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Transluminal methods and devices for closing, forming attachments to, and/or forming anastomotic junctions in, luminal anatomical structures

  • US 7,056,325 B1
  • Filed: 09/27/2002
  • Issued: 06/06/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for forming an attachment to, or anastomosis in, the wall of the anatomical structure by placing at least one attachment apparatus in the wall if the anatomical structure, said method comprising the steps of:

  • A. providing an intraluminal device which comprises;

    i.) an elongate catheter which is insertable into the lumen of the anatomical structure;

    ii.) an elongate tissue-penetrating member initially disposed within said catheter, said tissue-penetrating member being subsequently advancable from the catheter and at least partially through the wall of the anatomical structure into which said catheter has been advanced, said tissue-penetrating member having a lumen which extends longitudinally through at least a distal portion of the tissue-penetrating member, and an outlet opening formed in the distal end of the tissue-penetrating member in communication with said lumen; and

    ,iii.) at least one attachment apparatus comprising an elongate, flexible link having at least first and second engagement members associated with opposite ends thereof, said attachment apparatus including both of said first and second engagement members being initially loaded into the lumen of the tissue penetrating member and incrementally advancable out of the outlet opening in the distal end of the tissue-penetrating member such that the first engagement member may be expelled from the lumen of the tissue penetrating member at a first location and the second engagement member may be expelled from the lumen of the tissue penetrating member at a second location and said link(s) will extend therebetween to form the desired attachment or anastomosis;

    B. positioning the catheter within the lumen of the anatomical structure;

    C. advancing the tissue penetrating member out of the catheter a first time such that the sharpened distal tip of the tissue penetrating member penetrates at least partially through the wall of the anatomical structure and the outlet opening of the needle becomes situated adjacent said first location;

    D. expelling the first engagement member out of the lumen of the tissue penetrating member through the outlet opening in the distal end of the tissue penetrating member such that said first engagement member will engage the wall of the luminal anatomical structure at said first location;

    E. retracting the tissue penetrating member into the catheter;

    F. repositioning the catheter within the lumen of the anatomical structure;

    G. advancing the tissue penetrating member from the catheter a second time, such that the sharpened distal tip of the tissue penetrating member penetrates at least partially through the anatomical structure and the outlet opening becomes situated adjacent said second location;

    H. expelling the second engagement member out of the lumen of the tissue penetrating member through the outlet opening in the distal end of the tissue penetrating member such that the second engagement member will engage the wall of the anatomical structure at said second location, and the link portion of said attachment apparatus extends between said first location and said second location.

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