T-type suture anchoring devices and methods of using same

• US 8,388,653 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Nobis, Rudolph H., Jankoski, Frank, Vakharia, Omar J., Faux, John A., Bakos, Gregory J., Linenkugel, Duane A., Swain, Christopher Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, JULIAN W
• Application Number:
  US11/127,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,854 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/169, 606/222, 606/228, 606/232, 606/113, 227/67, 227/68, 600/471, 600/104
• US Class Current: 606/232
• 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 17/0487 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 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• 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 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 snug fit within the anchor
• 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 2017/0464 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 2017/0496 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 hollow suture needles A61B2017/061

Abstract

Suture anchoring devices are disclosed, including a T-tag anchoring device that is suitably small enough to fit into the hollow tip of a needle and, furthermore, provide protection to the suture against being cut or otherwise damaged by the sharp edge of the needle tip. One disclosed device includes a slot for providing a pivot point between the suture and the body when deployed, which can be employed to form a T-tag.

Claims

1. A medical device for anchoring suture comprising:

a surgical needle comprising a tip with a sharp edge, a lumen, and an outer surface;

a tag body positioned in the lumen of the surgical needle, the tag body having a length;

a suture attached to a portion of said tag body, the suture comprising an elongate length greater than the tag body length, the elongate length of suture extending outside of the tag body and distally from the tip of the surgical needle while the tag body is positioned in the lumen of the surgical needle; and

a protective sleeve positioned around the outer surface of the surgical needle, the protective sleeve being dimensioned and adapted to pass through the working channel of a flexible endoscope, the protective sleeve being axially slideable relative the surgical needle between a first position over the tip and a second position where the tip is exposed;

wherein in the first position the elongate length of suture extends distally from the tip of the surgical needle and distally from the protective sleeve.

2. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible sleeve covering a portion of said suture distal from the tag body and coincident with the sharp edge of the surgical needle tip.

3. The medical device of claim 2 wherein said flexible sleeve comprises a polyamide tube.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said tag body comprises a cylindrical body and a slot in said cylindrical body extending along a long axis of said cylindrical body.

5. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said suture is constructed of a metal fiber.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said needle is an endoscopic ultrasound needle.

7. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said tag body has an outside diameter of no more than about 0.030 inches.

8. A medical device for anchoring suture comprising:

a surgical needle comprising a tip with a sharp edge, a lumen, and an outer surface;

a tag body positioned in the lumen of the surgical needle, the tag body having a length;

a suture attached to a portion of said tag body, the suture comprising an elongate length greater than the tag body length, the elongate length of suture extending outside of the tag body and distally from the tip of the surgical needle while the tag body is positioned in the lumen of the surgical needle; and

a protective sleeve positioned around the outer surface of the surgical needle, the protective sleeve being dimensioned and adapted to pass through the working channel of a flexible endoscope, the protective sleeve and surgical needle being slideable relative one another between a first position where the protective sleeve extends over the tip and a second position where the tip is exposed; and

wherein in the first position the protective sleeve protects the sharp edge of the surgical needle tip.

9. The medical device of claim 8, further comprising a flexible sleeve covering a portion of said suture distal from the tag body and coincident with the sharp edge of the surgical needle tip.

10. The medical device of claim 9 wherein said flexible sleeve comprises a polyamide tube.

11. The medical device of claim 8 wherein said tag body comprises a cylindrical body and a slot in said cylindrical body extending along a long axis of said cylindrical body.

12. The medical device of claim 8 wherein said suture is constructed of a metal fiber.

13. The medical device of claim 8 wherein said needle is an endoscopic ultrasound needle.

14. The medical device of claim 8 wherein said tag body has an outside diameter of no more than about 0.030 inches.

15. The medical device of claim 8 wherein in the first position the elongate length of suture extends distally from the tip of the surgical needle and distally from the protective sleeve.

16. A medical device for anchoring suture comprising:

a surgical needle comprising a tip with a sharp edge, a lumen, and an outer surface;

a tag body positioned in the lumen of the surgical needle, the tag body having a slotted end with a lateral slot and an unslotted end;

a suture attached to a portion of said tag body, the suture comprising an elongate length extending out from the slotted end of the tag body and extending distally from the tip of the surgical needle while the tag body is positioned in the lumen; and

a protective sleeve positioned around the outer surface of the surgical needle, the protective sleeve being dimensioned and adapted to pass through the working channel of a flexible endoscope, the protective sleeve and surgical needle being slideable relative one another between a first position where the protective sleeve extends over the tip and a second position where the tip is exposed.