Tissue connector apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion,further including a flexible member comprising a suture, said flexible member having a first end portion coupled to said first tissue piercing member and a second end portion coupled to said first end portion of said fastener,further including a coupling, said first tissue piercing member and said first end portion of said surgical fastener being coupled to said coupling;
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3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Tissue connector assemblies having at least two piercing members, each releaseably coupled to a surgical fastener such as a surgical clip. A flexible member such as a suture may be used to couple one or both piercing members to respective ends of the fastener.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion,
further including a flexible member comprising a suture, said flexible member having a first end portion coupled to said first tissue piercing member and a second end portion coupled to said first end portion of said fastener, further including a coupling, said first tissue piercing member and said first end portion of said surgical fastener being coupled to said coupling; - and
wherein said coupling comprises a tubular member having movable portions and said surgical fastener includes an enlarged portion adapted for receipt in said movable portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion,
further including a flexible member comprising a suture, said flexible member having a first end portion coupled to said first tissue piercing member and a second end portion coupled to said first end portion of said fastener, further including a coupling, said first tissue piercing member and said first end portion of said surgical fastener being coupled to said coupling, further including a second coupling, said surgical fastener second end portion and second piercing member being coupled to said second coupling; - and
wherein said surgical fastener includes an enlarged portion and said second coupling comprises a generally tubular member having movable portions adapted to receive at least a portion of said second portion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion, and
further including a flexible member comprising a suture, said flexible member having a first end portion coupled to said first tissue piercing member and a second end portion coupled to said first end portion of said fastener further including a coupling, said first tissue piercing member and said first end portion of said surgical fastener being coupled to said coupling further including a second coupling, said surgical fastener second end portion and second piercing member being coupled to said second coupling; - and
wherein said second coupling releases the coupling between said second piercing member and said surgical fastener in response to releasing said fastener first end portion coupling.
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11. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion, and
further including a flexible member comprising a suture, said flexible member having a first end portion coupled to said first tissue piercing member and a second end portion coupled to said first end portion of said fastener further including a coupling, said first tissue piercing member and said first end portion of said surgical fastener being coupled to said coupling further including a second coupling, said surgical fastener second end portion and second piercing member being coupled to said second coupling; - and
further including a coil surrounding said surgical fastener and wherein said fastener includes first and second enlarged portions and said fastener first end portion coupling and said second coupling are adapted for receipt of said fastener first and second enlarged portions, respectively, said second coupling including members having portions that have a radially outward bias and extend within said coil when said coil is compressed against said second coupling.
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12. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion,
further including a coupling, said first tissue piercing member and said first end portion of said surgical fastener being coupled to said coupling, including a second coupling, said surgical fastener second end portion and second piercing member being coupled to said second coupling, further including a flexible member and a coil, said flexible member having a portion coupled to said second tissue piercing member and a portion coupled to said second coupling, said coil surrounding said surgical fastener and being compressed against said second coupling, said fastener including an enlarged portion and said fastener first end portion coupling being adapted for receipt of said enlarged portion, said second coupling including a first member fixedly secured to said fastener and a second member slidably coupled to said fastener, and said flexible member being compressed between said second coupling members when said coil is compressed against said slidably coupled member.
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13. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion;
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further including a flexible member comprising a suture, said flexible member having a first end portion coupled to said first tissue piercing member and a second end portion coupled to said first end portion of said fastener; further including a coupling, said first tissue piercing member and said first end portion of said surgical fastener being coupled to said coupling; including a second coupling, said surgical fastener second end portion and second piercing member being coupled to said second coupling; and wherein said fastener includes a groove and projection and said second coupling includes a member having a groove and projection and a sleeve slidably mounted thereon, said fastener groove and projection being configured to mate with said coupling member groove and projection.
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14. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion,
further including a coupling, said first tissue piercing member and said first end portion of said surgical fastener being coupled to said coupling, further including a second coupling, said surgical fastener second end portion and second piercing member being coupled to said second coupling, further including a flexible member having a portion coupled to said second tissue piercing member and a knotted portion, said second coupling including a tubular member having a bore, said knotted portion being in said bore and said bore having a portion with a diameter less than that of a section of said knotted portion.
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15. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion, and
further including a flexible member comprising a suture, said flexible member having a first end portion coupled to said first tissue piercing member and a second end portion coupled to said first end portion of said fastener further including a coupling, said first tissue piercing member and said first end portion of said surgical fastener being coupled to said coupling including a second coupling, said surgical fastener second end portion and second piercing member being coupled to said second coupling; - and
wherein said second coupling comprises an annular blade coupled to said second piercing member, said annular blade surrounding and being secured to a portion of said surgical fastener.
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16. A tissue connector assembly comprising a surgical fastener, which is adapted to assume a loop configuration, a first tissue piercing member and a second tissue piercing member, said surgical fastener having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first tissue piercing member being coupled to said first end portion and said second tissue piercing member being coupled to said second end portion, and
further including a flexible member comprising a suture, said flexible member having a first end portion coupled to said first tissue piercing member and a second end portion coupled to said first end portion of said fastener; -
wherein said surgical fastener comprises a surgical clip; and wherein said surgical clip comprises a wire, further including a coil surrounding at least a portion of said wire and having confined ends.
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Specification