# US 10,245,169 B2 · Assembly for securing gastrointestinal tissue folds > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,169 B2 - Document ID: US10245169B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/311,717 - Filed: 2015-06-16 - Published: 2017-04-06 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-20 - Assignees: Endo Tools Therapeutics S.A. - Applicants: Endo Tools Therapeutics S.A. - Inventors: Martin Hiernaux; Alexandre Chau; Michel Joie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245169B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/0086: {using clamps, folding means or the like} - 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)} - A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery} - A61B 2017/00818: {Treatment of the gastro-intestinal system} - A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors} - A61B 2017/0414: {having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening} - A61B 2017/0417: {T-fasteners} - A61B 2017/0445: {cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument} - A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue} - A61B 2017/0474: {Knot pushers} - A61B 2017/0475: {using sutures having a slip knot} - 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} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Assembly for endoscopically securing gastrointestinal tissue folds, comprising a first tissue anchor and a second tissue anchor, a first suture thread part and a second suture thread part, each of the first and second thread parts having a connected end and a free end opposite the connected end. The first thread part and the second thread part are tied to each other through a sliding knot, such that the first thread part firms a post of the sliding knot along which the sliding knot is arranged to slide during tightening of the assembly and such that the second thread part wraps around the post to create the sliding knot. The first thread part extends from the first anchor to past the sliding knot where the first thread part's free end forms a post free end, and the second thread part extends from the second anchor to past the sliding knot where the second thread part's free end is free, such that the sliding knot is interposed between the first and second anchors. The first or the second anchor comprises a knot retaining through hole, wherein the post free end slidingly passes through the knot retaining through hole, the knot retaining through hole having a size preventing the sliding knot to pass through the knot retaining through hole, such that the anchor can be used as a knot retainer during tightening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly for endoscopically securing gastrointestinal tissue folds, comprising: a first tissue anchor; a second tissue anchor; a first suture thread part and a second suture thread part, each of the first suture thread part and the second suture thread part having a secured end and a free end opposite the secured end; wherein the first suture thread part and the second suture thread part are connected to each other via a sliding knot, such that the first suture thread part forms a post of the sliding knot along which the sliding knot is arranged to slide during tightening of the assembly and such that the second suture thread part wraps around the post to create the sliding knot; wherein the assembly is configured to be tightened by sliding the sliding knot along the post; wherein the first suture thread part extends from the first tissue anchor past the sliding knot where the free end of the first suture thread part forms a post free end, and the second suture thread part extends from the second tissue anchor past the sliding knot where the free end of the second suture thread part is free, such that the sliding knot is interposed between the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor, the second tissue anchor further comprising a first through hole; and the post free end being configured to slide through the first through hole, the first through hole having a size preventing the sliding knot from passing through the first through hole, such that the second tissue anchor is configured to act as a knot retainer during tightening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the secured end of the first suture thread part and the secured end of the second suture thread part are attached to each other to form a thread loop which is closed by the sliding knot, wherein the thread loop slides through the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor such that the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor are configured to pivot on the thread loop without twisting the thread loop. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein the first tissue anchor further comprises a second through hole through which the thread, loop passes, and wherein the thread loop passes only once through the first tissue anchor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein the second tissue anchor further comprises a third through hole through which the thread loop passes, and wherein the thread loop passes only once through the second tissue anchor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, wherein the second suture thread part, which wraps the post of the sliding knot, passes through the second tissue anchor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, wherein the first suture thread part, which forms the post of the sliding knot, passes through the second tissue anchor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the secured end of the first suture thread part is secured to the first tissue anchor and the secured end of the second suture thread part is secured to the second tissue anchor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first through hole extends substantially along a direction of extension of the first suture thread between the first tissue anchor and the sliding knot. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the post free end comprises a loop or tag for pulling the post relative to the sliding knot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor is elongate and of tubular shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sliding knot allows unidirectional movement along the post as the second suture thread part is maintained under tension. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, comprising a push tube and a push rod slidingly receivable in the push tube, wherein at least one of the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor comprises an axial lumen of a size to freely slide the at least one of the first tissue anchor and second tissue anchor over the push rod, and wherein the at least one of the first tissue anchor and second tissue anchor has a size for abutting against a distal end of the push tube, and wherein the push tube and the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor are slidingly receivable in an endoscopic needle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12, further comprising the endoscopic needle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The assembly of claim 12, wherein the other one of the at least one of the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor is formed for abutting engagement against the push rod when the assembly is received in the endoscopic needle. ### Claim 15 An assembly for endoscopically securing gastrointestinal tissue folds, comprising: a first tissue anchor; a second tissue anchor; a first suture thread part and a second suture thread part, each of the first suture thread part and second suture thread part having a secured end and a free end opposite the secured end; wherein the first suture thread part and the second suture thread part are connected to each other via a sliding knot, such that the first suture thread part forms a post of the sliding knot along which the sliding knot is arranged to slide during tightening of the assembly and such that the second suture thread part wraps around the post to create the sliding knot; wherein the assembly is configured to be tightened by sliding the sliding knot along the post; wherein the first suture thread part extends from the first tissue anchor past the sliding knot where the free end of the first suture thread part forms a post free end, and the second suture thread part extends from the second tissue anchor past the sliding knot where the free end of the second suture thread part is free, such that the sliding knot is interposed between the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor; the first tissue anchor further comprising a first through hole; and the post free end being configured to slide through the first through hole, and the first through hole haying a size preventing the sliding knot from passing through the first through hole. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the secured end of the first suture thread part and the secured end of the second suture thread part are attached to each other to form a thread loop which is closed by the sliding knot, wherein the thread loop slides through the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor such that the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor arc configured to pivot on the thread loop without twisting the thread loop. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16, wherein the first tissue anchor comprises a second through hole through which the thread loop passes, and wherein the thread loop passes only once through the first tissue anchor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16, wherein the second tissue anchor comprises a third through hole through which the thread loop passes, and wherein the thread loop passes only once through the second tissue anchor.