Method of ligating anatomical tissue with a suture spring device
First Claim
1. A method of ligating anatomical tissue using a suture spring device of coiled configuration having a plurality of connected rings, said method comprising the steps ofexpanding the suture spring device from a relaxed, unexpanded state to an elastically deformed, expanded state;
- holding the suture spring device in the expanded state using a guide;
positioning the anatomical tissue in an axial space between rings of the suture spring device when the device is held by the guide in the elastically deformed, expanded state; and
causing the suture spring device to contract from the elastically deformed, expanded state toward the relaxed, unexpanded state to ligate the anatomical tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of ligating anatomical tissue using a suture spring device of coiled configuration includes expanding the suture spring device from a relaxed, unexpanded state to an elastically deformed, expanded state, positioning the anatomical tissue in an axial space between rings or coils of the suture spring device when the device is in the elastically deformed, expanded state, and allowing the suture spring device to contract from the expanded state toward the unexpanded state to ligate the anatomical tissue. The rings or coils of the suture spring device can be axially and/or radially expanded in the elastically deformed, expanded state. In the case of the rings being radially expanded, the anatomical tissue is preferably repositioned to be disposed concentrically within a central longitudinal passage or aperture of the suture spring device so that the rings are coiled around the anatomical tissue in the expanded state and able to apply a radially compressive force when contracted. In the case of the rings being axially expanded, the anatomical tissue is maintained in the axial space between rings when the suture spring device is in the expanded state so that, when the device is allowed to contract, an axially compressive force is applied which will ligate the anatomical tissue.
160 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of ligating anatomical tissue using a suture spring device of coiled configuration having a plurality of connected rings, said method comprising the steps of
expanding the suture spring device from a relaxed, unexpanded state to an elastically deformed, expanded state; -
holding the suture spring device in the expanded state using a guide; positioning the anatomical tissue in an axial space between rings of the suture spring device when the device is held by the guide in the elastically deformed, expanded state; and causing the suture spring device to contract from the elastically deformed, expanded state toward the relaxed, unexpanded state to ligate the anatomical tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12)
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7. A method of ligating anatomical tissue using a suture spring device of coiled configuration having a plurality of connected rings, said method comprising the steps of
expanding the suture spring device from a relaxed, unexpanded state to an elastically deformed, expanded state; -
positioning the anatomical tissue in an axial space between rings of the suture spring device when the device is in the elastically deformed, expanded state; and causing the suture spring device to contract from the elastically deformed, expanded state toward the relaxed, unexpanded state to ligate the anatomical tissue; wherein said expanding step includes increasing a radius of curvature of the rings of the suture spring device and further comprising the step of repositioning the anatomical tissue relative to the suture spring device when the device is in the elastically deformed, expanded state so that, when the suture spring is caused to move from the expanded state to the relaxed, unexpanded state, the rings will contract radially to ligate the anatomical tissue disposed therein. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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13. A suture spring device and guide for ligating anatomical tissue, said suture spring device comprising an elastic body of coiled configuration having a relaxed, contracted state and an elastically deformed, expanded state;
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said guide comprising an elongate tubular body of coiled configuration having a blunt distal tip, said guide having a configuration to hold said suture spring device therein in said elastically deformed, expanded state and to be removable from said suture spring device to permit said device to move resiliently from said expanded state toward said contracted state to ligate anatomical tissue engaged by said coiled body of said device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of ligating anatomical tissue using a suture device of coiled configuration having a plurality of connected rings, said method comprising the steps of
holding the suture device in an expanded state using a guide; -
positioning the anatomical tissue in an axial space between rings of the suture device when the device is held by the guide in the expanded state; and causing the suture device to move from the expanded state toward the contracted state to ligate the anatomical tissue. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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23. A method of ligating anatomical tissue using a suture device of coiled configuration having a plurality of connected rings, said method comprising the steps of
holding the suture device in an expanded state; -
positioning the anatomical tissue in an axial space between rings of the suture device when the device is in the expanded state; repositioning the anatomical tissue relative to the suture device by positioning the anatomical tissue between a distal tip of the suture device and a ring axially spaced from the tip and rotating the suture device to cause the tip of the device and the rings to coil around the anatomical tissue; and causing the suture device to move from the expanded state toward the contracted state to ligate the anatomical tissue, wherein said causing step includes causing the suture device to contract radially inward to ligate the anatomical tissue disposed concentrically within the rings of the device.
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Specification