Tether line systems and methods for tongue or other tissue suspension or compression

• US 9,463,014 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2013
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siesta Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Siesta Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Feezor, Christopher, van der Burg, Erik, Martin, Peter, Hinton, Tedd
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEI, CHARLES M
• Application Number:
  US14/020,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20140074158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 606228-231, 606/60, 132/321, 264/167, 128/848, 128/860, 427/2.29, 427/2.31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0483 Hand-held instruments for holding sutures A61B17/0469 takes precedence; other holders for needles or sutures A61B17/06061; surgical forceps A61B17/28; surgical pincettes A61B17/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• 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 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00814 Surgery of the tongue, e.g. glossoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0451 Cams or wedges holding the suture by friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• 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 2017/06171 helically or spirally coiled for needles A61B2017/06076
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0618 elastic, e.g. stretchable for prostheses A61F2210/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3966 Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/04 Non-resorbable materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/145 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes

Abstract

Systems and methods of placing one or more suture loops into tissue, such as the base of the tongue, are described. A system can include a variable-thickness suspension line for suspending tissue, including a suture having a first thickness dimension; an elastomer surrounding a portion of the suture and defining a central segment of the suspension line having a second thickness dimension greater than the first thickness dimension, and at least one transition zone extending from the central segment of the suspension line to a lateral end of the suspension line, the transition zones having a thickness dimension that tapers from the second thickness dimension to the first thickness dimension.

Claims

1. A variable-thickness suspension line for suspending tissue, comprising:

a suture having a first thickness dimension; and

an elastomer coating a portion of the suture and defining a central segment of the suspension line having a second thickness dimension greater than the first thickness dimension, and at least one transition zone extending from the central segment of the suspension line to a lateral end of the suspension line, the at least one transition zone having a thickness dimension that tapers from the second thickness dimension to the first thickness dimension,

wherein the elastomer does not coat all of the suture;

wherein the suture consists of a monolithic strand which continually runs the length of the suspension line such that the suture extends through the entire central segment of the suspension line defined by the elastomer; and

wherein the portion of the suture coated by the elastomer comprises a coiled section of the suture configured to provide limited compliance to the suspension line, such that the suspension line can be axially stretched to a stretched length greater than an unstretched length.

2. The suspension line of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transition zones, each transition zone extending from the central segment of the suspension line to respective lateral ends of the suspension line.

3. The suspension line of claim 1, wherein the elastomer is overmolded onto the suture.

4. The suspension line of claim 1, wherein the elastomer comprises silicone.

5. The suspension line of claim 1, wherein the suture is braided.

6. The suspension line of claim 1, further comprising a radiopaque marker operably attached to the suture.

7. The suspension line of claim 1, wherein a radiopaque marker is disposed on the central segment of the suspension line.

8. The suspension line of claim 1, wherein the suture extends axially along the entire length of the suspension line.

9. The suspension line of claim 1, wherein the central segment of the suspension line comprises one or more knots for improving adhesion between the suture and the elastomer.

10. The suspension line of claim 1, comprising a rounded cross-section.

11. The suspension line of claim 1, comprising a rectangular cross-section.

12. The suspension line of claim 1, wherein the central segment is configured to move between a first axially unstretched configuration and a second axially stretched configuration.

13. A variable-thickness suspension line for suspending tissue, comprising:

a tether having a first thickness dimension, the tether having first and second lateral ends and a central segment; and

an elastomer coating and overmolded to the central segment of the tether and defining a central zone of the suspension line, the central zone having a second thickness dimension greater than the first thickness dimension,

wherein the elastomer does not coat all of the tether;

wherein the tether consists of a monolithic strand which continually runs the length of the suspension line such that the tether extends through the entire central zone of the suspension line defined by the elastomer; and

wherein the central segment of the tether coated by the elastomer comprises a coiled section of the tether configured to provide limited compliance to the suspension line, such that the suspension line can be axially stretched to a stretched length greater than an unstretched length.

14. A variable-thickness suspension line for suspending tissue, comprising:

a suture having a first thickness dimension; and

an elastomer coating a portion of the suture and defining a central segment of the suspension line having a second thickness dimension greater than the first thickness dimension, and at least one transition zone extending from the central segment of the suspension line to a lateral end of the suspension line, the at least one transition zone having a thickness dimension that tapers from the second thickness dimension to the first thickness dimension,

wherein the elastomer does not coat all of the suture;

wherein the suture consists of a monolithic strand which continually runs the length of the suspension line such that the suture extends through the entire central segment of the suspension line defined by the elastomer;

wherein the portion of the suture coated by the elastomer comprises a coiled section of the suture configured to provide limited compliance to the suspension line, such that the suspension line can be axially stretched to a stretched length greater than an unstretched length; and

wherein the elastomer comprises a smooth outer surface that is configured to facilitate the suspension line to pass through tissue.