Tissue ligation devices and controls therefor

• US 9,198,664 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2010
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SentreHeart, LLC (Atricure, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SentreHEART Incorporated (Atricure, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fung, Gregory W., Seiber, Russell A., Sager, Eduardo, Miller, Gary H., Garcia, Maria, Helmuth, Ryan Douglas, Escano, Arnold M., Ellison, Douglas Todd, Cohn, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuan V
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TIN DUC
• Application Number:
  US12/752,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20110087247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 606/113, 606/114, 606/110, 606/111, 606/139, 606/169, 606/144, 606/148, 606/228
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/06114 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 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00384 Actuation of one tool by pushing two buttons simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0475 using sutures having a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument

Abstract

Described here are devices for closing one or more tissues, and handles for controlling these devices. Generally, the devices described here comprise a snare loop assembly, wherein the snare loop assembly comprises a snare and a suture loop, and a handle for controlling the snare loop assembly. In some variations the snare loop assembly may comprise a retention member that may releasably connect the suture loop to the snare. In other variations the devices comprise one or more force-reducing suture locks to help prevent the suture loop from inadvertently disengaging from the snare loop assembly. In still other variations, the excess-suture management features. The handles described here may be configured to remove excess suture from a suture loop, and may also be configured to release the suture loop from the snare loop assembly.

Claims

1. A tissue closure device comprising:

an elongate body;

a snare comprising a snare loop that at least partially extends outside of the elongate body, wherein the snare has a proximal end that is connected to a first member;

a suture loop releasably coupled to the snare loop, and

a suture hook comprising a spring, wherein a proximal end of the suture hook is attached to the first member and a distal end of the suture hook releasably retains a portion of the suture loop; and

wherein the first member is moveable within the elongate body to move the snare and the suture hook.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first member comprises a hypotube.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein a proximal end of the spring attaches to the first member.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the spring is disposed around the snare.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve having a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein the suture hook passes through the first lumen and the snare passes through the second lumen.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the sleeve is fixed relative to the snare.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the tissue closure device further comprises a retention member releasably coupling the suture loop to the snare loop.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongate body comprises a first lumen and a second lumen.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the snare is releasably held in a tip portion of the elongate body.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the distal end of the snare is connected to a frangible member, and wherein breaking the connection between the snare and the frangible member releases the snare from the tip portion.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the suture loop comprises a suture knot, and wherein a tip portion of the elongate body comprises a recess for housing the suture knot.