# US 11,026,673 B2 · Corkscrew tissue anchor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,673 B2 - Document ID: US11026673B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/368,650 - Filed: 2019-03-28 - Published: 2019-11-14 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-10 - Assignees: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation - Applicants: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation - Inventors: Emil Karapetian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026673B2 ## CPC - 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 17/0482: {Needle or suture guides (guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; guides for puncturing needles A61B17/3403)} - A61F 2/2487: {Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints} - A61B 2017/00243: {cardiac} - A61B 2017/00336: {with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable} - A61B 2017/0403: {Dowels} - A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors} - A61B 2017/0416: {Packages or dispensers for suture anchors or for anchor applicators} - A61B 2017/0427: {having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body} - A61B 2017/0441: {the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral} - A61B 2017/0445: {cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument} - A61B 2017/0448: {Additional elements on or within the anchor} - A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue} - A61B 2017/0649: {Coils or spirals} - A61B 2090/062: {penetration depth} - A61B 2090/08021: {of the patient or his organs} - A61B 2090/3966: {Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image} - A61B 2090/3983: {Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery} - A61F 2220/0016: with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes - A61F 2230/0091: helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section - A61F 2250/0098: radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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) ## Abstract A tissue anchor includes a driver head associated with a proximal portion of the tissue anchor, a pointed tip portion associated with a distal portion of the tissue anchor, a tissue-engagement portion disposed between the driver head and the pointed tip portion, and a cover configured to cover at least a portion of the tissue-engagement portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tissue anchor comprising: a driver head associated with a proximal portion of the tissue anchor; a pointed tip portion associated with a distal portion of the tissue anchor; a tissue-engagement portion disposed between the driver head and the pointed tip portion; and a cover cinched to a neck portion of the tissue anchor between the driver head and the tissue-engagement portion and configured to cover the pointed tip portion and the tissue-engagement portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein the pointed tip portion is disposed within the cover. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises cloth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises polymer film. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, further comprising a swivel feature rotatably disposed around the neck portion of the tissue anchor between the driver head and the tissue-engagement portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tissue anchor of claim 5, wherein the swivel feature includes a suture-holding aperture configured to have a suture threaded therethrough, an axis of the suture-holding aperture being parallel with an axis of the neck portion of the tissue anchor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The tissue anchor of claim 5, wherein the swivel feature comprises a spike feature configured to be embedded in the cover to thereby rotatably lock the swivel feature to the cover. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, further comprising a radiopaque material associated with the cover. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein the tissue-engagement portion has a helical form. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to bunch up as the tissue-engagement portion passes through the cover and into tissue. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein the tissue-engagement portion is configured to pass through the cover as the driver head is rotated and pressed against biological tissue. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tissue anchor of claim 11, wherein the pointed tip portion is configured to puncture the cover and at least partially pass therethrough when pressed against the biological tissue. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein the tissue-engagement portion comprises one or more barbs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, wherein the tissue-engagement portion comprises a hypodermic tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tissue anchor of claim 1, further comprising a suture that is secured to one or more of the driver head and the tissue-engagement portion. ### Claim 16 A tissue anchor comprising: a driver head associated with a proximal portion of the tissue anchor; a pointed tip portion associated with a distal portion of the tissue anchor; a helical tissue-engagement portion disposed between the driver head and the pointed tip portion; and a cover configured to cover the pointed tip portion and the helical tissue-engagement portion, the cover including a proximal collar portion disposed between the driver head and the helical tissue-engagement portion, the cover cinched to the proximal collar portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The tissue anchor of claim 16, further comprising a swivel feature rotatably disposed around the tissue anchor between the driver head and the proximal collar portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The tissue anchor of claim 17, wherein the swivel feature includes a suture-holding feature configured to have a suture engaged therewith such that the suture is oriented in parallel with an axil of the driver head in the suture-holding feature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The tissue anchor of claim 17, wherein the swivel feature comprises a spike feature configured to be embedded in the cover to thereby rotatably lock the swivel feature to the cover. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The tissue anchor of claim 16, further comprising a radiopaque marker associated with a distal portion of the cover.