Tissue fixation devices and assemblies for deploying the same

• US 7,632,287 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endogastric Solutions
• Original Assignee: Endogastric Solutions
• Inventors: Carter, Brett J., Baker, Steve G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; (Jackie) Tan-Uyen T
• Assistant Examiner(s): RYCKMAN, MELISSA K
• Application Number:
  US10/949,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/157, 606/213
• US Class Current: 606/151
• 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners

Abstract

Tissue fasteners carried on a tissue piercing deployment wire fasten tissue layers of a mammalian body together include a first member, a second member, and a connecting member extending between the first and second members. One of the first and second members has an elongated slot permitting fastener deployment while avoiding excessive tissue compression.

Claims

1. A fastener assembly, comprising:

a fastener including a first member, a second member, and a connecting member, the first and second members each having a first end and a second end, the connecting member being coupled to the first and second members intermediate the first end and the second end and extending between the first and second members, the first and second members being separated by the connecting member, the first member having a longitudinal axis, a through channel along the longitudinal axis surrounded by a sidewall, and an elongated slot which forms an elongate opening in the sidewall of the first member, the elongated slot communicating with the through channel and being elongate in the direction of the longitudinal axis; and

a deployment wire arranged to be slidingly received by the through channel of the first member, the deployment wire having a sharp tip configured to pierce tissue, the deployment wire being movable relative to the fastener between a first position and a second position, the deployment wire being positioned in the through channel with the sharp tip positioned distal to the fastener when the deployment wire is in the first position, the deployment wire being movable proximally relative to the fastener from the first position to the second position, the deployment wire extending through the elongated slot when the deployment wire is moved proximally relative to the fastener from the first position to the second position so that the sharp tip of the deployment wire is positioned outside of the through channel with the deployment wire extending through the slot and a proximal portion of the deployment wire remaining within the through channel.

2. The fastener assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a pusher that pushes the first member into the tissue.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the pusher is also arranged to be slidingly received on the deployment wire.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongated slot is substantially parallel to the through channel.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the connecting member of the fastener is flexible, and wherein the assembly further comprises a guide tube extending over the deployment wire and the fastener, the second member being disposed next to the first member within the guide tube.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second members are arranged to be side by side when the first member is slidingly received on the deployment wire.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one end of the first member of the fastener further includes a pointed tip.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first member, the second member, and the connecting member of the fastener are all formed of plastic material.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first member, the second member, and the connecting member of the fastener are all formed in one piece.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the connecting member of the fastener is formed of plastic elastic material.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the connecting member of the fastener is formed of one of polyurethane, the thermoplastic elastomer, and polypropylene.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the connecting member of the fastener is formed of a plastic, permanently deformable material.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener includes a color pigment contrasting with body tissue color to enable visualization of the fastener with an endoscope.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener is formed of metal.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener is formed of a shape memory material.

16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the fastener is formed of Nitinol.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first member of the fastener is self-deployable when the deployment wire is received by the elongated slot.

18. A fastener assembly, comprising:

a fastener including a first member, a second member, and a connecting member, the first and second members each having a first end and a second end, the connecting member being coupled to the first and second members intermediate the first end and the second end and extending between the first and second members, the first and second members being separated by the connecting member, the first member having a longitudinal axis, a through channel along the longitudinal axis surrounded by a sidewall, and an elongated slot which forms an elongate opening in the sidewall of the first member, the elongated slot communicating with the through channel and being elongate in the direction of the through channel, the elongated slot being spaced apart from the connecting member; and

a deployment wire arranged to be slidingly received by the through channel of the first member, the deployment wire having a sharp tip configured to pierce tissue, the deployment wire being movable relative to the fastener between a first position and a second position, the deployment wire being positioned in the through channel with the sharp tip positioned distal to the fastener when the deployment wire is in the first position, the deployment wire being movable proximally relative to the fastener from the first position to the second position, the deployment wire extending through the elongated slot when the deployment wire is moved proximally relative to the fastener from the first position to the second position so that the sharp tip of the deployment wire is positioned outside of the through channel with the deployment wire extending through the slot and a proximal portion of the deployment wire remaining within the through channel.