Self-closing surgical clip for tissue
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsStephen Ainsworth, Jianhua Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-closing fastener is described that comprises a clip passable through a tissue opening. The fastener is adapted for holding by a mechanism in an open configuration for passing through the tissue, followed by releasing the fastener from the holding mechanism, allowing the clip to remain in the tissue in a shape that can clip two or more locations on the tissue. The fastener and delivery devices are particularly useful for tissue approximation, such as anastomosis. When used for anastomosis, the inventive clips provide intima-to-intima contact with a minimal amount of intraluminal exposure.
Claims113
An apparatus for fastening a tissue comprising a stopper, where said stopper includes one or more distal members, and a plurality of proximal member flexibly attached to said stopper, where said clip has a fastened configuration in which said plurality of proximal members oppose at least a portion of said stopper, and an open configuration where said clip is openly restrained from said fastened configuration to accept a tissue, such that tissue positioned within said open configuration is compressed when said fastener is unrestrained.
An apparatus for fastening a tissue comprising:
- a clip having a stopper, where said stopper includes one or more distal members, and a plurality of proximal members flexibly attached to said stopper, said clip having a fastened configuration where at least one of said plurality of proximal members opposes at least a portion of said stopper;
- and
- a restraint mechanism to releasably restrain said plurality of proximal members of said clip in an open configuration away from said fastened configuration,
- such that a tissue is placeable within said releasably restrained clip, and where that upon releasing said clip from said restraint mechanism, said plurality of proximal members return towards said fastened configuration to compress said tissue.
A delivery system for fastening a tissue or layer of tissues having an external distal surface and an external proximal surface, comprising:
- a clip having a stopper, where said stopper includes one or more distal members, and a plurality of proximal members flexibly attached to said stopper, where at least one of said plurality of proximal members has a fastened configuration opposing at least a portion of said stopper;
- and
- a piercing member for piercing a tissue and having a first end, a second end, and an elongated member therebetween, where said first end includes a tip and where said second end includes a mechanism to releasably hold said plurality of proximal members in an open configuration, and where said stopper of said releasably held clip extends transversely away from said elongated member,
- where upon pulling said releasably held clip through said tissue with said stopper adjacent to said distal surface the release of said clip from said needle returns towards said clip towards said fastened configuration and compresses said tissue.
A delivery system for fastening a tissue or layer of tissues having an external distal surface and an external proximal surface, comprising:
- a piercing member;
- a flexible member having a first end attached to said piercing member, and a second end;
- and
- a clip releasably attached to said second end, said clip having a stopper including one or more distal members, and a plurality of proximal members flexibly attached to said stopper, where at least one of said plurality of proximal members has a fastened configuration opposing at least a portion of said stopper, where said clip is releasably attached to said flexible member with said plurality of proximal members in an open configuration having said stopper extending transversely away from said piercing member,
- where upon pulling said releasably held clip through said tissue and said stopper adjacent to said distal surface, the release of said clip from said second end returns towards said clip towards said fastened configuration and compresses said tissue
A delivery system for fastening a tissue or layer of tissues having an external distal surface and an external proximal surface, comprising:
- a piercing member;
- a flexible member having a first end attached to said piercing member, and a second end;
- a restraint mechanism attached to said second end;
- and
- a clip releasably attached to said restraint mechanism, said clip having a stopper including one or more distal members, and a plurality of proximal members flexibly attached to said stopper, where at least one of said plurality of proximal members has a fastened configuration opposing at least a portion of said stopper, where said restraint mechanism releasably holds said plurality of proximal members of said clip in an open configuration with said stopper extending transversely away from said suture,
- where upon pulling said releasably held clip through said tissue and said stopper adjacent to said distal surface, the release of said clip from said restraint mechanism returns towards said clip towards said fastened configuration and compresses said tissue
A method for fastening a first tissue and a second tissue with a clip delivered to said tissue in a holder, said method comprising:
- piercing the first tissue;
- piercing the second tissue
- passing said holder through said piercing, where said clip is releasably coupled to said holder, where said clip has a stopper and a plurality of terminator arms, where said clip has a coupled configuration releasably restraining said at least two terminator arms in said holder with said stopper extending approximately perpendicular from said holder, and where said clip has a decoupled configuration where said plurality of terminator arms and said stopper are opposable across said tissue;
- seating said stopper of said coupled clip against said first tissue;
- and
- decoupling said clip,
- such that said at least one terminator arms returns towards said disengaged configuration and opposes said stopper across said tissue.
A method for creating an intima-to-intima tissue contact between a first tissue and a second tissue each having an adventitia and an intima with a clip delivered to said tissue in a holder, said method comprising:
- piercing the adventitia of a first tissue;
- piercing the intima of a second tissue
- passing said holder through said piercing, where said clip is releasably coupled to said holder, where said clip has a stopper and at least two terminator arms, where said clip has a coupled configuration releasably restraining said at least two terminator arms in said holder with said stopper extending approximately perpendicular from said holder, and where said clip has a decoupled configuration where said at least two terminator arms and said stopper are opposable across said tissue at more than one location;
- seating said stopper of said coupled clip against said adventitia of the first tissue;
- and
- decoupling said clip,
- such that said at least one terminator arms returns towards said disengaged configuration and opposes said stopper across said tissue, and such that the intima of the first tissue is in contact with the intima of the second tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.