Tissue connector apparatus and methods

• US 8,353,921 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2010
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Schaller, Laurent, Gardiner, Barry, Hill, Art, Nguyen, John, Ho, Liem, Gandionco, Isidro Matias
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, JULIAN W
• Application Number:
  US12/849,861
• Publication Number:
  US 20110028996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/153, 606/213, 606/219, 606/232, 606/228
• US Class Current: 606/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• 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 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06009 having additional means for releasably clamping the suture to the needle, e.g. actuating rod slideable within the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06057 Double-armed sutures, i.e. sutures having a needle attached to each end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections

Abstract

Tissue connector assemblies having at least two piercing members, each releaseably coupled to a surgical fastener such as a surgical clip. A flexible member such as a suture may be used to couple one or both piercing members to respective ends of the fastener.

Claims

1. A method of securing portions of material together, at least one of which comprises tissue, the method comprising placing at least a portion of a first piercing member, having a surgical fastener coupled thereto, in a vessel lumen, placing at least a portion of a second piercing member, which also is coupled to the surgical fastener and where at least one of the piercing members is coupled to the surgical fastener with a flexible member, in a tubular graft, passing the first piercing member through the wall of the vessel from an interior surface thereof, passing the second piercing member through the wall of the tubular graft from an interior surface thereof, and positioning the fastener with one portion thereof extending through said vessel wall and another portion extending through said graft wall.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the flexible member is selected to be a suture.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein all of the at least one flexible member and the piercing members are removed from the fastener.