Medical device for repairing a fistula
First Claim
1. A tissue closure system for engaging with tissue within or adjacent to a fistula to close and repair the fistula, the tissue closure system comprising:
- a tissue closure element comprising;
an elongate body portion, the elongate body portion including an inflection portion;
a first tissue-grabbing member joined to the elongate body portion;
a second tissue-grabbing member joined to the elongate body portion and disposed opposite the first tissue-grabbing member; and
wherein the first and second tissue-grabbing members move about the inflection portion as the tissue closure element moves from an expanded configuration toward a closed configuration, wherein at least a portion of the first tissue-grabbing member overlaps a portion of the elongate body portion when the tissue closure element moves from the expanded configuration toward the closed configuration, wherein the tissue closure element is substantially “
S”
-shaped in the expanded configuration and moves toward an “
8”
-shape as it moves toward the closed configuration, such that the first and second tissue-grabbing members move toward the elongate body as the tissue closure element moves from the expanded configuration toward the closed configuration;
a carrier assembly having a garage for retaining the tissue closure element, said carrier assembly having a flexible portion being selectively controlled to bend to direct the tissue closure element toward tissue within or near the fistula, the flexible portion selectively controllable to bend to an angle of at least about 45 degrees;
a carrier assembly controller system operatively coupled to the flexible portion of the carrier assembly for controlling the delivery of the carrier assembly to the fistula; and
a closure element deployment controller system operatively coupled to the carrier assembly for deploying the tissue closure element to the tissue to repair the fistula, the tissue closure element disposed within the garage and oriented such that both the first and second tissue grabbing members are both oriented toward the tissue.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A closure element applying medical device for repairing a fistula is described. The closure element applying medical device can be configured for repairing any type of fistula that provides an abnormal channel from one body part to another body part (e.g., organ to organ, organ to vessel, and/or vessel to vessel). Examples of fistulas that can be repaired with the present invention include anorectal fistulas, enteroenteral fistulas, enterocutaneous fistulas, vesicovaginal fistulas, arteriovenous fistulas, perilymph fistulas, rectovaginal fistulas, ureterocolon fistulas, and the like. The medical device can include a closure element, a shaft, a carrier assembly, and controller systems. The medical device can also include a locator assembly. Additionally, the closure element applying medical device can include endoscope components so as to function also as an endoscope.
1046 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A tissue closure system for engaging with tissue within or adjacent to a fistula to close and repair the fistula, the tissue closure system comprising:
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a tissue closure element comprising; an elongate body portion, the elongate body portion including an inflection portion; a first tissue-grabbing member joined to the elongate body portion; a second tissue-grabbing member joined to the elongate body portion and disposed opposite the first tissue-grabbing member; and wherein the first and second tissue-grabbing members move about the inflection portion as the tissue closure element moves from an expanded configuration toward a closed configuration, wherein at least a portion of the first tissue-grabbing member overlaps a portion of the elongate body portion when the tissue closure element moves from the expanded configuration toward the closed configuration, wherein the tissue closure element is substantially “
S”
-shaped in the expanded configuration and moves toward an “
8”
-shape as it moves toward the closed configuration, such that the first and second tissue-grabbing members move toward the elongate body as the tissue closure element moves from the expanded configuration toward the closed configuration;a carrier assembly having a garage for retaining the tissue closure element, said carrier assembly having a flexible portion being selectively controlled to bend to direct the tissue closure element toward tissue within or near the fistula, the flexible portion selectively controllable to bend to an angle of at least about 45 degrees; a carrier assembly controller system operatively coupled to the flexible portion of the carrier assembly for controlling the delivery of the carrier assembly to the fistula; and a closure element deployment controller system operatively coupled to the carrier assembly for deploying the tissue closure element to the tissue to repair the fistula, the tissue closure element disposed within the garage and oriented such that both the first and second tissue grabbing members are both oriented toward the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17)
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13. A method for closing and repairing a fistula, the method comprising:
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positioning a tissue closure element near tissue within or adjacent to the fistula with a carrier assembly having a garage for retaining the closure element, the carrier assembly having a flexible portion being selectively controlled to bend to direct the closure element toward tissue within or near the fistula, the tissue closure element disposed within the garage, the tissue closure element comprising; an elongate body portion, the body portion including an inflection portion; a first tissue-grabbing member having a tine joined to the elongate body portion; a second tissue-grabbing member having a tine joined to the elongate body portion and disposed opposite the first tissue-grabbing member; wherein the first and second tissue grabbing-members are both oriented toward the tissue in the garage, the first and second tissue-grabbing members move about the inflection portion as the tissue closure element moves from an expanded configuration toward a closed configuration, wherein at least a portion of the first tissue-grabbing member overlaps a portion of the elongate body portion when the tissue closure element moves from the expanded configuration toward the closed configuration, wherein the tissue closure element is substantially “
S”
-shaped in the expanded configuration and moves toward an “
8”
-shape as it moves toward the closed configuration, such that the first and second tissue-grabbing members move toward the elongate body as the tissue closure element moves from the expanded configuration toward the closed configuration;moving the tissue closure element from the predeployed configuration into an expanded configuration; and deploying the tissue closure element into tissue within or adjacent to the fistula, the tissue closure element moving toward the closed configuration upon deployment into the tissue to close and repair the fistula. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification