Methods and devices for percutaneously modifying organs to treat patients

• US 7,931,580 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Gertner, Neil J. Sheehan, Robert Brommer
• Original Assignee: Michael Gertner, Neil J. Sheehan, Robert Brommer
• Inventors: Brommer, Robert, Sheehan, Neil, Gertner, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert; Samuel G
• Application Number:
  US11/693,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 600 29- 31, 600/37, 128/898, 128/DIG.25, 607/40
• US Class Current: 600/37
• 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 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00827 Treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• 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 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0456 Surface features on the anchor, e.g. ribs increasing friction between the suture and the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0076 preventing normal digestion, e.g. Bariatric or gastric sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0086 : using clamps, folding means or the like

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for implantation into the walls of an organ such as the stomach. Deformable or inflatable anchors with a connector between are used to pull the walls of the organ together, or to implant devices in the wall of the organ. Also disclosed are surgical instruments useful in practicing the disclosed methods.

Claims

1. A system for treating a condition in a human patient by modifying the tissue or the flow in an anatomical structure in the body of the human, causing a change in a human condition, said system comprising:

an anchor device comprising a first anchor, a second anchor, and a connector that extends between said first and said second anchors;

and, wherein at least one of said first and said second anchors comprises a mesh material.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the anatomical structure is a luminal structure and at least one of said first and second anchors is configured to engage or rest on a surface of the luminal structure within said human patient.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said connector comprises a suture.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said connector can be shortened after at least one of said anchors has been implanted.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a delivery device for delivering said anchor device into the body of the human patient body.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the delivery device comprises an elongate member having a lumen;

wherein said anchor device is initially contained within the lumen of said elongate member; and

wherein said anchor device is moveable through the lumen and thence out of the lumen.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said anatomical structure is a stomach.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said anatomical structure is a stomach.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said connector is a suture.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising an expandable device attached to at least one of:

the first anchor, the second anchor, and the connector.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the anatomical structure is a stomach.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the expandable device is fluid fillable.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the expandable device is further adapted to press on the stomach when it is filled with fluid.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the first or second anchor is expandable with fluid and is configured to press on the stomach from the outside, the other of the first or second anchor comprises the mesh, the anatomical structure is the stomach, and the connector is a suture.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the anchors is attachable to the abdominal wall.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the anchoring device is moveable through a lumen adapted to traverse the abdominal wall and the connector between the anchors is adapted to apply tension to the anchors, through said lumen;

and, one of the anchors is finable with a fluid and compress a stomach from the outside.

17. A system for treating a condition in a human patient by modifying the tissue or the flow in an anatomical structure in the body of the human patient, causing a change in a human condition, said system comprising:

an anchor device comprising a first anchor, a second anchor, and a connector that extends between said first and said second anchors;

a delivery device for delivering said anchor device into the body of the human patient wherein said delivery device comprises an elongate member having a lumen and wherein said anchor device is initially contained within the lumen of said elongate member and wherein said anchor device is moveable through the lumen and thence out of the lumen;

and, wherein said elongate member is configured to be advanced into a luminal structure in said human patient, and then into an anatomical structure adjacent to said luminal structure.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said connector is elastic.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said anchor device comprises a material which creates a fibrous reaction in a tissue.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein said connector is a suture like material.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein said luminal structure is a stomach.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein said anchor device comprises a T shape.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the connector and at least one anchor is a continuous structure.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein at least one anchor comprises a shape memory material.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the anchoring device is configured to receive an electrical current.

26. A kit for modifying the volume of an internal organ of a patient comprising:

a first anchor, a second anchor, and a connector wherein said connector comprises an elongate portion having at least one toothed surface;

wherein at least one of said first or said second anchors have a deployed configuration;

wherein said first anchor and said second anchor each have a surface area sufficient to prevent said first anchor and said second anchor from passing through said organ or tissue when in said deployed configuration;

and wherein said connector and said anchors are configured to permit said first anchor and said second anchor to be linked through said connector.

27. The kit of claim 26, further comprising a tensioning instrument configured to urge said first and said second anchor close together when said connector is connected to said first and said second anchors.