Self-suturing anchors
First Claim
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1. Apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of anchoring elements, each of the anchoring elements being an elongate element that is curved to define an opening;
a housing configured to hold each of the anchoring elements; and
a mandrel that is reversibly disposable through the openings defined by the anchoring elements,the anchoring elements being configured such that, in response to removal of the mandrel from the openings, ends of the anchoring elements automatically move outwardly, and diameters of the openings decrease, due to elastic loading of the anchoring elements, wherein the anchoring elements are configured to couple the housing to the tissue by becoming anchored to the tissue.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided, including a plurality of anchoring elements, each of the anchoring elements being an elongate element that is curved to define an opening. A housing holds each of the anchoring elements. A mandrel is reversibly disposable through the openings defined by the anchoring elements. The anchoring elements are configured such that, in response to removal of the mandrel from the openings, ends of the anchoring elements automatically move outwardly, and diameters of the openings decrease, due to elastic loading of the anchoring elements. Other embodiments are also described.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. Apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of anchoring elements, each of the anchoring elements being an elongate element that is curved to define an opening; a housing configured to hold each of the anchoring elements; and a mandrel that is reversibly disposable through the openings defined by the anchoring elements, the anchoring elements being configured such that, in response to removal of the mandrel from the openings, ends of the anchoring elements automatically move outwardly, and diameters of the openings decrease, due to elastic loading of the anchoring elements, wherein the anchoring elements are configured to couple the housing to the tissue by becoming anchored to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of anchoring elements; a mandrel that is reversibly disposable through the anchoring elements, each of the anchoring elements being configured to; automatically become anchored to tissue of a subject, by entering the tissue via an entry route, in response to removal of the mandrel from the anchoring element; and subsequently, automatically exit the tissue via an exit route that is a reverse of the entry route, in response to reinsertion of the mandrel through the anchoring element, wherein the anchoring elements are disposed in a housing, and wherein the anchoring elements are configured to couple the housing to the tissue by becoming anchored to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for use with tissue of a subject, comprising:
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a plurality of anchoring elements configured to become anchored to respective locations of the tissue, each of the anchoring elements being an elongate element that is curved to define an opening; a housing configured to hold each of the anchoring elements, during anchoring of the anchoring elements to the tissue; and a mandrel that is disposed through the openings defined by the anchoring elements, ends of the anchoring elements being configured to automatically become anchored to the respective locations of the tissue by moving outwardly, in response to removal of the mandrel from the openings, wherein the anchoring elements are configured to couple the housing to the tissue by becoming anchored to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification