Tissue closure system
AssigneeCardica, Inc.
InventorsTheodore M. Bender, Zachary Warder-Gabaldon, Matthew B. Newell, Bernard A. Hausen, Brian R. DuBois, Bryan D. Knodel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for closing an opening in tissue, such as an opening in heart tissue, may include moving a housing to a location in proximity to the opening, registering the housing to the opening, and deploying a staple from the housing into tissue in proximity to the opening. The opening in heart tissue may be a patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defect, or other opening. The housing may be moved to the opening through the vasculature, utilizing a guidewire, steering catheter, or other mechanism.
Claims20
A method for closing an opening in tissue, comprising:
- providing a staple having a plurality of tines and a longitudinal centerline, and a housing within which at least part of said staple is held, said housing having a fixed diameter;
- advancing the entirety of said housing into and then through the vasculature to a location in proximity to the opening;
- plastically deforming said staple to a splayed configuration such that the distal ends of at least two said tines are spaced apart from one another a distance greater than the diameter of said housing;
- penetrating at least one said tine into tissue in proximity to the opening;
- and
- plastically deforming said staple to a closed configuration.
A method for closing an opening in heart tissue, comprising:
- providing a staple and a housing that holds said staple, wherein said housing has a fixed width;
- moving said housing to a location in proximity to the opening;
- registering said housing to the opening;
- splaying said staple to a splayed configuration, wherein said splaying moves the distal ends of at least two said tines a distance further apart from one another than the width of said housing;
- penetrating at least one said tine into heart tissue in proximity to the opening after said splaying;
- and
- plastically deforming said staple to a closed configuration after said penetrating, wherein said plastically deforming substantially closes said opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.