Devices and methods for tissue retraction
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsRyan V. Wales, Paul Smith, Danny S. Lee, Scott E. Brechbiel, Jialiang Wang, Sean P. Fleury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to the field of tissue dissection. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to medical devices that lift and retract tissue during a dissection procedure to improve visualization of the target tissue and mitigate obstructions for dissection tools. In particular, the present disclosure relates to devices that transition from a constrained to an unconstrained bowed configuration to immobilize and retract the dissected portion of target tissue during a dissection procedure.
Claims20
A tissue retractor system, comprising:
- a delivery catheter comprising:
- an inner tubular element with a lumen therethrough;
- an outer sheath disposed about the inner tubular element, the outer sheath and inner tubular element slidingly disposed relative to each other;
- and
- an elongate flexible element configured to transition between a first configuration when constrained and a second bowed configuration when unconstrained, the elongate flexible element disposed within the lumen of the inner tubular element, the elongate flexible element and inner tubular element slidingly disposed relative to each other and the outer sheath comprising:
- a distal end having an end width and configured to engage a first target tissue portion;
- a proximal end having an end width and configured to engage a second target tissue portion;
- a body portion having a body width connecting the distal end to the proximal end, wherein the body width is wider than the end width of the distal end and proximal end;
- and
- wherein the lumen has a cross-section that accommodates the body width and the end widths.
A tissue retractor system, comprising:
- a plurality of tissue fasteners;
- an elongate flexible element comprising:
- a proximal end and a distal end, each of the ends configured to be engaged by a tissue fastener;
- at least one guide member attached to the elongate flexible element, wherein the at least one guide member defines a lumen extending therethrough;
- a control wire configured to be slidably received within the lumen of the at least one guide member;
- wherein the elongate flexible element transitions between a first configuration when the control wire is disposed within the lumen of the at least one guide member, and a second configuration when the control wire is removed from within the lumen of the at least one guide member;
- and
- at least one delivery catheter configured to deliver the elongate flexible element and at least one tissue fastener.
An elongate flexible element, comprising:
- a proximal end and a distal end each with a loop configured to be engaged by a tissue fastener;
- at least one guide member attached to the elongate flexible element, wherein the at least one guide member defines a lumen extending therethrough;
- a control wire configured to be slidably received within the lumen of the at least one guide member;
- and
- wherein the elongate flexible element transitions between a first configuration when the control wire is disposed within the lumen of the at least one guide member, and a second configuration when the control wire is removed from within the lumen of the at least one guide member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.