Systems and methods for applying a suture within a blood vesel lumen

• US 20030023248A1
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Aptus Endosystems Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Parodi, Juan C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,800,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching

Abstract

Systems and methods apply a suture within a blood vessel lumen. The systems and methods advance within a blood vessel lumen a catheter tube having a distal region that carries a suture applicator. The systems and methods operate the suture applicator from a location external to the blood vessel lumen to apply a suture to an interior wall of a blood vessel lumen.

Claims

1. A device for suturing within a blood vessel lumen comprising

a catheter tube having a distal region sized to be advanced within a blood vessel lumen,

an expandable body carried by the distal region, and

a suture applicator carried by the distal region.

2. A device according to claim 1

further including a mechanism coupled to the expandable body to selectively expand the expandable body toward an opened condition within a blood vessel lumen and to selectively collapse the expandable body toward a closed condition for advancement within a blood vessel lumen.

3. A device according to claim 1

further including a mechanism coupled to the suture applicator to selectively move the suture applicator relative to the distal region.

4. A device according to claim 1

further including a mechanism coupled to the suture applicator to selectively apply a suture from the suture applicator to an interior wall of a blood vessel lumen.

5. A device according to claim 1

further including a spiral suture carried by the suture applicator.

6. An endovascular suture device comprising

a catheter tube having a distal region sized to be advanced within a blood vessel lumen, and

a suture applicator carried by the distal region.

7. An endovascular suture device according to claim 6

further including a mechanism coupled to the suture applicator to selectively apply a suture from the suture applicator to an interior wall of a blood vessel lumen.

8. An endovascular suture device according to claim 6

further including a structure carried by the distal region to stabilize a position of the suture applicator within a blood vessel lumen.

9. An endovascular suture device according to claim 6

further including a spiral suture carried by the suture applicator.

10. A method for suturing within a blood vessel lumen comprising the steps of

advancing within a blood vessel lumen a catheter tube having a distal region that carries a suture applicator, and

operating the suture applicator from a location external to the blood vessel lumen to apply a suture to an interior wall of a blood vessel lumen.

11. A method according to claim 10

further including a step of stabilizing the distal region of the catheter tube during operation of the suture applicator.

12. A method according to claim 10

wherein, during operation, the suture applicator applies a spiral suture.

13. A method for suturing a prosthesis to a blood vessel wall comprising the step of operating a suture applicator to apply a spiral suture to secure the prosthesis to the blood vessel wall.