US 8,298,291 B2Granted

Methods and apparatus for securing and deploying tissue anchors

AssigneeUSGI Medical, Inc.

InventorsRichard C. Ewers, Cang C. Lam

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Abstract

Methods and apparatus for securing and deploying tissue anchors are described herein. A tissue manipulation assembly is pivotably coupled to the distal end of a tubular member. A reconfigurable launch tube is also pivotably coupled to the tissue manipulation assembly, which may be advanced through a shape-lockable endoscopic device, a conventional endoscope, or directly by itself into a patient. A second tool can be used in combination with the tissue manipulation assembly to engage tissue and manipulate the tissue in conjunction with the tissue manipulation assembly. A deployment assembly is provided for securing engaged tissue via one or more tissue anchors, the deployment assembly also being configured to disengage the anchors endoluminally or laparoscopically by applying thermal energy through at least one suture cutting element disposed along the deployment assembly.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A tissue anchor deployment system, comprising:

a housing;
an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end attached to the housing and a distal end having a tissue piercing tip, and with a lumen extending through the elongate flexible shaft;
an elongate pusher slidable within the elongate shaft;
a release suture within the elongate shaft;
a stop fixed to a portion of the release suture, with the stop having a diameter sized to inhibit movement through at least part of the elongate pusher member;
a plug member slidably located along the release suture proximal to the stop;
a retraction control member attached to a proximal end of the release suture;
and
an anchor assembly within the lumen of the elongate shaft at a position distal of the elongate pusher member, the anchor assembly comprising a distal anchor connected to a proximal anchor via a flexible connector;
wherein a distal end of the release suture is releasably engaged to the flexible connector of the anchor assembly.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/412,261Filed 26 Apr 2006 · continuation in part
Priority: 26 May 2005
Published: US 2006/0271073 A130 Nov 2006
Granted: 30 Oct 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

A61B 17/29
Surgical forceps: forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
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 17/0469
For suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials: suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g.…
A61B 17/0482
For suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials: needle or suture guides

Family

Application11/139,920Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 May 2005
Application11/238,543Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Sep 2005
US 2006/0271074 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Nov 2006
US 2006/0271073 A1Published application
US 2006/0271101 A1Published application
US 8,628,541 B2Related patent
US 9,585,651 B2Related patent
US 8,298,291 B2This patent

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