Attachment device and methods of using the same

• US 8,603,161 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Drews, Michael J., Gurskis, Donnell W., Bacich, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Melanie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scherbel, Todd J
• Application Number:
  US12/498,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20100010616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/142, 606/148, 606/151, 606/215, 606/216, 606/219, 623/904, 623/2.11
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• 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 17/083 Clips, e.g. resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/904 Heart

Abstract

Devices for attaching a first mass and a second mass and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The devices can be made from an resilient, elastic or deformable materials. The devices can be used to attach a heart valve ring to a biological annulus. The devices can also be used for wound closure or a variety of other procedures such as anchoring a prosthesis to surrounding tissue or another prosthesis, tissue repair, such as in the closure of congenital defects such as septal heart defects, tissue or vessel anastomosis, fixation of tissue with or without a reinforcing mesh for hernia repair, orthopedic anchoring such as in bone fusing or tendon or muscle repair, ophthalmic indications, laparoscopic or endoscopic tissue repair or placement of prostheses, or use by robotic devices for procedures such as those above performed remotely.

Claims

1. A method for attaching a prosthesis to a tissue annulus using an attachment device comprising a base and a pair of legs extending from the base, the attachment device being elastically movable from a relaxed state wherein the legs cross one another and a delivery state wherein the legs extend substantially parallel with one another, the method comprising:

loading the attachment device into a tool with the attachment device in the relaxed state;

securing the prosthesis to the tissue annulus using the attachment device while applying a force using the tool to place the attachment device in the delivery state; and

releasing the attachment device from the tool such that the attachment device returns towards the relaxed state such that the legs cross one another,

wherein the attachment device is delivered by;

a) holding the attachment device in the tool in the relaxed state;

b) applying a force with the tool to force the attachment device to the delivery state;

c) inserting the legs through the prosthesis into tissue with the attachment device in the delivery state; and

d) deploying the attachment device from the tool such that the attachment device returns towards the relaxed state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises an anvil, and step a) comprises loading the attachment device around the anvil in the relaxed state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a slide and an anvil for causing the legs of the attachment device to rotate outward to the delivery state during step b).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step d) comprises sliding the anvil out of the way and forcing the attachment device out the end of the tool with the slide.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tool retains the attachment device in the delivery state while the attachment device is inserted through the prosthesis into tissue, whereupon the attachment device is deployed from the tool.

6. A method for attaching an annular prosthesis to a tissue annulus using a plurality of attachment devices, each attachment device comprising a base and a pair of legs extending from the base, the attachment device being elastically movable from a relaxed state wherein the legs cross one another and a delivery state wherein the legs extend substantially parallel with one another, the method comprising:

loading an attachment device into a tool with the attachment device in the relaxed state;

securing the annular prosthesis to the tissue annulus using the attachment device while applying a force using the tool to place the attachment device in the delivery state;

releasing the attachment device from the tool such that the attachment device returns towards the relaxed state such that the legs cross one another; and

inserting a plurality of additional attachment devices through the prosthesis and into the tissue annulus to further secure the annular prosthesis,

wherein each attachment device is delivered by;

a) holding the attachment device in the tool in the relaxed state;

b) applying a force with the tool to force the attachment device to the delivery state;

c) inserting the legs through the annular prosthesis into tissue with the attachment device in the delivery state; and

d) deploying the attachment device from the tool such that the attachment device returns towards the relaxed state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the annular prosthesis comprises one of a stent, graft, stent-graft, heart valve, annuloplasty ring, autograft, allograft, and a xenograft.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the annular prosthesis comprises a sewing ring, and wherein the annular prosthesis is attached to the tissue annulus by inserting the attachment devices through the sewing ring.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the tool comprises an anvil, and step a) comprises loading the attachment device around the anvil in the relaxed state.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the tool comprises a slide and an anvil for causing the legs of the attachment device to rotate outward to the delivery state during step b).

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step d) comprises sliding the anvil out of the way and forcing the attachment device out the end of the tool with the slide.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the tool retains the attachment device in the delivery state while the attachment device is inserted through the annular prosthesis into tissue, whereupon the attachment device is deployed from the tool.

13. A method for attaching a heart valve prosthesis to a tissue annulus using attachment devices, each attachment device comprising a base and a pair of legs extending from the base, the attachment devices being elastically movable from a relaxed state wherein the legs cross one another and a delivery state wherein the legs extend substantially parallel with one another, the heart valve prosthesis comprising a first prosthesis comprising a sewing ring and a second prosthesis comprising a valve structure, the method comprising:

securing the first prosthesis to a tissue annulus by inserting the attachment devices through the sewing ring, a tool carrying the attachment devices in the relaxed state, the tool applying a force to place the attachment devices in the delivery state when the attachment devices are inserted through the sewing ring;

releasing the attachment devices from the tool such that the attachment devices return towards the relaxed state such that the legs cross one another; and

thereafter placing the second prosthesis,

wherein each attachment device is delivered and released by;

a) holding the attachment device in the tool in the relaxed state;

b) applying a force with the tool to force the attachment device to the delivery state;

c) inserting the legs through the first prosthesis into tissue with the attachment device in the delivery state; and

d) deploying the attachment device from the tool such that the attachment device returns towards the relaxed state.