Apparatus and methods for positioning and securing anchors
First Claim
1. An anchor assembly for implantation in a body, comprising:
- an anchor body adapted to be delivered through a hollow member for placement against a tissue surface;
a locking mechanism comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen for passage of a flexible member therethrough, anda flexible member extending through at least a portion of said anchor body and through the lumen of said locking mechanism;
wherein substantially all of the locking mechanism is positioned proximally of and is separate from the anchor body and is slidably disposed on the flexible member, and wherein the locking mechanism has at least two arms biased to project in substantially opposing directions into the lumen for contact against the flexible member, with a first of the two arms being nearer to the proximal end of the cylindrical body and the second of the two arms being nearer to the distal end of the cylindrical body, such that the flexible member is uni-directionally advancable through the lumen relative to the anchor body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for positioning and securing anchors are disclosed herein. The anchors are adapted to be delivered and implanted into or upon tissue, particularly tissue within the gastrointestinal system of a patient. The anchor is adapted to slide uni-directionally over suture such that a tissue plication may be cinched between anchors. A locking mechanism either within the anchor itself of positioned proximally of the anchor may allow for the uni-directional translation while enabling the anchor to be locked onto the suture if the anchor is pulled, pushed, or otherwise urged in the opposite direction along the suture. This uni-directional anchor locking mechanism facilitates the cinching of the tissue plication between the anchors and it may be utilized in one or several anchors in cinching a tissue fold.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An anchor assembly for implantation in a body, comprising:
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an anchor body adapted to be delivered through a hollow member for placement against a tissue surface; a locking mechanism comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen for passage of a flexible member therethrough, and a flexible member extending through at least a portion of said anchor body and through the lumen of said locking mechanism; wherein substantially all of the locking mechanism is positioned proximally of and is separate from the anchor body and is slidably disposed on the flexible member, and wherein the locking mechanism has at least two arms biased to project in substantially opposing directions into the lumen for contact against the flexible member, with a first of the two arms being nearer to the proximal end of the cylindrical body and the second of the two arms being nearer to the distal end of the cylindrical body, such that the flexible member is uni-directionally advancable through the lumen relative to the anchor body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An anchor assembly for implantation in a body, comprising:
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an anchor body adapted to be delivered through a hollow member for placement against a tissue surface; a locking mechanism comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a proximal end and a distal end, substantially all of which is positioned proximally of and which is separate from the anchor body, the substantially cylindrical body having at least two arms biased to project in substantially opposing directions at an angle relative to the anchor body, with a first of the two arms being nearer to the proximal end of the cylindrical body and the second of the two arms being nearer to the distal end of the cylindrical body, the locking mechanism defining a lumen therethrough, and a flexible member extending through at least a portion of said anchor body and through the lumen of said locking mechanism; wherein the arms define an opening for passage of the flexible member therethrough such that the flexible member is uni-directionally advancable through the opening relative to the anchor body. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification