Apparatus and method for tissue adhesion
First Claim
1. A tissue adhesion device, comprising:
- a substrate having a contact surface; and
an array of microposts extending from the contact surface of the substrate, said microposts fabricated from a shape memory material and including a proximal end secured to the substrate, a sharpened tissue penetrating distal end, with a deployment state in which each micropost is in a substantially straightened configuration with a smooth continuous outer surface and each micropost is substantially parallel to each other micropost in the array and substantially perpendicular to the substrate to penetrate target tissue, and an engaged state activated after penetration wherein a distal section of each micropost has undergone movement through a shape memory transition to assume a shape which differs from the shape of the microposts in the deployment state and which mechanically captures target tissue adjacent thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An array of a plurality of shape memory material microposts (12) have a proximal end (10) configured to be secured to a substrate (14) with a tissue penetrating distal end (18). The microposts further have a deployment state with the microposts (12) in a substantially straightened configuration with a substantially smooth and continuous outer surface which is substantially parallel to adjacent microposts and an engaged state wherein at least a section of the microposts (12′) assume a configuration that is not substantially parallel to adjacent microposts or is not substantially straight with a substantially smooth and continuous outer surface so as to mechanically capture tissue adjacent thereto.
52 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A tissue adhesion device, comprising:
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a substrate having a contact surface; and an array of microposts extending from the contact surface of the substrate, said microposts fabricated from a shape memory material and including a proximal end secured to the substrate, a sharpened tissue penetrating distal end, with a deployment state in which each micropost is in a substantially straightened configuration with a smooth continuous outer surface and each micropost is substantially parallel to each other micropost in the array and substantially perpendicular to the substrate to penetrate target tissue, and an engaged state activated after penetration wherein a distal section of each micropost has undergone movement through a shape memory transition to assume a shape which differs from the shape of the microposts in the deployment state and which mechanically captures target tissue adjacent thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A tissue adhesion system comprising:
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an elastically expandable substrate; an array of microposts extending from the contact surface of the substrate, said microposts fabricated from a shape memory material and including a proximal end secured to the substrate, a sharpened tissue penetrating distal end with a deployment state in which each micropost is in a substantially straightened configuration with a smooth continuous outer surface and each micropost is substantially parallel to each other micropost in the array and substantially perpendicular to the substrate to penetrate target tissue, and an engaged state activated after penetration wherein a distal section of each micropost has undergone movement through a shape memory transition to assume a shape which differs from the shape of the microposts in the deployment state and which mechanically captures target tissue adjacent thereto.
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14. A method for tissue adhesion comprising
providing a substrate having a contact surface; - and
forming an array of microposts extending from the contact surface of the substrate, said microposts fabricated from a shape memory material and having a proximal end secured to substrate, a sharpened tissue penetrating distal end, with a deployment state in which each micropost is in a substantially straightened configuration with a smooth continuous outer surface and each micropost is substantially parallel to each other micropost in the array and substantially perpendicular to the substrate to penetrate target tissue; deploying the microposts penetrating into tissue for a desired procedure in the substantially straightened configuration substantially parallel to adjacent microposts; and
,engaging the microposts after penetration by activation of the shape memory material wherein a distal section of the micropost undergoes movement through a shape memory transition to assume a shape which differs from the shape of the microposts in the deployment state and which mechanically captures tissue adjacent thereto. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification