Tissue fusion/welder apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A tissue welding apparatus for fusing a first piece of tissue in a surface proximate relationship with a second piece of tissue, comprising:
- an operative member adapted to be disposed generally on a side of the first piece of tissue opposite the second piece of tissue;
at least one penetrating member movable with the operative member relative to the first piece of tissue, the penetrating member being adapted to penetrate the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue;
the penetrating member being adapted for connection to a source of heat for heating the penetrating member in order to form a tissue weld bonding the first piece of tissue to the second piece of tissue;
a chemical agent carried by the penetrating member on an exterior surface of the penetrating member, at least a portion of the chemical agent adapted to be released when the penetrating member penetrates at least one of the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue to facilitate a reaction between the chemical agent and at least one of the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue;
an elongate shaft, the operative member being a first jaw connected to the elongate shaft; and
a second jaw connected to the shaft in an opposing relationship with the first jaw, the first jaw movable towards the second jaw;
wherein the at least one penetrating member comprises a plurality of needles affixed to a substantially planar surface of the first jaw; and
further comprising an energizing block movable longitudinally along the first jaw electrically coupling a subset of the plurality of needles to the source of heat.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tissue welding apparatus is adapted to fuse a first piece of tissue to a second piece of tissue which are disposed in a surface proximate relationship. An elongate shaft carries a first jaw, and a second opposing jaw moveable relative to the first jaw. At least one penetrating member is carried by the first jaw and moveable relative to the second jaw to create a channel through the first piece of material and the second piece of material. A source of heat is coupled to the penetrating member for denaturing the tissue defining the channel. This denatured tissue forms a column binding the first piece of tissue to the second piece of tissue. A chemical agent can be carried to the tissue with the penetrating member.
1396 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A tissue welding apparatus for fusing a first piece of tissue in a surface proximate relationship with a second piece of tissue, comprising:
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an operative member adapted to be disposed generally on a side of the first piece of tissue opposite the second piece of tissue; at least one penetrating member movable with the operative member relative to the first piece of tissue, the penetrating member being adapted to penetrate the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue; the penetrating member being adapted for connection to a source of heat for heating the penetrating member in order to form a tissue weld bonding the first piece of tissue to the second piece of tissue; a chemical agent carried by the penetrating member on an exterior surface of the penetrating member, at least a portion of the chemical agent adapted to be released when the penetrating member penetrates at least one of the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue to facilitate a reaction between the chemical agent and at least one of the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue; an elongate shaft, the operative member being a first jaw connected to the elongate shaft; and a second jaw connected to the shaft in an opposing relationship with the first jaw, the first jaw movable towards the second jaw; wherein the at least one penetrating member comprises a plurality of needles affixed to a substantially planar surface of the first jaw; and further comprising an energizing block movable longitudinally along the first jaw electrically coupling a subset of the plurality of needles to the source of heat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A tissue welding apparatus for fusing a first piece of tissue in a surface proximate relationship with a second piece of tissue, comprising:
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an operative member adapted to be disposed generally on a side of the first piece of tissue opposite the second piece of tissue; at least one penetrating member movable with the operative member relative to the first piece of tissue, the penetrating member being adapted to penetrate the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue; the penetrating member being adapted for connection to a source of heat for heating the penetrating member in order to form a tissue weld bonding the first piece of tissue to the second piece of tissue; a chemical agent carried by the penetrating member on an exterior surface of the penetrating member, at least a portion of the chemical agent adapted to be released when the penetrating member penetrates at least one of the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue to facilitate a reaction between the chemical agent and at least one of the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue; an elongate shaft, the operative member being a first jaw connected to the elongate shaft; a second jaw connected to the shaft in an opposing relationship with the first jaw, the first jaw movable towards the second jaw; wherein the at least one penetrating member comprises a plurality of needles affixed to a substantially planar surface of the first jaw; and further comprising an energizing block movable from a proximal position to a distal position and sequentially supplying electrical energy to groups of the plurality of needles along the first jaw. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A tissue welding apparatus for fusing a first piece of tissue in a surface proximate relationship with a second piece of tissue, comprising:
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an operative member adapted to be disposed generally on a side of the first piece of tissue opposite the second piece of tissue; at least one penetrating member movable with the operative member relative to the first piece of tissue, the penetrating member being adapted to penetrate the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue; and
the at least one penetrating member comprising a plurality of needles affixed to a substantially planar surface of the first jawthe penetrating member being adapted for connection to a source of heat for heating the penetrating member in order to form a tissue weld bonding the first piece of tissue to the second piece of tissue; an energizing block movable longitudinally along the first jaw electrically coupling a subset of the plurality of needles to the source of heat; and a chemical agent carried by the penetrating member to facilitate a reaction between the chemical agent and at least one of the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A tissue welding apparatus for fusing a first piece of tissue in a surface proximate relationship with a second piece of tissue, comprising:
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an operative member adapted to be disposed generally on a side of the first piece of tissue opposite the second piece of tissue; at least one penetrating member movable with the operative member relative to the first piece of tissue, the penetrating member being adapted to penetrate the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue; and
the at least one penetrating member comprising a plurality of needles affixed to a substantially planar surface of the first jawthe penetrating member being adapted for connection to a source of heat for heating the penetrating member in order to form a tissue weld bonding the first piece of tissue to the second piece of tissue; an energizing block movable from a proximal position to a distal position and sequentially supplying electrical energy to groups of the plurality of needles along the first jaw; and a chemical agent carried by the penetrating member to facilitate a reaction between the chemical agent and at least one of the first piece of tissue and the second piece of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification