Magnetic positioning apparatus

• US 9,770,238 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Original Assignee: P TECH, LLC
• Inventors: Bonutti, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W
• Application Number:
  US10/784,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20040167548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,964 Days
• Field of Search: 606 22-227, 606232, 600 9, 600 11- 14, 600104, 600141, 600142, 600562, 600 1213, 433 4, 294 992, 81418, 811763, 81119, 81300, 81318
• 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 17/0401 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 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• 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 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

The present invention relates to an instrument and method for passing a medical implement through tissue with magnetic forces. The implement can be an implant, either permanent or temporary, and is provided with a magnetic component. A magnetic field is established and the magnetic component and/or magnetic field is manipulated to drive the implant through tissue. Alternatively, the instrument itself is the implement and includes at least one magnetic element so that a magnetic field established by an external magnetic generator drives the instrument through tissue. In another embodiment, the instrument includes two magnetic elements that are moveable with respect to one another and interaction between the magnetic elements drives the instrument through the tissue. Examples of applications of the present invention include a suture passer and a tissue anchor.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to pass a suture through tissue, said apparatus comprising:

an elongate body configured to be inserted at least partially inside a body of a patient, the elongate body defined about a longitudinal axis, the elongate body having a magnetically operable distal end with first and second members, the first member configured to be movable relative to the second member;

a biasing member configured to bias the distal end first member in a closed position relative to the distal end second member;

a handle coupled to the elongate body;

a needle coupled to the second member, wherein the needle is positioned to extend at least partially into an aperture formed in the first member;

a magnetizable material disposed in or on at least a portion of the first or second member;

an electromagnet disposed in or on at least the other of the first or second member, wherein the first member is configured to be attracted or repelled relative to the second member by a magnetic field created by the electromagnet such that the first and second members are configured to move to a closed position to retain a portion of tissue therebetween; and

a controller directly mounted on the handle, the controller configured to control the electromagnet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetizable material includes a permanent magnet.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magnetizable material includes a second electromagnet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of strength and polarity of the electromagnet to facilitate at least one of opening and closing of the first and second members.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to reverse said polarity of the electromagnet to open the first and second members.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to at least one of turn on and turn off the electromagnet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnet is configured to selectively adjust the position of a tissue section or an implant by changing the magnetic field.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a suture configured to connect with the needle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second engaging member is configured to be positionable adjacent to a tissue section.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnet is configured to create a magnetic field that attracts or repels said magnetizable material.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetizable material creates a second magnetic field.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnet is configured to urge the needle into at least a portion of a tissue section.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetizable material includes iron.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a location or direction of said magnetic field is adjustable.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second members include electromagnets.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electromagnet is configured to be selectively activatable, deactivatable, or adjustable.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a holder connected to said first member for releasably holding the needle.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elongate body is substantially cylindrical.

19. An apparatus configured to pass a suture through tissue, said apparatus comprising:

an elongate body defined about a longitudinal axis;

a handle coupled to the elongate body;

a first member;

a second member coupled to the first member at a pivot at or near a distal end of the elongate body, the first member configured to be movable relative to the second member;

a needle coupled to the second member;

a magnetizable material disposed in or on the first member, said magnetizable material configured to attract said needle; and

a controller directly mounted on the handle and configured to control the electromagnet.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said magnetizable material includes a permanent magnet.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said magnetizable material includes iron.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a magnetic field generator configured to move the first member relative to the second member when actuated.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said magnetic field generator is configured to repel said magnetizable material to spread said first member relative to said second member.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the magnetic field generator includes an electromagnet.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said electromagnet is configured to be selectively activatable, deactivatable, or adjustable.

26. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a biasing member connected to said first member and said second member to urge the first and second members toward or away from each other.

27. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a location or direction of the magnetic field is adjustable.

28. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a holder connected to said first member for releasably holding the needle.

29. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the needle includes a magnetic component.

30. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the elongate body is substantially cylindrical.

31. An apparatus comprising:

an elongate body about a longitudinal axis;

a handle coupled to the elongate body;

a first portion and a second portion at or near a distal end of the elongate body, the first portion configured to be attracted and repelled by a magnetic field;

the first or second portion including a magnetizable material;

the other of the first or second portion including an electromagnet;

a needle releasably connected to the first or second portion;

a biasing member configured to bias the distal end first portion in a closed position relative to the distal end second portion; and

a controller directly mounted on the handle, the controller electrically coupled to the electromagnet and configured to control the electromagnet wherein the controller is configured to at least power the electromagnet on and off.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the magnetizable material includes a permanent magnet or a second electromagnet.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first and second portions include electromagnets.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein a location or direction of the magnetic field is adjustable.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the strength or polarity of the electromagnet is adjustable by changing a current to the electromagnet by the controller.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the polarity is reversible.

37. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first or section portion is configured to adjust the position of a tissue section or the needle.

38. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first and second portions include electromagnets.

39. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said electromagnet is configured to be at least one of selectively activatable, deactivatable, and adjustable.

40. The apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a suture connected to the needle.

41. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the elongate body is substantially cylindrical.