Apparatus and methods for rapid deployment of tissue anchors

• US 8,444,657 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Saadat, Vahid, Lam, Cang C.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine M
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASHACK, MARK F
• Application Number:
  US11/118,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20050251177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,945 Days
• Field of Search: 606/104, 606139-153, 606157-158, 606205-209, 600104-107, 600/218, 600/564
• US Class Current: 606/139
• 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 17/0487 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 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06114 Packages or dispensers for needles or sutures packages for sharps A61B50/3001; for dental floss A61C15/043; packages for needles in general B65D85/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0416 Packages or dispensers for suture anchors or for anchor applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• 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 2017/0496 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 2017/06076 helically or spirally coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 : Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 : with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0086 : using clamps, folding means or the like

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for rapid deployment of tissue anchors are described herein. A tissue manipulation assembly is pivotably coupled to the distal end of a tubular member and has a lower jaw member and an upper jaw member pivotably coupled to the lower jaw member. A reconfigurable launch tube is pivotably coupled to the upper jaw member and is used to urge the jaw members from a low-profile configuration to an open configuration. A needle assembly can be advanced through the launch tube across tissue received between the jaw members of the tissue manipulation assembly. Tissue anchors can be advanced through the needle assembly for securing received tissue. The tissue anchors can be positioned within a reloadable chamber of a control handle disposed outside the patient, then advanced through the needle assembly.

Claims

1. A surgical method comprising:

advancing a tissue grasping tool through a lumen to a surgical site in a patient, with the tissue grasping tool having first and second jaws and a needle within a tube;

engaging tissue of the patient at the surgical site with the tissue grasping tool by pushing on the tube to pivot the first and second jaws relatively towards each other;

advancing the needle through the engaged tissue, with the needle guided through the tube that is pivotably attached to the first jaw of the tissue grasping tool; and

pushing a tissue anchor out of the needle to secure the engaged tissue using a control handle positioned outside of the patient.

2. A surgical method comprising:

moving a tissue grasping tool through a lumen to a surgical site in a patient, with the tissue grasping tool having first and second jaws;

engaging tissue of the patient at the surgical site with the tissue grasping tool by moving the first and second jaws relatively towards each other by moving a launch tube that is pivotally attached to the first jaw;

positioning a launch tube relative to the grasped tissue;

moving a needle out of the launch tube and through a first opening in the first jaw, through the engaged tissue, and through a second opening in the second jaw; and

moving a tissue anchor attached to a suture out of the needle.

3. The method of claim 2 with the needle substantially perpendicular to the first jaw as the needle moves out of the launch tube.

4. A method of securing tissue within a hollow body organ, comprising:

endoluminally advancing a tissue grasping tool having first and second jaws into the hollow body organ;

engaging tissue with the tissue grasping tool by moving the first and second jaws relatively towards each other by moving a launch tube that is pivotally attached to the first jaw;

advancing a needle through the engaged tissue to thereby pierce the engaged tissue, with the needle guided through the launch tube;

deploying a tissue anchor from the needle to secure the engaged tissue with the tissue anchor advanced to the tissue grasping tool from a control handle positioned outside of the hollow body organ; and

withdrawing the needle back through the engaged tissue.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein deploying the tissue anchor further comprises:

loading a chamber of the control handle with the tissue anchor; and

advancing a pusher to advance the tissue anchor to the tissue grasping tool.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the distal end of the launch tube is recessed within a slot in the first jaw.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the pusher is advanced via a geared mechanism.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the needle is advanced in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first jaw.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the needle is advanced through a first opening in the first jaw and through a second opening in the second jaw.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the tissue anchor is deployed after the needle has passed through the second opening in the second jaw.

11. The method of claim 4 further comprising opening the grasping tool by pulling on the launch tube.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein deploying the tissue anchor further comprises:

loading a chamber of the control handle with the tissue anchor; and

advancing a pusher to advance the tissue anchor to the tissue grasping tool; and

.

13. The method of claim 4 with the tissue anchor including a length of suture.