US 7,678,135 B2 · Compressible tissue anchor assemblies

Abstract

Apparatus & methods for optimizing anchoring force are described herein. In securing tissue folds, over-compression of the tissue directly underlying the anchors is avoided by utilizing tissue anchors having expandable arms configured to minimize contact area between the anchor and tissue. When the anchor is in its expanded configuration, a load is applied to the anchor until it is optimally configured to accommodate a range of deflections while the anchor itself exerts a substantially constant force against the tissue. Various devices, e.g., stops, spring members, fuses, strain gauges, etc., can be used to indicate when the anchor has been deflected to a predetermined level within the optimal range. Moreover, other factors to affect the anchor characteristics include, e.g., varying the number of arms or struts of the anchor, positioning of the arms, configuration of the arms, the length of the collars, etc.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of deploying a tissue anchor, comprising:

passing a needle body through a fold of tissue to deliver a tissue anchor having a proximal collar, a distal collar, and a mesh surface having a low-profile configuration extending between the collars;
deploying the tissue anchor against a tissue surface such that the distal and proximal collars are approximated at least partially towards one another via a spring element connected therebetween and wherein the mesh surface conforms to a partially expanded configuration;
and
tensioning a length of suture between the distal and proximal collars to further expand the mesh surface into a fully deployed configuration against the tissue surface.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/404,423Filed 14 Apr 2006 · continuation in part

Priority

9 Jun 2004

Published

US 2006/0217762 A128 Sep 2006

Granted

16 Mar 2010

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

A61B 17/0401
For suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials: suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to…
A61B 17/0482
For suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials: needle or suture guides
A61B 17/0644
Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue: penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
A61B 17/0469
For suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials: suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g.…

Family

Application10/865,243Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 9 Jun 2004

Application11/179,082Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 11 Jul 2005

US 2006/0217762 A1Pre-grant publication · published 28 Sep 2006

US 2005/0277966 A1Published application

US 2005/0277981 A1Published application

US 7,736,379 B2Related patent

US 8,206,417 B2Related patent

US 7,678,135 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Compressible tissue anchor assemblies

Life of this patent

Compressible tissue anchor assemblies

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17