Suturing Devices and Methods for Closing a Patent Foramen Ovale

A system for suturing a patent foramen ovale, comprising a first suturing apparatus and a second suturing apparatus;

• the first suturing apparatus comprising:
• a first elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a first suture clasp arm adapted to hold a first suture end portion, the first suture clasp arm being extendable from said body from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to be placed around the septum primum of the patent foramen ovale, and
• a first suture catch mechanism slidably housed in said elongate body, the first suture catch mechanism being moveable in a proximal to distal direction through the septum primum of the patent foramen ovale to engage a distal end of the first suture catch mechanism with the first suture end portion held by the first suture clasp arm when the first suture clasp arm is in the extended position;
• and
• the second suturing apparatus comprising:
• a second elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a second suture clasp arm adapted to hold a second suture end portion, the second suture clasp arm being extendable from said body from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to be placed around the septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale;
• a second suture catch mechanism slidably housed in said elongate body, the second suture catch mechanism being moveable in a distal-to-proximal direction through the septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale to engage a distal end of the second suture catch mechanism with the second suture end portion held by the second suture clasp arm when the second suture clasp arm is in the extended position.

A suturing apparatus for suturing a patent foramen ovale, comprising:

• an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a first suture clasp arm adapted to hold a first suture end portion, the first suture clasp arm being extendable from said body from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to be placed around the septum primum of the patent foramen ovale;
• a second suture clasp arm adapted to hold a second suture end portion, the second suture clasp arm being extendable from said body from a retracted position to an extended position and configured to be placed around the septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale;
• a first suture catch mechanism slidably housed in said elongate body, the first suture catch mechanism being moveable in a proximal-to-distal direction through the septum primum of the patent foramen ovale to engage a distal end of the first suture catch mechanism with the first suture end portion held by the first suture clasp arm when the first suture clasp arm is in the extended position;
• and
• a second suture catch mechanism slidably housed in said elongate body, the second suture catch mechanism being moveable in a distal-to-proximal direction through the septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale to engage a distal end of the first suture catch mechanism with the second suture end portion held by the second suture clasp arm when the second suture clasp arm is in the extended position.

A method of closing a patent foramen ovale having a septum primum and a septum secundum, comprising:

• positioning a first suture clasp arm around one of the septum primum and the septum secundum, the first suture clasp arm holding a first suture end portion;
• advancing a first needle through tissue of one of the septum primum and septum secundum and into engagement with the first suture end portion held in the first suture clasp arm;
• retracting the first needle through tissue of one of the septum primum and septum secundum with the first suture end portion carried by the first needle;
• positioning a second suture clasp arm around the other of the septum primum and the septum secundum, the second suture clasp arm holding a second suture end portion;
• advancing a second needle through tissue of the other of the septum primum and septum secundum and into engagement with the second suture end portion held in the second suture clasp arm;
• retracting the second needle through tissue of the other of the septum primum and septum secundum with the second suture end portion;
• and
• drawing the septum primum and the septum secundum closed.

A method of closing a patent foramen ovale having a septum primum and a septum secundum, comprising:

• advancing a first elongate body into a tunnel of a patent foramen ovale;
• extending a first suture clasp arm from the first elongate body from a retracted position to an extended position, the first suture clasp arm holding a first suture end portion;
• positioning the first suture clasp arm around one of the septum primum and the septum secundum;
• advancing a first needle positioned in the elongate body outwardly from the body through tissue of one of the septum primum and septum secundum and into engagement with the first suture end portion held in the first suture clasp arm;
• retracting the first needle into the first elongate body with the first suture end portion carried by the first needle;
• withdrawing the first elongate body from the tunnel of the patent foramen ovale;
• advancing a second elongate body near the tunnel of a patent foramen ovale;
• extending a second suture clasp arm from the second elongate body from a retracted position to an extended position, the second suture clasp arm holding a second suture end portion;
• positioning the second suture clasp arm around the other of the septum primum and the septum secundum;
• advancing a second needle positioned in the second elongate body outwardly from the body through tissue of the other of the septum primum and septum secundum and into engagement with the second suture end portion held in the second suture clasp arm;
• retracting the second needle into the second elongate body with the second suture end portion carried by the second needle;
• withdrawing the second elongate body from the tunnel of the patent foramen ovale;
• and
• drawing the septum primum and the septum secundum closed.