Implantable medical implants having fasteners
AssigneeAllergan, Inc.
InventorsJanel A. Birk, Frederick L. Coe, Robert E. Hoyt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical fastening system for implantable devices such as injection port systems. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around it which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi.
Claims9
A surgically implantable device:
- (a) a medical implant for performing a therapeutic function;
- (b) an attachment mechanism comprising at least one fastener integral to the implant for attaching the implant to a body, the fastener having a deployed position that extends from a distal end of the implant, and an undeployed position proximal to the distal end of the implant;
- and
- (c) a safety member covering the fastener and removably attached to the distal end of the implant;
- wherein the safety member resiliently attaches to the implant with tabs that engage the distal end of the implant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.