Attachment device and methods of using the same

• US 7,556,647 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Arbor Surgical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Drews, Michael J., Gurskis, Donnell W., Bacich, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; (Jackie) Tan-Uyen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RYCKMAN, MELISSA K
• Application Number:
  US10/681,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20050080454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/219, 606/215, 606/221, 606/139, 606/148, 606/216, 606/142, 623/904, 623/2.11
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/083 Clips, e.g. resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/904 Heart

Abstract

Devices for attaching a first mass and a second mass and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The devices can be made from an resilient, elastic or deformable materials. The devices can be used to attach a heart valve ring to a biological annulus. The devices can also be used for wound closure or a variety of other procedures such as anchoring a prosthesis to surrounding tissue or another prosthesis, tissue repair, such as in the closure of congenital defects such as septal heart defects, tissue or vessel anastomosis, fixation of tissue with or without a reinforcing mesh for hernia repair, orthopedic anchoring such as in bone fusing or tendon or muscle repair, ophthalmic indications, laparoscopic or endoscopic tissue repair or placement of prostheses, or use by robotic devices for procedures such as those above performed remotely.

Claims

1. A method for attaching a heart valve prosthesis to a tissue annulus using an attachment device comprising a base and a pair of legs extending from the legs, the attachment device being elastically movable from a relaxed state wherein the legs cross one another and a delivery state wherein the legs extend substantially parallel with one another, the method comprising:

loading the attachment device into a tool with the attachment device in the relaxed state;

securing the heart valve prosthesis to the tissue annulus using the attachment device while applying a force using the tool to place the attachment device in the delivery state; and

releasing the attachment device from the tool such that the attachment device returns towards the relaxed state such that the legs cross one another,

wherein the heart valve prosthesis comprises a first prosthesis and a second prosthesis, and

wherein securing the heart valve prosthesis to the tissue annulus comprises;

securing the first prosthesis to a tissue annulus by inserting a plurality of attachment devices through the first prosthesis; and

thereafter placing the second prosthesis, and

wherein each attachment device is delivered by;

a) holding the attachment device in the tool in the relaxed state;

b) applying a force with the tool to force the attachment device to the delivery state;

c) inserting the legs through the first prosthesis into tissue with the attachment device in the delivery state; and

d) deploying the attachment device from the tool such that the attachment device returns towards the relaxed state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the legs cross one another at a leg angle less than one hundred eighty degrees (180°

) in the relaxed state.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the leg angle is less than or equal to ninety degrees (90°

) in the relaxed state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the base rotates about a base axis when the attachment device is released, thereby causing the legs to cross one another.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the force applied to place the attachment device in the delivery state comprises a base torque.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the force applied to place the attachment device in the delivery state comprises a pivot torque.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment device is used to implant the heart valve prosthesis in a supra-annular position.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment device is used to implant the heart valve prosthesis in an infra-annular position.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first prosthesis comprises a sewing ring and the second prosthesis comprises a valve structure.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising loading a pledget onto the attachment device before securing the heart valve prosthesis.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment devices are used to secure the first prosthesis in a supra-annular position.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment devices are placed within or around the tissue annulus to secure the first prosthesis to the tissue annulus.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment devices are placed vertically or horizontally within or around the tissue annulus to secure the first prosthesis to the tissue annulus.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first prosthesis comprises a sewing ring, and wherein the first prosthesis is attached prosthesis to a tissue annulus by inserting the attachment devices through the sewing ring.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises an anvil, and step a) comprises loading the attachment device around the anvil in the relaxed state.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a slide and an anvil for causing the legs of the attachment device to rotate outward to the delivery state during step b).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step d) comprises sliding the anvil out of the way and forcing the device out the end of the tool with the slide.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the tool retains the attachment device in the delivery state while the device is inserted through the first prosthesis into tissue, whereupon the device is deployed from the tool.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the legs of the attachment devices comprise tips with straight pointed ends.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein delivery of at least one of the attachment devices further comprises removing the attachment device from the sewing ring and tissue.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein delivery of the at least one of the attachment devices further comprises redeploying the attachment device at another location.