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US 10,420,545 B2Granted
Suturing devices and methods for suturing an anatomic structure
AssigneeHeartStitch, Inc.
InventorsAnthony A. Nobles, Benjamin G. Brosch, William Ettlinger Cohn, Daniel W. Haines
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Suturing devices and systems used to close openings into a biological structure. The suturing device can comprise an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, one or more arms, and one or more needles. One or more sheaths may be used with the device to maintain or substantially maintain haemostasis while the device is used and while a procedure is performed in the biological structure.
Claims28
A method of delivering suture portions to an opening in a heart wall of a patient, the method comprising:
- delivering a suturing system through the heart wall, wherein the suturing system comprises:
- a suturing device comprising an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, the suturing device having a distal section that extends through the heart wall and into the heart once the suturing system is delivered, the suturing device comprising a plurality of arms positioned outside of the heart and a plurality of needles positioned inside the heart once the suturing system is delivered;
- a first sheath positioned over the suturing device, a distal end of the first sheath being proximal to the plurality of arms once the suturing system is delivered;
- and
- a second sheath positioned over the first sheath;
- extending the plurality of arms from the elongate body of the suturing device, each of the arms carrying a suture portion having a suture end releasably retained in a respective arm, wherein each suture portion extends from its respective arm proximally between the first sheath and the second sheath to a location outside of the patient;
- positioning the plurality of arms against the outside surface of the heart;
- advancing the plurality of needles from the elongate body through the heart wall, each needle aligned with a respective arm and engaging a respective suture end carried by the respective arm;
- retracting the plurality of needles through the heart wall to draw the respective suture ends through the heart wall;
- retracting the arms into the elongate body of the suturing device while maintaining a distal section of the elongate body within the heart;
- advancing the first sheath positioned around the elongate body into the opening in the heart wall;
- and
- withdrawing the elongate body from the heart wall while leaving the first sheath within the heart wall, the withdrawing of the elongate body drawing the suture ends engaged by the needles through a lumen of the first sheath to a location outside of the patient.
10 more elements
A method of performing a procedure on the heart of a patient, the method comprising:
- delivering an elongate device through a heart wall such that a distal section of the device is positioned within the heart, wherein the elongate device is a suturing device comprising a plurality of arms and a plurality of needles;
- removing fluid exiting the heart along the distal section of the elongate device and through the heart wall, said removing of fluid comprising causing said fluid to flow through at least one opening positioned on the elongate device on an outside of the heart to remove fluid that may accumulate between the outside of the heart and the pericardial sac;
- moving the plurality of arms from a first position wherein the arms are retracted within the elongate device to a second position wherein the arms each have a free end extending away from the elongate device and are positioned adjacent an outer surface of the heart, each arm comprising at least one suture mount at the free end releasably retaining a suture portion;
- and
- moving the plurality of needles from a retracted position in which the needles are within the elongate device to a deployed position in which distal points of the needles extend out of the elongate device, through the heart wall and into a suture mount of a corresponding arm.
2 more elements
A method of suturing an opening in the heart of a patient, the method comprising:
- delivering a suturing device comprising an elongate body through a heart wall such that a distal section of the device is positioned within the heart, the suturing device comprising a plurality of arms and a plurality of needles;
- and
- moving the plurality of arms from a first position wherein the arms are retracted within the elongate body to a second position wherein the arms each has a free end extending away from the elongate body, wherein the arms engage the pericardial sac as they move to their second positions to move the pericardial sac away from an outer surface of the heart, each arm comprising at least one suture mount at the free end releasably retaining a suture portion;
- and
- moving a plurality of needles from a retracted position in which needles are within the elongate body to a deployed position in which distal points of the needles extend out of the elongate body, through the heart wall and into a suture mount of a corresponding arm.
2 more elements
A method of closing an opening in the heart with sutures, the method comprising:
- inserting four sutures through tissue of a heart wall such that each suture has an end that runs through an opening in the heart and an end that runs outside of the heart, wherein the four sutures comprise a first pair and a second pair of sutures, the sutures of the first pair positioned opposite each other with respect to the opening in the heart and the sutures of the second pair positioned opposite each other with respect to the opening in the heart;
- attaching a first end of a first pledget to a first end of a first suture and attaching a first end of a second pledget to a first end of a second suture, wherein the first pair comprises the first suture and a third suture with a first end, and the second pair comprises the second suture and a fourth suture with a first end;
- securing together the ends of the first pair that run through the opening in the heart;
- securing together the ends of the second pair that run through the opening in the heart;
- and
- pulling on at least one of the ends of each pair that run outside of the heart.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.