Compressible tissue anchor assemblies

• US 7,678,135 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Elmer, Marvin C., Ewers, Richard C., Maahs, Tracy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan; Todd E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendoza; Michael G
• Application Number:
  US11/404,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 606/213, 606/215, 606/217, 606/218, 606/221, 606/232, 606/233
• US Class Current: 606/232
• 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 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

Apparatus & methods for optimizing anchoring force are described herein. In securing tissue folds, over-compression of the tissue directly underlying the anchors is avoided by utilizing tissue anchors having expandable arms configured to minimize contact area between the anchor and tissue. When the anchor is in its expanded configuration, a load is applied to the anchor until it is optimally configured to accommodate a range of deflections while the anchor itself exerts a substantially constant force against the tissue. Various devices, e.g., stops, spring members, fuses, strain gauges, etc., can be used to indicate when the anchor has been deflected to a predetermined level within the optimal range. Moreover, other factors to affect the anchor characteristics include, e.g., varying the number of arms or struts of the anchor, positioning of the arms, configuration of the arms, the length of the collars, etc.

Claims

1. A method of deploying a tissue anchor, comprising:

passing a needle body through a fold of tissue to deliver a tissue anchor having a proximal collar, a distal collar, and a mesh surface having a low-profile configuration extending between the collars;

deploying the tissue anchor against a tissue surface such that the distal and proximal collars are approximated at least partially towards one another via a spring element connected therebetween and wherein the mesh surface conforms to a partially expanded configuration; and

tensioning a length of suture between the distal and proximal collars to further expand the mesh surface into a fully deployed configuration against the tissue surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein deploying comprises ejecting the tissue anchor from a needle body.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein deploying comprises ejecting at least two tissue anchors from the needle body.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein deploying comprises conforming the mesh surface to a partially expanded configuration having one or more radially-biased bulges where compression of the mesh surface forms a circumferential ring.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein conforming the mesh surface comprises partially expanding the mesh surface having at least two radially-biased bulges.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein prior to tensioning a length, further comprising:

delivering a second tissue anchor having a second proximal collar, a second distal collar, and a second mesh surface having a low-profile configuration extending between the collars; and

deploying the second tissue anchor against a second tissue surface such that the second distal and proximal collars are approximated at least partially towards one another via a second spring element connected therebetween and where the second mesh surface conforms to a partially expanded configuration.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the second tissue surface is located on a tissue fold opposite to the tissue surface.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the second tissue surface is located on a tissue fold separate from the tissue surface.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the second tissue surface is located along an edge of a tissue opening in apposition to the tissue surface.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the tissue opening is surgically created.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the tissue opening is naturally occurring.

12. A method of deploying a tissue anchor, comprising:

delivering a tissue anchor having a proximal collar, a distal collar, and a mesh surface having a low-profile configuration extending between the collars;

deploying the tissue anchor against a tissue surface such that the distal and proximal collars are approximated at least partially towards one another via a spring element connected therebetween and wherein the mesh surface conforms to a partially expanded configuration;

delivering a second tissue anchor having a second proximal collar, a second distal collar, and a second mesh surface having a low-profile configuration extending between the collars; and

deploying the second tissue anchor against a second tissue surface such that the second distal and proximal collars are approximated at least partially towards one another via a second spring element connected therebetween and where the second mesh surface conforms to a partially expanded configuration; and

tensioning a length of suture between the distal and proximal collars to further expand the mesh surface into a hilly deployed configuration against the tissue surface.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second tissue surface is located on a tissue fold opposite to the tissue surface.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second tissue surface is located on a tissue fold separate from the tissue surface.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the second tissue surface is located along an edge of a tissue opening in apposition to the tissue surface.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the tissue opening is surgically created.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the tissue opening is naturally occurring.