Apparatus and methods for forming and securing gastrointestinal tissue folds

• US 7,955,340 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Lam, Cang C., Michlitsch, Kenneth J., Chen, Eugene C., Rothe, Chris, Saadat, Vahid C., Brenneman, Rodney, Ewers, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Erezo; Darwin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dornbusch; Dianne
• Application Number:
  US10/734,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20040225183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,734 Days
• Field of Search: 600/104, 600/114, 600/118, 600/125, 600/131, 600/139, 600/141, 600/143, 600/144, 600/153, 606/108, 606/139, 606/144, 606/148, 606/151, 606/153, 606/157, 606/158, 606/213, 606215-217, 606/228, 606/232
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0055 Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2736 Gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0483 Hand-held instruments for holding sutures A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00269 : endoscopic mucosal resection EMR
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 : Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 : one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 : Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 : Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 : T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 : H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0443 : the shaft being resilient and having a coiled or helical shape in the released state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 : Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 : the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 : Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0461 : with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0462 : One way system, i.e. also tensioning the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 : Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 : for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 : Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/061 : hollow or tubular
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 : with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 : Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 : flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 : used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 : Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 : using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0086 : using clamps, folding means or the like

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for forming a gastrointestinal tissue fold by engaging tissue at a first tissue contact point and moving the first tissue contact point from a position initially distal to, or in line with, a second tissue contact point to a position proximal of the second contact point, thereby forming the tissue fold, and extending an anchor assembly through the tissue fold from a vicinity of the second tissue contact point. Adjustable anchor assemblies; as well as anchor delivery systems, shape-lockable guides and methods for endoluminally performing medical procedures, such as gastric reduction, treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease, resection of lesions, and treatment of bleeding sites; are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for performing a medical procedure within a hollow body organ of tortuous or unpredictably supported anatomy, the method comprising:

advancing an overtube comprising a plurality of nested elements having mating contoured surfaces within the hollow body organ in a flexible state;

transitioning the overtube to a rigid state by imposing a load that clamps the contoured surfaces of adjacent nested elements together to thereby substantially fix the shape of the overtube in any desired configuration;

advancing a plication device through a lumen defined by the overtube after the overtube has been transitioned to the rigid state, the plication device comprising a pair of movable jaws adapted to engage tissue within the hollow body organ;

forming a tissue fold within the hollow body organ with the plication device; and

securing the tissue fold using a tissue anchor deployed from a needle of the plication device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising visualizing formation of the tissue fold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein visualizing formation of the tissue fold further comprises visualizing formation with a visualization element advanced through the overtube.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein visualizing formation of the tissue fold further comprises visualizing formation with a visualization element coupled to the overtube.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical procedure comprises endoscopically treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, advancing the overtube within a hollow body organ comprises advancing the overtube through a patient'"'"'s esophagus and into the patient'"'"'s stomach, transitioning the overtube to a rigid state comprises transitioning the overtube to a rigid state in a configuration enabling access to the patient'"'"'s gastroesophageal junction, and forming a tissue fold comprises forming at least one tissue fold in a vicinity of the patient'"'"'s gastroesophageal junction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical procedure comprises endoscopically performing gastric reduction, advancing the overtube within a hollow body organ comprises advancing an overtube through a patient'"'"'s esophagus and into the patient'"'"'s stomach, transitioning the overtube to a rigid state comprises transitioning the overtube to a rigid state in a desired configuration within the patient'"'"'s stomach, and forming a tissue fold comprises forming a plurality of tissue folds within the patient'"'"'s stomach.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising approximating and securing the plurality of tissue folds, thereby partitioning the patient'"'"'s stomach into at least first and second chambers over at least a portion of the stomach.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein forming, approximating and securing a plurality of tissue folds further comprises:

forming, approximating and securing a first plurality of tissue folds in a first plane; and

forming, approximating and securing at least one additional plurality of tissue folds in at least one additional plane, wherein the first plane and the at least one additional plane are substantially parallel to one another.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein partitioning the stomach into first and second chambers further comprises partitioning the stomach into a first lumen and a second chamber.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein partitioning the stomach into a first lumen and a second chamber further comprises partitioning the stomach such that the patient'"'"'s gastroesophageal junction only communicates with the first lumen.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein partitioning the stomach into a first lumen comprises partitioning the stomach into a first lumen having a volume in the range of 10-50 cm³.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein forming a plurality of tissue folds further comprises forming a plurality of tissue folds inferior to the patient'"'"'s gastroesophageal junction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein forming a plurality of tissue folds further comprises forming a plurality of tissue folds having at least one tissue fold from an anterior segment of the patient'"'"'s stomach and at least one tissue fold from an opposing posterior segment of the patient'"'"'s stomach.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein forming a plurality of tissue folds within a patient'"'"'s stomach comprises forming and securing a plurality of tissue folds disposed at substantially randomly selected locations to reduce a volume of the stomach.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein forming a plurality of tissue folds within a patient'"'"'s stomach comprises forming a plurality of interconnected tissue folds around a perimeter of the patient'"'"'s stomach with instruments advanced through, or coupled to, the overtube, the method further comprising approximating the plurality of interconnected tissue folds to remodel the stomach to an hourglass profile.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical procedure comprises resecting a lesion or cancer within a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, advancing the overtube within a hollow body organ comprises advancing the overtube through the patient'"'"'s esophagus or colon, transitioning the overtube to a rigid state comprises transitioning the overtube to a rigid state in a configuration enabling access to the lesion or cancer, and forming a tissue fold comprises forming at least one tissue fold with a plication device advanced through, or coupled to, the overtube, so that the lesion or cancer is disposed on the tissue fold.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising removing the lesion or cancer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein removing the lesion or cancer further comprises removing the lesion or cancer with cutting apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein removing the lesion or cancer with cutting apparatus further comprises removing the lesion or cancer with a snare.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical procedure comprises endoscopically treating a bleeding site within a patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract, advancing the overtube within a hollow body organ comprises advancing the overtube through the patient'"'"'s esophagus or colon, transitioning the overtube to a rigid state comprises transitioning the overtube to a rigid state in a configuration enabling access to the bleeding site, and forming a tissue fold comprises forming at least one tissue fold with a plication device advanced through, or coupled to, the overtube, so that the bleeding site is disposed on the tissue fold.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising securing the tissue fold, thereby reducing bleeding from the bleeding site.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein securing the tissue fold further comprises securing the tissue fold with an anchor assembly.