Apparatus for attachment and reinforcement of tissue, apparatus for reinforcement of tissue, methods of attaching and reinforcing tissue, and methods of reinforcing tissue
First Claim
1. Apparatus for attachment and reinforcement of tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- an energy applicator positioned adjacent a first tissue contacting surface, the energy applicator configured to apply an amount of energy to generate heat within a target tissue so as to evaporate intracellular and extracellular water from the target tissue to create dried tissue, and denature at least one of collagen and elastin within the target tissue to attach portions of the target tissue together; and
a biopolymer applicator disposed at a second tissue contacting surface, the biopolymer applicator configured for housing a biopolymer material at a location adjacent to the target tissue to receive the heat generated by the energy applied to the target tissue so as to allow the biopolymer material to change phase from a solid state to a molten state, and to allow the biopolymer to fill the dried tissue so as to reinforce the portions of the target tissue attached to one another and provide a hermetic seal once the biopolymer cools and returns to the solid state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There are disclosed methods and apparatus for attachment and reinforcement of tissue, and methods and apparatus for reinforcement of tissue. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes an energy applicator configured to apply energy to generate heat within a target tissue to evaporate water to create dried tissue, and denature at least one of collagen and elastin to attach portions together, and a biopolymer applicator configured for to receive the heat generated to allow biopolymer material to change from solid to molten, and to allow the biopolymer to fill dried tissue to reinforce portions of the target tissue and provide a hermetic seal.
In another embodiment, the method includes applying energy to tissue surfaces with an energy applicator, and applying a biopolymer material into the tissue surfaces with a biopolymer applicator disposed on a housing in connection with the energy applicator. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. Apparatus for attachment and reinforcement of tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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an energy applicator positioned adjacent a first tissue contacting surface, the energy applicator configured to apply an amount of energy to generate heat within a target tissue so as to evaporate intracellular and extracellular water from the target tissue to create dried tissue, and denature at least one of collagen and elastin within the target tissue to attach portions of the target tissue together; and a biopolymer applicator disposed at a second tissue contacting surface, the biopolymer applicator configured for housing a biopolymer material at a location adjacent to the target tissue to receive the heat generated by the energy applied to the target tissue so as to allow the biopolymer material to change phase from a solid state to a molten state, and to allow the biopolymer to fill the dried tissue so as to reinforce the portions of the target tissue attached to one another and provide a hermetic seal once the biopolymer cools and returns to the solid state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. Apparatus for reinforcement of tissue, the apparatus comprising:
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an energy applicator positioned adjacent a first tissue contacting surface, the energy applicator configured to apply an amount of energy to generate heat within a target tissue so as to evaporate intracellular and extracellular water from the target tissue to create dried tissue; and a biopolymer applicator disposed at a second tissue contacting surface, the biopolymer applicator configured for housing a biopolymer material at a location adjacent to the target tissue to receive the heat generated by the energy applied to the target tissue so as to allow the biopolymer material to change phase from a solid state to a molten state, and to allow the biopolymer to fill the dried tissue so as to provide a hemostatic barrier once the biopolymer cools and returns to the solid state.
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51. A method of attaching and reinforcing tissue, the method comprising:
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applying energy adjacent to tissue surfaces with an energy applicator, wherein the application of the energy is configured to generate an amount of heat within the tissue surfaces so as to evaporate intracellular and extracellular water from the target tissue to create dried tissue, and denature at least one of collagen and elastin within the tissue surfaces to attach portions of the tissue surfaces to one another; and applying a biopolymer material into the tissue surfaces with a biopolymer applicator disposed on a housing in connection with the energy applicator, wherein the application of the biopolymer material includes housing the biopolymer material at a location adjacent to the tissue surfaces to receive the heat generated by the energy applied to the target tissue so as to allow the biopolymer material to change phase from a solid state to a molten state, and to allow the biopolymer to fill the dried tissue so as to reinforce the portions of the target tissue attached to one another and provide a hermetic seal once the biopolymer cools and returns to the solid state.
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52. A method of reinforcing tissue, the method comprising:
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applying energy adjacent a tissue surface with an energy applicator, wherein the application of the energy is configured to generate an amount of heat within a target tissue so as to evaporate intracellular and extracellular water from the target tissue to create dried tissue; and applying a biopolymer material into the target tissue with a biopolymer applicator disposed on a housing in connection with the energy applicator, wherein the application of the biopolymer includes housing the biopolymer material at a location adjacent to the target tissue to receive the heat generated by the energy applied to the target tissue so as to allow the biopolymer material to change phase from a solid state to a molten state, and to allow the biopolymer to fill the dried tissue so as to provide a hemostatic barrier once the biopolymer cools and returns to the solid state.
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Specification