Compressible tissue anchor assemblies

• US 8,740,940 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: USGI Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Maahs, Tracy D., Elmer, Marvin C., Ewers, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowe, Katherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDOZA, MICHAEL G
• Application Number:
  US13/748,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20130138151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 606/198, 606/191, 606/213, 606/215, 606/216, 606/200, 606/218, 606/221, 606/232, 606/233
• 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• 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 hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

Apparatus and methods optimize anchoring force in securing tissue folds. Over-compression of the tissue directly underlying the anchors is avoided by utilizing tissue anchors having expandable designs configured to minimize contact area between the anchor and tissue. When the anchor is in its expanded configuration, a load is applied to the anchor until it is optimally configured to accommodate a range of deflections while the anchor itself exerts a substantially constant force against the tissue.

Claims

1. A tissue anchor system, comprising:

an anchor delivery device;

a first tissue anchor in the anchor delivery device comprising a first mesh supported by a first resilient frame;

a first collar attached to the first resilient frame;

a second tissue anchor in the anchor delivery device comprising a second mesh supported by a second resilient frame;

a second collar attached to the second resilient frame;

a suture extending through or attached to the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor; and

a cinch moveable on the suture towards the second collar;

with the first and second tissue anchors resiliently expandable from a collapsed position when in the delivery device, to an expanded position when moved out of the delivery device for engaging a tissue surface at a surgical site, and with the second tissue anchor separate from the first tissue anchor.

2. The tissue anchor system of claim 1 wherein the first and second tissue anchors are linked together only via a single suture.

3. The tissue anchor system of claim 1 wherein the first and second resilient frames each comprise a spring of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, nickel, titanium, nitinol, plastic, elastomers, polyurethane, and salastic materials.

4. The tissue anchor system of claim 1 wherein the first and second mesh surround the first and second frames, respectively.

5. The tissue anchor system of claim 1 with the first and second frames floating freely within the first and second meshes, respectively.

6. The tissue anchor system of claim 1 with the suture passing freely through the first and second anchors.

7. A tissue anchor system, comprising:

an anchor delivery device;

a first tissue anchor in the anchor delivery device comprising a first mesh pouch supported by a first resilient frame;

a first collar attached to the first resilient frame;

a second tissue anchor in the anchor delivery device comprising a second mesh pouch supported by a second resilient frame;

a second collar attached to the second resilient frame;

with the first and second tissue anchors unconnected to each other except for a suture extending through or attached to the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor;

a cinch moveable on the suture in only one direction; and

with the first and second tissue anchors resiliently expandable from a collapsed position when in the delivery device, to an expanded position when moved out of the delivery device for engaging a tissue surface at a surgical site.

8. The tissue anchor system of claim 7 wherein the first and second resilient frames each comprise a spring.

9. The tissue anchor system of claim 7 wherein the spring comprises a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, nickel, titanium, nitinol, plastic, elastomers, polyurethane, and salastic materials.

10. The tissue anchor system of claim 7 wherein the cinch is adapted to slide uni-directionally along the suture.

11. The tissue anchor system of claim 7 wherein the first and second mesh pouches surround the first and second frames, respectively.

12. The tissue anchor system of claim 7 with the first and second frames floating freely within the first and second mesh pouches, respectively.

13. The tissue anchor system of claim 7 with the suture passing freely through the first and second anchors.

14. Tissue anchor apparatus, comprising:

an anchor delivery device including a hollow needle;

a first tissue anchor in the hollow needle comprising a first mesh material supported by a first frame,

a second tissue anchor in the hollow needle comprising a second mesh material supported by a second frame,

a suture extending through or attached to the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor, with the second tissue anchor slidable along the suture toward the first collar;

with the first and second tissue anchors resiliently expandable from a collapsed position when in the hollow needle, to an expanded position when moved out of the hollow needle for engaging a tissue surface at a surgical site.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 with the first tissue anchor further comprising a first distal collar attached to a distal end of the first resilient frame and a first proximal collar attached to a proximal end of the first resilient frame;

and

with the second tissue anchor further including a second distal collar attached to a distal end of the second resilient frame and a second proximal collar attached to a proximal end of the second resilient frame; and

with the first proximal collar and the second distal collar comprising separate components.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first and second mesh materials surround the first and second frames, respectively.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 with the first and second frames floating freely within the first and second mesh materials, respectively.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 with the suture passing freely through the first and second anchors.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 with the first and second tissue anchors linked together only via the suture.