Composite staple and method for using same

• US 7,220,272 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Weadock, Kevin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDOZA, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US10/463,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,435 Days
• Field of Search: 606153-155, 606219-221, 606/75, 606/151, 606/157, 606/158
• US Class Current: 606/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections Y-shaped blood vessel prostheses A61F2002/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1139 Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections

Abstract

An anastomosis staple comprising of a plurality of vessel engaging members and a binding structure holding the vessel engaging members together is described. The binding structure has at least one bioabsorbable element. The binding structure is rigid enough to allow for deployment and quickly resorbs to avoid problems associated with intimal hyperplasia and physical hindrance of secondary interventional procedures. The vessel engaging members may be comprised of superelastic or shape memory metal and are independent from one another. The members may be equidistant from one another and embedded within the binding structure. The composite staple can preferably serve as a drug delivery vehicle.

Claims

1. A composite staple, comprising:

a binding structure having an annular shape with an outer surface surrounding a central opening, the binding structure being formed of a bioabsorbable material; and

a plurality of vessel engaging members embedded in the outer surface of the binding structure, each vessel engaging member comprising a plurality of protrusions that extend radially in three dimensions,

wherein the binding structure includes at least one bioabsorbable element configured such that at least one of the plurality of vessel engaging members is free to move with respect to at least one other of the plurality of vessel engaging members after the bioabsorbable element has resorbed.

2. The composite staple of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the binding structure has a shape selected from the group consisting of a circle and an ellipse.

3. The composite staple of claim 1, wherein the binding structure is a bioabsorbable scaffold.

4. The composite staple of claim 3, wherein the bioabsorbable scaffold is formed from a mixture of polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid.

5. The composite staple of claim 3, wherein the bioabsorbable scaffold contains pharmaceutical or radioactive substances.

6. The composite staple of claim 5, wherein the pharmaceutical or radioactive substances are selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, anticoagulants, procoagulants, and radioisotopes with a β

-component.

7. The composite staple of claim 6, wherein the radioisotopes are ³²P and ¹³¹I.

8. The composite staple of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of vessel engaging members are coated with a radioactive substance.

9. The composite staple of claim 8, wherein the radioactive substance is ³²P or ¹³¹I.