said first distalmost portion of said suspension strap is bendable so that at least some of said first distalmost portion of said suspension strap is extendible substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis;

said second body being attached to said second distalmost portion of said suspensions strap such that (i) said second distalmost portion of said suspension strap normally extends substantially perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis, and (ii) said second distalmost portion of said suspension strap is bendable so that at least some of said second distalmost portion of said suspension strap is extendible substantially parallel to said second longitudinal axis;

whereby when said first and second bodies are driven through soft tissue with at least some of said first and second distalmost portions of said suspension strap extending substantially parallel to said first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, said first and second distalmost portions of said suspension strap permit said first and second bodies, respectively, to turn to restore the original perpendicular orientation of said first distalmost portion of said suspension strap relative to said first body and said second distalmost portion of said suspension strap relative to said second body;

passing the bodies of the suspension clip assembly through the soft tissue such that the bodies reside in a far side of the soft tissue and the suspension strap extends through the soft tissue; and

fixing the proximalmost portion of the suspension strap to the support structure;

whereby to draw the soft tissue toward the support structure.

3. A suspension clip assembly comprising:

a first elongated relatively rigid body having a first longitudinal axis;

a second elongated relatively rigid body having a second longitudinal axis;

an elongated relatively flexible suspension strap attached to said first and second bodies;

said suspension strap comprising first and second distalmost portions of relatively flexible material, and a proximalmost portion of a mesh material;

said first body being attached to said first distalmost portion of said suspension strap such that (i) said first distalmost portion of said suspension strap normally extends substantially perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis, and (ii) said first distalmost portion of said suspension strap is bendable so that at least some of said first distalmost portion of said suspension strap is extendible substantially parallel to said first longitudinal axis;

said second body being attached to said second distalmost portion of said suspension strap such that (i) said second distalmost portion of said suspension strap normally extends substantially perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis, and (ii) said second distalmost portion of said suspension strap is bendable so that at least some of said second distalmost portion of said suspension strap is extendible substantially parallel to said second longitudinal axis;

whereby when said first and second bodies are driven through soft tissue with at least some of said first and second distalmost portions of said suspension strap extending substantially parallel to said first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, said first and second distalmost portions of said suspension strap permit said first and second bodies, respectively, to turn so as to restore the original perpendicular orientation of said first distalmost portion of said suspension strap relative to said first body and said second distalmost portion of said suspension strap relative to said second body.

4. A suspension clip assembly according to claim 3 wherein said suspension strap is configured such that at least a portion of said proximalmost portion of said suspension strap is disposed within the piece of soft tissue when said first and second bodies are disposed on a far side of the piece of soft tissue.

5. A suspension clip assembly comprising:

a suspension strap having a distal end and a proximal end; and

a clip fixed to said distal end of said strap and adapted for attachment to tissue to be suspended;

said suspension strap being of a mesh-like material, whereby

said distal end of said strap is subject to adhesion to said tissue; and

said proximal end of said strap is adapted for hanging on a pin extending from a support body part.

6. A suspension clip assembly for suspending soft tissue from an appropriate bodily support structure, said assembly comprising:

a suspension clip having means thereon for penetrating the soft tissue; and

a suspension strap having a proximal end and a distal end, said suspension strap being mounted at said distal end thereof to said suspension clip and extending therefrom;

said suspension strap having means thereon proximate said proximal end thereof for attaching said suspension strap to the appropriate bodily support structure.

7. A suspension clip assembly comprising:

an elongated, relatively rigid body having a longitudinal axis; and

an elongated, relatively flexible suspension strap attached to said body;

said suspension strap comprising a first distalmost portion formed out of a relatively flexible material, and a second, proximalmost portion formed out of a mesh material;

said body being attached to said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap so that (i) said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap normally extends substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said body, and (ii) said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap may be bent so that at least some of said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap extends substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body;

whereby when said body is driven through soft tissue with at least some of said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said body, said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap will thereafter permit said body to turn so as to restore the original perpendicular orientation of said first, distalmost portion of said suspension strap relative to said body.