Occlusion devices and methods having lateral pockets or sleeves

A method of using an occlusion device, the method comprising:

• (1) providing an occlusion device comprising:
• a first inner arm extending from a first end to a second end along a first direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the occlusion device;
• a second inner arm extending from a first end to a second end along the first direction, the second inner arm being adjacent to first inner arm in a second direction that is perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis;
• a first outer arm extending from a first end to a second end along the first direction, the first end of the first outer arm being coupled to the first end of the first inner arm to define a first distal extent at a distal end of the occlusion device, wherein the first outer arm is spaced apart from the first inner arm in the second direction on a side of the first inner arm opposite of the second inner arm;
• a second outer arm extending from a first end to a second end along the first direction, the first end of the second outer arm being coupled to the first end of the second inner arm to define a second distal extent at the distal end of the occlusion device, wherein the second outer arm is spaced apart from the second inner arm in the second direction on a side of the second inner arm opposite of the first inner arm;
• a first sleeve coupled to the first outer arm by a first suture hole defined by and extending at least partially through the first distal extent of the occlusion device, the first sleeve defining a first channel extending between a proximal end and a distal of the first sleeve along an outer lateral side of the first outer arm opposite the first inner arm, the distal end of the first sleeve forming a closed end;
• and
• a second sleeve coupled to the second outer arm by a second suture hole defined by and extending at least partially through the second distal extent of the occlusion device, the second sleeve defining a second channel extending between a proximal end and a distal of the second sleeve along an outer lateral side of the second outer arm opposite the second inner arm, the distal end of the second sleeve forming a closed end,
• wherein the second end of the first outer arm is coupled to the second end of the second outer arm at a proximal end of the occlusion device via a hinge portion, and wherein each of the first outer arm, the second outer arm, and the hinge portion define an opening within which the first inner arm and the second inner arm are disposed;
• (2) coupling a first arm of a medical instrument to the first sleeve;
• (3) coupling a second arm of the medical instrument to the second sleeve, wherein the second arm of the medical instrument is hingably coupled to the first arm of the medical instrument;
• and
• (4) moving the occlusion device from (i) a closed configuration wherein the first end of the first inner arm is spaced apart from the first end of the second inner arm by a first lateral distance, to (ii) an open configuration, wherein the first end of the first inner arm is spaced apart from the first end of the second inner arm by a second lateral distance that is greater than the first lateral distance.

A method for occluding a hollow tissue structure, the method comprising:

• (1) moving an occlusion device from a closed configuration to an open configuration, wherein the occlusion device comprises:
• a first inner arm extending from a first end to a second end along a first direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the occlusion device, the first inner arm having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface;
• a second inner arm extending from a first end to a second end along the first direction, the second inner arm having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, wherein the second inner arm is adjacent to first inner arm in a second direction that is perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis;
• a first outer arm extending from a first end to a second end along the first direction, the first end of the first outer arm being coupled to the first end of the first inner arm to define a first distal extent at a distal end of the occlusion device, wherein the first outer arm is spaced apart from the first inner arm in the second direction on a side of the first inner arm opposite of the second inner arm;
• a second outer arm extending from a first end to a second end along the first direction, the first end of the second outer arm being coupled to the first end of the second inner arm to define a second distal extent at the distal end of the occlusion device, wherein the second outer arm is spaced apart from the second inner arm in the second direction on a side of the second inner arm opposite of the first inner arm;
• a first sleeve coupled to the first outer arm by a first suture hole, the first suture hole defined by and extending at least partially through the first distal extent, the first sleeve defining a first channel extending between a proximal end and a distal of the first sleeve along an outer lateral side of the first outer arm opposite the first inner arm, the distal end of the first sleeve forming a closed end;
• and
• a second sleeve coupled to the second outer arm by a second suture hole, the second suture hole defined by and extending at least partially through the second distal extent, the second sleeve defining a second channel extending between a proximal end and a distal of the second sleeve along an outer lateral side of the second outer arm opposite the second inner arm, the distal end of the second sleeve forming a closed end,
• wherein the second end of the first outer arm is coupled to the second end of the second outer arm at a proximal end of the occlusion device via a hinge portion, and wherein each of the first outer arm, the second outer arm, and the hinge portion define an opening within which the first inner arm and the second inner arm are disposed, and
• wherein the occlusion device and the central longitudinal axis thereof defines a concave side of the occlusion device and a convex side of the occlusion device opposite from the concave side;
• (2) positioning the occlusion device relative to the hollow tissue structure such that the first inner arm is positioned along a first side of the hollow tissue structure and the second inner arm is positioned along an opposite second side of the hollow tissue structure;
• and
• (3) causing the occlusion device to transition from the open configuration toward the closed configuration in which the occlusion device occludes the hollow tissue structure, wherein, when the occlusion device is in the closed configuration, the inner surface of the first inner arm and the inner surface of the second inner arm each face toward the hollow tissue structure.