System for optimizing anchoring force
First Claim
1. A system for loading an anchor for placement against a tissue surface, comprising:
- an anchor body having a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration adapted for placement against the tissue surface; and
a loading mechanism in communication with the anchor body, wherein the loading mechanism is adapted to indicate a loading condition upon the anchor body;
wherein the loading mechanism comprises a fuse member adapted to break when a predetermined loading condition is reached, thereby inhibiting deformation of the anchor body beyond a predetermined loading condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems 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.
1106 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A system for loading an anchor for placement against a tissue surface, comprising:
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an anchor body having a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration adapted for placement against the tissue surface; and a loading mechanism in communication with the anchor body, wherein the loading mechanism is adapted to indicate a loading condition upon the anchor body; wherein the loading mechanism comprises a fuse member adapted to break when a predetermined loading condition is reached, thereby inhibiting deformation of the anchor body beyond a predetermined loading condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for loading an anchor for placement against a tissue surface, comprising:
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an anchor body having a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration adapted for placement against the tissue surface; and a loading mechanism in communication with the anchor body, wherein the loading mechanism is adapted to indicate a loading condition upon the anchor body; wherein the loading mechanism comprises; a first member defining a first region with a first frictional coefficient; a second member defining at least a second region with a second frictional coefficient different from the first frictional coefficient, wherein the first member and the second member are adapted to slide relative to one another such that a first frictional force is generated by contact between the first region and the second region, and wherein a change in the first frictional force is indicative of a predetermined loading condition upon the anchor body. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for loading an anchor for placement against a tissue surface, comprising:
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an anchor body having a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration adapted for placement against the tissue surface; and a loading mechanism in communication with the anchor body, wherein the loading mechanism is adapted to indicate a loading condition upon the anchor body; wherein the loading mechanism comprises a strain gauge adapted to measure a longitudinal deformation of a tensioned region, the deformation being indicative of the loading condition upon the anchor body. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A method for loading an anchor for placement against a tissue surface, comprising:
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positioning the anchor relative to the tissue surface; applying a load to the anchor such that the anchor is configured into a partially compressed state against the tissue surface; and adjusting the load such that the anchor exerts a substantially constant force upon the tissue surface, wherein adjustment the load comprises detecting the substantially constant force via a fuse member adapted to break when the constant force is reached. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for loading an anchor for placement against a tissue-surface, comprising:
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positioning the anchor relative to the tissue surface; applying a load to the anchor such that the anchor is configured into a partially compressed state against the tissue surface; and adjusting the load such that the anchor exerts a substantially constant force upon the tissue surface, wherein adjusting the load comprises detecting the substantially constant force via a strain gauge adapted to measure a longitudinal deformation of a tensioned region.
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39. A system for deploying an anchor against a tissue surface, comprising:
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an anchor body having a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration adapted for placement against the tissue surface; and a loading mechanism in communication with the anchor body, wherein the loading mechanism comprises a fuse member adapted to break or fail when a predetermined loading condition is reached, thereby inhibiting further loading of the anchor body beyond a predetermined loading condition. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method for loading an anchor for placement against a tissue surface, comprising:
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positioning the anchor relative to the tissue surface; applying a load to the anchor such that the anchor is configured into a deployed state against the tissue surface; and adjusting the load such that the anchor exerts a force upon the tissue surface that is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold force, wherein adjusting the load comprises detecting the force via a fuse member adapted to break or fail when the threshold force is reached. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification