Needle guard, assembly and method of implanting a heart assist system

• US 9,555,177 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Original Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Inventors: Curtis, Donald, Baumberger, Alicia, Di Paola, John Mark, Hoarau, Carine, Harold, Nathan, Franco, Fabian
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US14/337,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20150011819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00252 for by-pass connections, i.e. connections from heart chamber to blood vessel or from blood vessel to blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1125 Forceps, specially adapted for performing or assisting anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3425 for internal organs, e.g. heart ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3443 with means for adjusting the length of a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/064 with special features to facilitate anastomotic coupling anastomosis of natural blood vessels A61B17/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/232 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/237 the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/508 : Electronic control means, e.g. for feedback regulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/857 : Implantable blood tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/861 : Connections or anchorings for connecting or anchoring pumps or pumping devices to parts of the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/863 : Apex rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/865 : Devices for guiding or inserting pumps or pumping devices into the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/88 : Percutaneous cables

Abstract

A needle guard is used when suturing the cuff of an attachment ring to the heart. The needle guard is disposed in the attachment ring to prevent other parts of the attachment ring from being punctured by a suturing needle. The needle guard can include one or more grooves to inhibit relative movement between the needle guard and the attachment ring during suturing. The needle guard is removed upon completion of suturing and to allow insertion into attachment ring of an inflow conduit of a heart assist device. An articulated clamp is used to compress the attachment ring into engagement with the inflow conduit. The attachment include an annular rib that grabs the inflow conduit.

Claims

1. An assembly for attaching a heart assist device to the heart, the assembly comprising:

an attachment ring having a ring channel extending through the attachment ring, the attachment ring including a cylindrical ring wall and a cuff extending radially outward from the cylindrical ring wall, the cylindrical ring wall extending circumferentially around the ring channel; and

a needle guard including a cylinder shaped and sized to pass through the ring channel, the cylinder including an end surface having a surface hardness that prevents significant penetration into the end surface by a needle for suturing,

wherein the end surface is configured to move from a first position inside of the ring channel to a second position outside the ring channel after the attachment ring has been secured to the heart.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cylinder has a maximum outer diameter that is the same or about the same as an inner diameter of the cylindrical ring wall.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an axial length of the cylinder is the same or about the same as a maximum axial length of the ring channel.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an axial length of the cylinder is greater than a maximum axial length of the ring channel.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical ring wall includes a protrusion that extends radially inward into the ring channel, the protrusion located on a central segment of the cylindrical ring wall.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cylinder of the needle guard includes a groove that extends circumferentially around the cylinder.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the attachment ring includes a ring seal configured to engage the groove.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the cylinder of the needle guard includes another groove that extends circumferentially around the cylinder.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the ring channel has a center, and the end surface blocks the center of the ring channel when the end surface is in the first position inside the ring channel while the attachment ring is secured to the heart.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the needle guard is made of a rigid, biocompatible material.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the rigid, biocompatible material is a metal.

12. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the rigid, biocompatible material is a polymer.