Rivet introduction system
AssigneeWilson-Cook Medical Inc.
InventorsZahid A. Saeed, Vihar C. Surti, Kenneth C. Kennedy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rivet, rivet introduction device, and method therefor. The rivet is configured for deployment from a rivet introduction device to provide for connection of tissue. The rivet preferably includes two expansion zones configured to secure tissue therebetween, with the expansion zones being either self-expanding or expandable by use of a mandrel. The rivet introduction device preferably is configured to provide for introduction of a rivet with access only to one side of the tissue to be connected.
Claims21
A medical device configured for introducing a blind rivet through soft tissue, the device comprising:
- a rivet introduction device comprising:
- an elongate outer sheath having an outer sheath lumen extending therethrough;
- an elongate inner sheath having an inner sheath lumen extending therethrough;
- and
- an elongate mandrel having a wire guide lumen extending therethrough;
- wherein the elongate inner sheath is disposed in a longitudinally slidable manner through at least a portion of the outer sheath lumen and the elongate mandrel is disposed in a longitudinally slidable manner through at least a portion of the inner sheath lumen;
- wherein a distal end portion of the elongate mandrel includes flexible structure configured to allow radial expansion/contraction;
- and
- a rivet disposed coaxially around the elongate mandrel adjacent the distal end portion of the elongate mandrel.
A medical blind rivet system comprising:
- at least one blind rivet means configured for securing a plurality of soft tissue surfaces together;
- a means for introducing and deploying the blind rivet means;
- wherein the at least one blind rivet means comprises first and second expansion zones on either side of a central region having a first diameter;
- and
- wherein each of the first and second expansion zones is configured to be expandable to a diameter that is greater than the first diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.