Tissue tack
Inventors
Del Nido, Pedro J. • Vasilyev, Nikolav V. • Freudenthal, Franz • Dupont, Pierre • Huang, Jinlan
Assignees
Boston University • Boston Childrens Hospital • National Institutes of Health NIH
Publication Number
US-8491631-B2
Publication Date
2013-07-23
Expiration Date
2027-01-03
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Abstract
A tissue fixation device includes a tack having at least two flexible arms on a first end of said anchor. A deployment device for deploying a tissue fixation device, wherein the deployment device is a deployment gun.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a tissue fixation device comprising a tissue tack having at least two flexible arms extending radially from a first end of an anchor. This tissue tack is designed to be deployed into tissue to effectively hold the tissue together. Alongside the tissue tack, a deployment device, specifically a deployment gun, is provided to facilitate the deployment of the tissue fixation device.
The invention addresses the challenges associated with minimally invasive surgery, particularly in vascular and cardiovascular procedures requiring precise and secure attachment of tissues, prostheses, or grafts. Existing suturing techniques are difficult and time-consuming, especially given the small size of arteries and grafts and the limited time to perform the procedure without damaging tissues. The invention solves the problem of safe and effective tissue fastening in minimally invasive surgeries where traditional needle and suture methods pose technical difficulties and risks of tissue damage or migration.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent claim that focuses on a method of deploying multiple tissue fixation devices using a deployment gun. There is one main inventive feature articulated in the claim.
Tissue fixation device with loop anchor and flexible arms
The tissue fixation device is formed of a single piece of material shaped to include a loop anchor member that anchors the device in tissue and prevents migration, with at least two flexible arms attached directly to the loop anchor. These arms are arranged to be forced together in parallel within a deployment device and to extend outwardly in opposite directions when deployed in tissue.
Deployment method using a deployment gun with linear and spiral motion
The deployment gun is used to load and drive the tissue fixation device linearly along a hollow barrel and spirally into tissue, with guide means facilitating this motion. The method includes actuating trigger means to deploy the device, threading a second tissue fixation device through the first when deploying multiple devices, and optionally inserting the deployment gun into a trocar and using imaging methods to guide deployment.
The inventive features cover the specific shape and structure of the tissue fixation device with a loop anchor and flexible arms designed for effective tissue engagement and retention, as well as a deployment method that enables precise and guided insertion of one or more such devices into tissue via a deployment gun, facilitating minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Stated Advantages
Enables use in beating heart surgery by allowing therapy to be performed and monitored with real-time imaging, maintaining heart conduction system integrity.
Provides atraumatic implantation for optimal bioelectric contact, allowing use as a temporal or definitive pacemaker with extended battery life.
Shortens surgery time by simplifying deployment of tissue tacks compared to conventional suturing, reducing tissue damage risks.
Allows deployment of multiple tissue tacks efficiently, supporting repair of large or multiple tissue sites.
Improves visualization of tissue tacks during and after deployment using ultrasound or other imaging modalities, facilitating accurate placement and verification.
Permits removal of tissue tacks if necessary, offering flexibility and minimizing patient discomfort.
Documented Applications
Fixation of patches to tissue for closure of atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), orifices, or openings into vessels or aneurysms in the heart or blood vessels.
Fixation of two tissue layers together such as opposing edges of a blood vessel or valve leaflet.
Vessel to vessel anastomosis and vessel to synthetic tube graft anastomosis.
Approximation of tissue under tension by interlocking two tissue tacks on separate tissue layers.
Use in beating heart surgery to affix pericardial patches or reduce mitral ring dimensions.
Use in interventional cardiology procedures, including closure of cardiac atrial appendices, patent foramen ovale (PFO), closure of orifices, valve fixation, and aneurysm repair by anchoring.
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