Methods and apparatus for securing and deploying tissue anchors
Inventors
LAM, Cang C. • Ewers, Richard C. • Vaughan, Robert A. • Saadat, Vahid
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9585651-B2
Publication Date
2017-03-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for securing and deploying tissue anchors are described herein. A tissue manipulation assembly is pivotably coupled to the distal end of a tubular member. A reconfigurable launch tube is also pivotably coupled to the tissue manipulation assembly, which may be advanced through a shape-lockable endoscopic device, a conventional endoscope, or directly by itself into a patient. A second tool can be used in combination with the tissue manipulation assembly to engage tissue and manipulate the tissue in conjunction with the tissue manipulation assembly. A deployment assembly is provided for securing engaged tissue via one or more tissue anchors, the deployment assembly also being configured to disengage the anchors endoluminally or laparoscopically.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention provides systems and methods for securing tissue within a hollow body organ using an endoluminally advanced, pivoting tissue grasping tool and an anchor deployment assembly. The tool is pivoted about a fixed pivot joint connected to an elongate member or a flexible body, reversibly engages tissue with a tissue engagement member, pulls the engaged tissue, and clamps the engaged tissue.
After clamping, the tissue is pierced with a needle of the anchor deployment assembly, where the needle has a sharpened tip or sharp edge and is separate from the tissue engagement member. The invention deploys a distal tissue anchor through the needle on a distal side of the engaged tissue, retracts the needle to a proximal side, and deploys a proximal tissue anchor through the needle on the proximal side, with the proximal and distal tissue anchors connected by a suture.
In alternative embodiments, the tissue grasping tool forms a tissue fold while pivoting relative to the flexible body, and the tissue fold is pierced with a needle projecting from a distal end. An anchor assembly including a suture and a cinching member is deployed, the cinching member is advanced over the suture, and the suture is severed using the sharp edge of the needle, releasing the anchors from the anchor deployment assembly.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. Across these claims, the coverage is organized around pivoting endoluminal tissue engagement and clamping, needle-based piercing, deployment of distal and proximal anchors connected by a suture, and severing the suture with the needle to release the anchors, with an alternative fold-based deployment using a suture and a cinching member.
Endoluminal tissue securing with pivoting grasping tool
endoluminally advancing a tissue grasping tool into the hollow body organ; pivoting the tissue grasping tool about a fixed pivot joint connecting the grasping tool to an elongate member; reversibly engaging the tissue adjacent to the tissue grasping tool with a tissue engagement member; pulling the engaged tissue with the tissue engagement member; and clamping the engaged tissue with the tissue grasping tool
Needle-based distal and proximal anchor deployment with suture severing
after engaging the tissue and pulling the tissue, piercing through the engaged tissue with a needle of an anchor deployment assembly, the needle having a sharpened tip, with the needle separate from the tissue engagement member; deploying a distal tissue anchor through the needle on a distal side of the engaged tissue; retracting the needle to a proximal side of the engaged tissue; deploying a proximal tissue anchor through the needle on the proximal side of the engaged tissue, with a suture connecting the proximal and distal tissue anchors; and severing the suture adjacent to the proximal anchor using the sharpened tip of the needle, thereby releasing the proximal and distal anchors from the anchor deployment assembly
Pivoting tissue grasping tool to form and clamp a tissue fold
endoluminally advancing a tissue grasping tool of an endoscopic body into a hollow body organ; pivoting the tissue grasping tool about a pivot joint connecting the grasping tool to a flexible body of the tissue grasping tool; reversibly engaging a region of tissue within the hollow body organ with a tissue engagement member of the endoscopic body; pulling the engaged region of tissue with the tissue engagement member towards the endoscopic body to form a tissue fold; and clamping the tissue fold with the tissue grasping tool while pivoting the tissue grasping tool relative to the flexible body
Anchor assembly deployment with cinching member and needle severing
after clamping the tissue fold, piercing the tissue fold with a needle projecting out of a distal end of the flexible body and having a sharp edge; deploying an anchor assembly from the flexible body, the anchor assembly including a suture and a cinching member; advancing the cinching member over the suture; and severing the suture using the sharp edge of the needle
Together, the independent claims cover endoluminal methods in which a pivoting tissue grasping tool engages and clamps tissue, including formation and clamping of a tissue fold, a needle pierces the clamped tissue, distal and proximal anchors are deployed and connected by a suture, and the needle severs the suture to separate the anchors from the deployment assembly.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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