Devices and methods for left atrial appendage closure

• US 9,936,956 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SentreHeart, LLC (Atricure, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SentreHEART Incorporated (Atricure, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fung, Gregory W., Bradley, Alan L., Clark, III, Robert L., Pong, Russell, Seiber, Russell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TYSON, MELANIE RUANO
• Application Number:
  US15/080,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20160278781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 606113, 606139, 606140-142, 606144
• 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 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00358 Snares for grasping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00946 malleable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras

Abstract

Surgical and percutaneous devices for closing tissue, for example, the left atrial appendage, may have an elongate body with a stiffened proximal portion, a flexible middle portion, a distal portion, a closure element with a loop having a continuous aperture therethrough, and a suture loop. The closure devices may have a malleable member attached to the elongate body that may be configured to retain a curve after a force is applied to the malleable member. System and methods for closing the left atrial appendage may utilize a closure device and a curved guide device, and the closure device and curved guide device may be self-orienting.

Claims

1. A surgical device for closing the left atrial appendage comprising:

an elongate body comprising a first lumen, a second lumen, and a third lumen;

a closure element comprising a loop defining a continuous aperture therethrough, a first end of the closure element slideably disposed in the first lumen and a second end of the closure element fixedly disposed in the second lumen;

a suture loop;

a malleable member fixedly attached to the elongate body, wherein the malleable member is configured to retain a curve after a force is applied, and wherein applying a force to the malleable member modifies a curvature of the elongate body;

a handle; and

a tensioning mechanism, wherein the tensioning mechanism is releasably coupled to the handle and is configured to close the suture loop around tissue after it is released from the handle.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the malleable member is disposed in the third lumen.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the malleable member comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end is fixedly attached to a proximal end of the third lumen and the second end is fixedly attached to a distal end of the third lumen.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the malleable member comprises an annealed stainless steel wire.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the malleable member comprises a jacket around the elongate body.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the jacket is annealed stainless steel.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the jacket comprises a spiral cut pattern.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the tensioning mechanism is rotatably coupled to the handle.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the tensioning mechanism locks into the handle.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a scope, a light, or a camera.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is configured to close a left atrial appendage during an open surgical procedure.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the open surgical procedure is a median sternotomy, mini sternotomy, thoracotomy, or a thoracoscopy.

13. A surgical device for closing the left atrial appendage comprising:

an elongate body comprising a first lumen, a second lumen, and a third lumen;

a closure element comprising a loop defining a continuous aperture therethrough, a first end of the closure element slideably disposed in the first lumen and a second end of the closure element fixedly disposed in the second lumen; and

a malleable member fixedly attached to the elongate body and comprising a jacket around the elongate body, wherein the malleable member is configured to retain a curve after a force is applied, and wherein applying a force to the malleable member modifies a curvature of the elongate body; and

a pull wire disposed in the third lumen, wherein the pull wire is configured to deflect a distal end of the elongate body.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the jacket is annealed stainless steel.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the jacket comprises a spiral cut pattern.