Anchor system for PFO closure

• US 9,138,212 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aesculap AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Cardica Incorporated
• Inventors: Hausen, Bernard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dornbusch, Dianne
• Application Number:
  US13/186,463
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• Field of Search: 606/151, 606/213, 606215-218, 606/200, 606/232
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• 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 2017/00575 for closure at remote site, e.g. closing atrial septum defects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0061 Implements located only on one side of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00623 Introducing or retrieving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0645 being elastically deformed for insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue

Abstract

A surgical tool may include a self-expanding combination anchor, comprising a first segment connected to a second segment, wherein said first segment is distal to said second segment.

Claims

1. A surgical tool, comprising:

a self-expanding combination anchor, comprising two or more fingers, each finger comprising a distal end and a proximal end, and a first segment connected to a second segment, wherein said first segment of each finger is distal to said second segment of said each finger, and

a base having the proximal end of each of the two or more fingers coupled to the base, wherein the base is moveable from a first position to a second position, the first position constraining the two or more fingers of the self expanding combination anchor in a substantially straight configuration and the second position enabling expansion of the two or more fingers of the self expanding combination anchor, wherein the expansion of the two or more fingers defines opposing U-shaped openings having open ends oriented outward from the base and closed ends that respectively contact surfaces of a guide catheter along lines that are parallel to a longitudinal center of the combination anchor.

2. The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein a free end of the distal end of each finger is oriented radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the anchor.

3. The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein each finger further comprises a first curved portion located radially inward from the distal end of said each finger.

4. The surgical tool of claim 3, wherein the first curved portion of each finger has an inflection point substantially tangent to a line substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the anchor.

5. The surgical tool of claim 3, wherein the first curved portion of each finger includes a portion of the first segment and a portion of the second segment of said each finger.

6. The surgical tool of claim 3, wherein each finger further comprises a second curved portion, the second curved portion oriented radially outward from the first curved portion of said each finger.

7. The surgical tool of claim 6, wherein the second curved portion of each finger is a portion of the second segment of said each finger.

8. The surgical tool of claim 6, wherein each finger curves radially inward proximal to the second curved portion of said each finger.

9. The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises four fingers.

10. The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the anchor forms an X-shape.

11. The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the base is operable to drive a staple supported by the base when the base is in the second position.

12. The surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the each of the opposing U-shaped openings have an opening extending radially outward from a longitudinal axis of the anchor.

13. The surgical tool of claim 12, further comprising a staple that is X-shaped.

14. The surgical tool of claim 13, wherein tines of the staple are angularly spaced apart from the fingers.