Surgical device for connecting soft tissue

• US 6,461,366 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Evalve, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Evalve, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Seguin, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Kevin T.
• Application Number:
  US09/523,018
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/151, 606/157, 606/158, 606/148, 606/144, 606/143, 606/185
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• 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 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/081 Tissue approximator A61B2017/1103, A61B17/8866 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1103 Approximator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

The invention comprises a surgical instrument including an external tube (2) and two elongated members (4) positioned in said tube (2), each of which includes a distal end (10a) for capturing one of the two tissue zones (M1,M2) to be attached. The instrument (1) may further comprise a catching member (22, 25) for each tissue (M1, M2) to be attached; a rod (15, 16) linked to each catching member (22, 25) enabling tension to move axially, said rod (15, 16) being separable from said catching member (22, 25) when a tension is exerted on it beyond a certain threshold; and a member (17a) forming a stop for locking axially each catching member (22, 25) during said tension.

Claims

1. A method for percutaneously attaching valve leaflets, said method comprising:

percutaneously introducing a device through a patient'"'"'s vasculature into a heart chamber;

capturing a first valve leaflet;

capturing a second valve leaflet separately from the first valve leaflet;

drawing the first and second captured leaflets together; and

attaching the first valve leaflet to the second valve leaflet.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the valve leaflets are mitral valve leaflets.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein percutaneously introducing the devices comprises advancing the device through the vena cava, through the intra-atrial septum, and into the left atrium above the mitral valve.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein capturing the first valve leaflet comprises advancing a first elongate member from the device and securing the first leaflet to the first elongate member.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein securing comprises piercing the leaflet with a harpoon-shaped tip.

6. A method as in claim 4, wherein securing comprises applying a vacuum to the leaflet.

7. A method as in claim 4, wherein capturing the second valve leaflet comprises advancing a second elongate member from the device and securing the second leaflet to the second elongate member.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein securing comprises piercing the leaflet with a harpoon-shaped tip.

9. A method as in claim 7, wherein securing comprises applying a vacuum to the leaflet.

10. A method as in claim 7, wherein drawing the first and second valve leaflets together comprises drawing the first and second elongate members together.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the first and second elongate members diverge from each other when released from a covering sheath, wherein drawing said elongate members together comprises advancing the sheath over the elongate members.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein attaching the free edges of the leaflets comprises clipping the leaflets together.

13. A method for percutaneously attaching valve leaflets, said method comprising:

percutaneously introducing a device through a patient'"'"'s vasculature into a heart chamber;

said device carrying a clipping system including first and second elements;

drawings the first element upwardly to engage the leaflets from below;

positioning the second element over the leaflets to capture said leaflets between said members; and

leaving the elements in the heart to hold the leaflets together.

14. A method as in claim 13, further comprising detaching the elements from the device and withdrawing the device from the heart.

15. A method as in claim 13, wherein the first and second elements are positioned near a center of an opening between the valve leaflets.

16. A method as in claim 13, wherein the device further carries a first elongate element and a second elongate element, wherein the method further comprises:

capturing a first valve leaflet with the first elongate element;

capturing a second valve leaflet separately from the first valve leaflet with the second elongate element; and

drawing the first and second captured leaflets together prior to capturing the leaflets between the first and second elements.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein capturing the first leaflet comprises piercing the leaflet with a harpoon-shaped tip.

18. A method as in claim 16, wherein capturing the first leaflets comprises applying a vacuum to the leaflet.

19. A method as in claim 16, wherein capturing the second valve leaflet comprises advancing a second elongate member from the device and securing the second leaflet to the second elongate member.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein capturing the second leaflet comprises piercing the leaflet with a harpoon-shaped tip.

21. A method as in claim 19, wherein capturing the second leaflet comprises applying a vacuum to the leaflet.

22. A method as in claim 13, wherein the valve leaflets are mitral valve leaflets.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein percutaneously introducing the devices comprises advancing the device through the vena cava, through the intra-atrial septum, and into the left atrium above the mitral valve.