Method and devices for tissue reconfiguration

• US 6,835,200 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2002
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: NDO Surgical, Inc.
• Inventors: Chinnock, Randal B., Andrews, Richard, Marshall, Neal H., Cerier, Jeffrey C., Laufer, Michael D., Cruz, Amos, Barenboym, Michael, Puicci, Vincent A. Jr., OʼKeefe, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US10/197,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20030055442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 606/153, 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 606/150, 606/205-210, 606/219-221, 606/232
• US Class Current: 606/153
• 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 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• 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 17/0401 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 17/0467 Instruments for cutting sutures surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• 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 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• 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 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 : Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 : T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 : H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0441 : the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 : Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 : Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 : Knot pushers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0475 : using sutures having a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 : for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 : Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/061 : hollow or tubular suture extending inside a hollow needle A61B2017/06052; hollow sutures A61B2017/06185
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 : flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2915 : arcuate shaped guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 : pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2917 : with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2932 : Transmission of forces to jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/308 : with suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 : Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 : for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0133 : Tip steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 : with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A method includes advancing an apparatus having an elongated member transorally into the stomach. The apparatus includes a distal end effector having first and second members configured to engage tissue. The first and second members are movable relatively toward one another generally in a first plane. The method includes moving the distal end effector relative to the elongated member in the first plane such that the distal end effector is retroflexed out of alignment with the elongated member to position the first and second members for engagement with the tissue. At least one of the first and second members carries a fixation device for fixing engaged portions of tissue together.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

advancing an apparatus including an elongated member transorally into the stomach, the apparatus including a distal end effector having first and second members configured to engage tissue, the first and second members being movable relatively toward one another generally in a first plane, and

moving the distal end effector relative to the elongated member in the first plane such that the distal end effector is retroflexed out of alignment with the elongated member to position the first and second members for engagement with the tissue, at least one of the first and second members carrying a fixation device for securing engaged portions of tissue together.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising engaging tissue by moving the first and second members relatively toward one another generally in the first plane.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the moving of the first and second members engages a first tissue section with a first securing part of the fixation device and a second tissue section with a second securing part of the fixation device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising piercing the tissue with a third member of the distal end effector prior to engaging the tissue with the first and second members.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising releasably mounting the first and second members to the distal end effector.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing the first and second members from the distal end effector.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising releasably mounting third and fourth members on the distal end effector, at least one of the third and fourth members carrying a fixation device for securing engaged portions of tissue together.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second members pierces the tissue.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising separating a frangibly coupled part of the fixation device from at least one of the first and second members.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first and second members interact to separate the frangibly coupled part.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising securing the engaged portions of tissue with the fixation device.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the first member with a first distal tip releasably mounted to the first member, and the second member with a second distal tip releasably mounted to the second member, at least one of the first and second distal tips carrying the fixation device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising releasably mounting the first distal tip on the first member and releasably mounting the second distal tip on the second member.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising removing the first distal tip from the first member and removing the second distal tip from the second member.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising releasably mounting a third distal tip on the first member and releasably mounting a fourth distal tip on the second member, at least one of the third and fourth distal tips carrying a fixation device for securing engaged portions of tissue together.