Clip applier and methods of use

• US 8,202,294 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Integrated Vascular Systems, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Integrated Vascular Systems, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jabba, Ronald, Belef, W. Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, JULIAN W
• Application Number:
  US12/973,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20110144664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 606/142, 606/151, 606/153, 606/213, 606/232
• US Class Current: 606/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00637 for sealing trocar wounds through abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00672 Locating means therefor, e.g. bleed back lumen
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering a closure element into an opening formed in a blood vessel or other body lumen and methods for manufacturing and using same. The apparatus is configured to retain the closure element such that the closure element is disposed substantially within the apparatus. The apparatus also can engage, and position the closure element substantially adjacent to, the blood vessel wall adjacent to the opening. During deployment of the closure element, the apparatus expands the closure element beyond a natural cross-section of the closure element such that the closure element, when deployed, is configured to engage a significant amount of the blood vessel wall and/or tissue. Engaging the blood vessel wall and/or tissue, the closure element is further configured to return to the natural cross-section, thereby drawing the engaged blood vessel wall and/or tissue substantially closed and/or sealed, such that hemostasis within the opening is enhanced.

Claims

1. A method for closing an opening formed in a wall of a body lumen or body tissue, comprising:

threading a closure element delivery device over a guidewire;

extending a backing member of the closure element delivery device into the opening in the wall of the body lumen or body tissue such that the backing member engages the wall of the body lumen or the body tissue adjacent to the opening;

positioning a distal end region of a carrier assembly of the closure element delivery device adjacent to said opening, said distal end region of said carrier assembly being configured to retain a closure element substantially within said carrier assembly;

and deploying said closure element from said carrier assembly such that said closure element engages at least a portion of said wall of said body lumen or said body tissue whereby said opening is drawn substantially closed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said deploying step comprises causing a pusher member of said carrier assembly to move relative to a carrier member of said carrier assembly to cause deployment of said closure element.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said pusher member is caused to move relative to said carrier member by an energy storing member associated with said carrier assembly.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said energy storing member comprises a spring.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said carrier assembly comprises a carrier member retaining said closure element in a substantially tubular configuration within said carrier assembly, and a pusher member adapted to deploy closure element, and said spring is disposed substantially between said carrier member and said pusher member.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said spring is substantially disposed in a cavity located on one of said carrier member or said pusher member.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising a catch member adapted to selectably maintain said carrier member in proximity to said pusher member against a spring force imparted by said spring.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising a trigger selectably engageable with said catch member, said trigger adapted to cause said catch member to release said spring.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said closure element delivery device is extended through an introducer sheath during said positioning step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said introducer sheath expands radially during said positioning step.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein no portion of said introducer sheath substantially expands radially during said positioning step.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said introducer sheath splits during said positioning step.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of said introducer sheath splits as a result of said positioning step.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said closure element is retained in said carrier assembly in a substantially tubular configuration.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said closure element substantially uniformly expands to a cross-section that is greater than a natural cross-section of said closure element during said deploying step.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said closure element maintains a substantially uniform cross-section during said deploying step.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said closure element transitions to a natural, planar configuration during said deploying step.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said carrier assembly is slidably coupled with said backing member.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said backing member comprises a locator assembly having a distal end region adapted to extend into said opening and to selectably engage the wall of the body lumen or the body tissue adjacent to said opening.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said distal end region of said locator assembly is selectably controllable between an unexpanded state and an expanded state for contacting said wall of said body lumen or said body tissue.