ENDOSCOPIC TISSUE APPOSITION DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE SUCTION PORTS

• US 20080262516A1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Weiser, Michael F., Gambale, Richard A., Lukin, Peter J., Page, Edward C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,920 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/047 having at least one proximally pointing needle located at the distal end of the instrument, e.g. for suturing trocar puncture wounds starting from inside the body J-shaped suture needles A61B2017/0608
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/061 hollow or tubular suture extending inside a hollow needle A61B2017/06052; hollow sutures A61B2017/06185
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/081 Tissue approximator A61B2017/1103, A61B17/8866 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved endoscopic tissue apposition device having multiple suction ports. The invention permits multiple folds of tissue to be captured in the suction ports with a single positioning of the device and attached together by a tissue securement mechanism such as a suture, staple or other form of tissue bonding. The improvement reduces the number of intubations required during an endoscopic procedure to suture tissue or join areas of tissue together. The suction ports may be arranged in a variety of configurations on the apposition device to best suit the desired resulting tissue orientation. The inventive tissue apposition device may also incorporate tissue abrasion means to activate the healing process on surfaces of tissue areas that are to be joined by operation of the device to promote a more secure attachment by permanent tissue bonding.

Claims

1. An endoscopic tissue apposition device comprising:

an elongate capsule body that is configured to be oriented in a longitudinal direction for endoscopic insertion into a patient, the capsule body having at least two suction ports provided on an outer surface of the capsule body to capture tissue when a vacuum is applied to the suction ports, the at least two suction ports being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction; and

at least one tissue securement device supported by the capsule body to secure tissue captured with the suction ports.

2. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 1, wherein the two suction ports are spaced apart in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.

3. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 1, wherein the two suction ports are arranged in-line with each other in the longitudinal direction.

4. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tissue securement device includes a plurality of tissue securement devices.

5. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 1, wherein the capsule body includes structure between the two suction ports that separates tissue captured by the suction ports.

6. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 1, wherein the suction ports are stationary relative to each other in the longitudinal direction.

7. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 1, wherein the tissue securement device includes a suture.

8. A method of endoscopically joining internal body tissue, the method comprising acts of:

(a) providing an endoscopic tissue apposition device including an elongate capsule body that is configured to be oriented in a longitudinal direction for endoscopic insertion into a patient, the capsule body having at least two suction ports provided on an outer surface of the capsule body to capture tissue when a vacuum is applied to the suction ports, the at least two suction ports being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, the endoscopic tissue apposition device further including at least one tissue securement device supported by the capsule body to secure tissue captured with the suction ports;

(b) navigating the tissue apposition device to an internal treatment site;

(c) applying vacuum to the tissue apposition device to capture at least two portions of tissue with the suction ports; and

(d) advancing a tissue securement device through the tissue to secure the tissue portions together.

9. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 8, wherein the two suction ports are spaced apart in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.

10. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 8, wherein the two suction ports are arranged in-line with each other in the longitudinal direction.

11. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 8, wherein the at least one tissue securement device includes a plurality of tissue securement devices.

12. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 8, wherein the capsule body includes structure between the two suction ports that separates tissue captured by the suction ports.

13. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 8, wherein the suction ports are stationary relative to each other in the longitudinal direction.

14. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 8, wherein the tissue securement device includes a suture.

15. An endoscopic tissue apposition device comprising:

an elongate capsule body that is configured for endoscopic insertion into a patient, the capsule body having two elongate suction regions provided on an outer surface of the capsule body that are configured to capture tissue when a vacuum is applied thereto, each suction region extending in a longitudinal direction, the suction regions being spaced apart in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction; and

at least one tissue securement device supported by the capsule body to secure tissue captured with the suction ports.

16. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 15, wherein the at least one tissue securement device includes a plurality of tissue securement devices.

17. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 15, wherein the capsule body includes structure between the two suction regions that separates tissue captured by the suction regions.

18. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 15, wherein the suction regions are stationary relative to each other in the longitudinal direction.

19. The endoscopic apposition device according to claim 15, wherein the tissue securement device includes a suture.