Device for engaging tissue having a preexisting opening

• US 7,935,129 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Bolduc, Lee R., Costa, Peter F., Holmes, William A., DiCesare, Paul C., Gifford, Hanson S. III, Stein, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert; Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): COMSTOCK, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US10/790,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20040167551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,619 Days
• Field of Search: 606151-155, 606/213, 606/219, 606/220, 606/75, 606/1, 606/139, 623/2.17, 623/2.19, 600/206, 600/208, 600/217, 411/457, 411/458, 411/481, 411/920
• US Class Current: 606/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12045 double occlusion, e.g. during anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections Y-shaped blood vessel prostheses A61F2002/065
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12127 Double occlusion, e.g. for creating blood-free anastomosis site
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol

Abstract

A device for engaging tissue having a preexisting opening includes a generally annular-shaped ring having a width disposed about a longitudinal axis, and at least two staple members extending from the ring. Each of the at least two staple members have a thickness and at least a distal portion formed of an elastic material. The distal portions of the staple members have a first configuration, where the distal portions are separated by a first distance and wherein the distal portions are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a second configuration, where the distal portions are separated by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance, and the at least two staple members engage tissue surrounding the preexisting opening. The annular-shaped ring has a width that is greater than the thickness of the at least two staple members.

Claims

1. A device for engaging tissue having a preexisting opening, comprising:

a generally annular-shaped ring defining a plane, the ring being disposed about a central axis extending through the plane;

at least two staple members extending from the ring, each of the at least two staple members having at least a distal portion formed of an elastic material, the distal portions having a first configuration, where the distal portions are separated by a first distance and wherein the distal portions are substantially parallel to the central axis, and a second configuration, where the distal portions are separated by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance; and

a substantially tubular member configured to be disposed within the ring, the substantially tubular member configured to bias the distal portions of the at least two staple members to the first configuration when the substantially tubular member is disposed within the ring.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first distance is greater than the diameter of the preexisting opening.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second distance is less than the diameter of the preexisting opening.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the at least two staple members are substantially orthogonal to the central axis when the distal portions are in the second configuration.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal portions end in a sharpened point.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal portions are located radially inward relative to the annular ring when the distal portions are in the second configuration.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal portions of the at least two staple members are not parallel with the central axis when the distal portions are in the second configuration.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the substantially tubular member has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the central axis.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the substantially tubular member is slidable within the ring.

10. The device of claim 1, comprising a driver disposed about the substantially tubular member.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the driver and the substantially tubular member are movable with respect to one another.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the driver is configured to move the ring from a first position relative to the substantially tubular member to a second position relative to the substantially tubular member, whereat the at least two staple members engage tissue.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal portions of the staple members are formed of a superelastic material.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal portions of the staple members are formed of a shape-memory material.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the staple members are integrally formed with the ring.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the ring has an inner periphery and the at least two staple members extend from the inner periphery.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least two staple members comprise at least four staple members, and each of the at least four staple members extend from the inner periphery at positions that are angularly offset with respect to one another by substantially the same angle.

18. A system for engaging tissue having a preexisting opening, comprising:

a device comprising a ring disposed about a central axis and at least two staple members extending therefrom, the at least two staple members each having a distal end; and

a substantially tubular member configured to be disposed within the ring; and

wherein the device has a first configuration, where the substantially tubular member is disposed within the ring, and a second configuration, where the substantially tubular member is not disposed within the ring, and wherein the substantially tubular member is configured to bias the distal ends of the at least two staple members and wherein the distal ends of the at least two staple members are substantially parallel to the central axis when the device is in the first configuration, and the distal ends of the at least two staple members are substantially orthogonal to the central axis when the device is in the second configuration.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the ring is generally annular in shape.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the ring and staple members are formed of a superelastic material.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the substantially tubular member is moveable along the central axis relative to the ring.

22. The device of claim 18, comprising a driver disposed about the substantially tubular member.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the driver and the substantially tubular member are movable with respect to one another.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the driver is configured to move the ring from a first position relative to the substantially tubular member to a second position relative to the substantially tubular member, whereat the at least two staple members engage tissue.

25. The device of claim 18, wherein the ring has an inner periphery and the at least two staple members extend from the inner periphery.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the at least two staple members comprise at least four staple members, and each of the at least four staple members extend from the inner periphery at positions that are angularly offset with respect to one another by substantially the same angle.