Apparatus and method for manipulating or retracting tissue and anatomical structure

• US 8,007,503 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleflex Life Sciences III LLC
• Original Assignee: NeoTract, Inc. (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Welch, Jacqueline Nerney, Nagpurkar, Amik, Collinson, Michael, Vidal, Claude, Catanese, Joseph III, Vecchiotti, Richard G., Redmond, Russell J., Merrick, Daniel, Makower, Joshua, West, Scott, Lamson, Theodore C.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott; Corrine M
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US11/833,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/151, 606/153, 606/232, 606300-331, 623/13.14, 600/37
• US Class Current: 606/151
• 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 17/0467 Instruments for cutting sutures surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• 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 17/0487 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 17/0625 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 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• 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 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00792 Plastic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00796 Breast surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00805 Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 : Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 : T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 : H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 : snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 : the anchor being crimped or clamped on 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 for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• 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 hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 : with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0688 : Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 : Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0022 : placed deep in the body opening occluding blood vessels by internal devices A61B17/12022
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 : Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 : Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes

Abstract

Integrated systems and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating diseases or disorders or other purposes. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device configured to deploy and implant anchoring devices for such purposes.

Claims

1. A method for treating a prostate, comprising:

passing an anchor through prostate tissue in a first orientation;

releasing the anchor to a second orientation for retention in anatomy adjacent the prostate; and

monitoring to determine whether there has been evidence of improvement as a result of placing the anchor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the passing of the anchor is through an opening in a portion of an urethra in the prostate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the anchor is a first anchor attached to a connector and the method further comprises placing a second anchor on the connector over the opening.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second anchor is located at about a two o'"'"'clock position in the portion of the urethra in the prostate near the bladder.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second anchor is located at about a ten o'"'"'clock position in the portion of the urethra in the prostate near the bladder.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the second anchor is located at about a two o'"'"'clock position in the portion of the urethra in the prostate near the juncture at which the ejaculatory duct connects to the urethra.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the second anchor is located at about a ten o'"'"'clock position in the portion of the urethra in the prostate near the juncture at which the ejaculatory duct connects to the urethra.

8. The method of claim 3, comprising:

inserting a device housing the first anchor, connector, second anchor and an extendable needle into a penis;

advancing the device until a distal end is in the portion of the urethra in the prostate;

extending the needle through the prostate tissue to pass the first anchor; and

retracting the needle to release the first anchor.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the second anchor holds retracted a portion of the urethra.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor is released outside of an outer surface of the prostate.

11. A method for treating a prostate, comprising:

effecting a compression on a urethra in the area of an interventional site;

delivering an anchoring assembly to the interventional site;

applying a tension to the anchoring assembly;

implanting the anchoring assembly so that a portion thereof invaginates in natural urethral tissue;

inserting a device housing the anchoring assembly and an extendable needle into a penis;

advancing the device until a distal end is in the urethra where the compression is effected;

extending the needle through the prostate to deliver the anchoring assembly; and

retracting the needle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the delivering of a portion of the anchor assembly is advancing the anchor assembly from the urethra where the compression is effected through the prostate.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the anchoring assembly holds retracted a portion of the urethra where the compression is effected.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the portion of the urethra retracted is located at about a two o'"'"'clock position in the portion of the urethra in the prostate near the bladder.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the portion of the urethra retracted is located at about a ten o'"'"'clock position in the portion of the urethra in the prostate near the bladder.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the portion of the urethra retracted is located at about a two o'"'"'clock position in the portion of the urethra in the prostate near the juncture at which the ejaculatory duct connects to the urethra.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the portion of the urethra retracted is located at about a ten o'"'"'clock position in the portion of the urethra in the prostate near the juncture at which the ejaculatory duct connects to the urethra.

18. A method involving a prostate, comprising:

passing an anchor through prostate tissue in a first orientation; and

releasing the anchor to a second orientation for retention in anatomy adjacent the prostate.