# US 10,441,450 B2 · Apparatus and methods for rapid deployment of tissue anchors

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- Number: US 10,441,450 B2
- Document ID: US10441450B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/896,075
- Filed: 2013-05-16
- Published: 2013-09-26
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2004-05-07
- Assignees: USGI Medical, Inc.
- Applicants: USGI Medical, Inc.
- Inventors: Vahid Saadat; Cang C. Lam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441450B2

## 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 17/0487: {Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks (suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122)}
- A61B 17/06066: {Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations}
- A61B 17/06114: {Packages or dispensers for needles or sutures (packages for sharps A61B50/3001; for dental floss A61C15/043; packages for needles in general B65D85/24)}
- A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
- A61B 2017/00349: {Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue (A61B17/06066 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect}
- A61B 2017/00876: {magnetic}
- A61B 2017/0404: {Buttons}
- A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors}
- A61B 2017/0416: {Packages or dispensers for suture anchors or for anchor applicators}
- A61B 2017/0417: {T-fasteners}
- A61B 2017/0419: {H-fasteners}
- A61B 2017/0458: {Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot}
- A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue}
- A61B 2017/0496: {for tensioning sutures}
- 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}
- A61B 2017/06076: {helically or spirally coiled}
- A61B 2017/2923: {Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion}
- A61B 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft}
- A61B 2017/3488: {Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue}
- A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter}
- 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

In apparatus and methods for rapid deployment of tissue anchors, a tissue manipulation assembly has a pivoting jaw. A needle assembly can be advanced through the launch tube across tissue received between the jaw members of the tissue manipulation assembly. Tissue anchors can be advanced through the needle assembly for securing received tissue. The tissue anchors can be positioned within a reloadable chamber of a control handle disposed outside the patient, then advanced through the needle assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Surgical apparatus, comprising:
a flexible tube;
a handle having a tubular body attached to a first end of the flexible tube;
a tissue manipulation assembly attached to a second end of the flexible tube;
a needle assembly movable within the flexible tube, with the needle assembly including a hollow needle attached to an end of a sheath;
a pusher in the handle extendible into the sheath;
a first controller on the handle linked to the tissue manipulation assembly;
a second controller on the handle for advancing the needle assembly through the flexible tube, and for advancing the pusher into the sheath; and
with the handle including a loading chamber in a sidewall of the tubular body for loading a tissue anchor cartridge into the flexible tube at the handle, the loading chamber being between the first controller and the second controller.

### Claim 2

Surgical apparatus, comprising:
a flexible tube;
a handle attached to a first end of the flexible tube, with the handle and the first end of the flexible tube having a longitudinal axis;
a tissue manipulation assembly attached to a second end of the flexible tube;
a needle assembly movable within the flexible tube, with the needle assembly including a hollow needle attached to an end of a sheath;
a pusher movable into the sheath;
a first controller on the handle linked to the tissue manipulation assembly;
a second controller on the handle for advancing the needle assembly through the flexible tube, and for advancing the pusher into the sheath, with the first controller attached to the handle and movable about a first axis and the second controller attached to the handle and movable about a second axis, and with the first axis and the second axis not parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
a loading chamber in the handle and in the needle assembly for loading a tissue anchor cartridge into the sheath.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 with the loading chamber being between the first controller and the second controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 further including a cartridge in the loading chamber, with the cartridge containing an anchor assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first end of the flexible tube is oriented on a first axis and the loading chamber extends into or through the handle on a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 further including a magazine inserted into the loading chamber, with the magazine containing a plurality of cartridges, and with each cartridge holding an anchor assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 further including a centering element movable within the handle to center the tissue anchor cartridge in the loading chamber.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7 with the cartridge having a flared proximal end and with the centering element engaging the flared proximal end for centering the cartridge.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8 with the centering element comprising a bullet nose movable in the first axis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the pusher extends through the centering element and the loading chamber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 with the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis, and with the second axis being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2 with the second controller comprising a control wheel on the handle.