Patent Grant
9572581
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for manipulating and/or securing tissue. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for manipulating and/or securing tissue endoluminally, for instance, to form and/or secure tissue Folds or to approximate regions of tissue, etc.
A number of surgical techniques have been developed to treat various gastrointestinal disorders. One such example of a pervasive disorder is morbid obesity. Conventional surgical treatment for morbid obesity typically includes, e.g., bypassing an absorptive surface of the small intestine, or reducing the stomach size. However, many conventional surgical procedures may present numerous life-threatening post-operative complications, and may cause atypical diarrhea, electrolytic imbalance, unpredictable weight loss and reflux of nutritious chyme proximal to the site of the anastomosis.
Furthermore, the sutures or staples that are often used in surgical procedures for gastrointestinal disorders typically require extensive training by the clinician to achieve competent use, and may concentrate significant force over a small surface area of the tissue, thereby potentially causing the suture or staple to tear through the tissue. Many of the surgical procedures require regions of tissue within the body to be approximated towards one another and reliably secured. The gastrointestinal lumen, for instance, includes four tissue layers, where the mucosa layer is the inner-most tissue layer followed by connective tissue, the muscularis layer, and where the serosa layer is the outer-most tissue layer.
One problem with conventional gastrointestinal reduction systems is that the anchors (or staples) should engage at least the muscularis tissue layer in order to provide a proper foundation. In other words, the mucosa and connective tissue layers typically are not strong enough to sustain the tensile loads imposed by normal movement of the stomach wall during ingestion and processing of food. In particular, these layers tend to stretch elastically rather than firmly hold the anchors (or staples) in position, and accordingly, the more rigid muscularis and/or serosa layer should ideally be engaged. This problem of capturing the muscularis or serosa layers becomes particularly acute where it is desired to place an anchor or other apparatus transesophageally rather than intra-operatively, since care must be taken in piercing the tough stomach wall not to inadvertently puncture adjacent tissue or organs.
One conventional method for securing anchors within a body lumen to the tissue is to utilize sewing devices to suture the stomach wall into folds. This procedure typically involves advancing a sewing instrument through the working channel of an endoscope and into the stomach and against the stomach wall tissue. The contacted tissue is then typically drawn into the sewing instrument where one or more sutures or tags are implanted to hold the suctioned tissue in a folded condition known as a plication. Another method involves manually creating sutures for securing the plication.
One of the problems associated with these types of procedures is the time and number of intubations needed to perform the various procedures endoscopically. Another problem is the time required to complete a plication from the surrounding tissue with the body lumen. In the period of time that a patient is anesthetized, procedures such as for the treatment of morbid obesity or for gerd must be performed to completion. Accordingly, the placement and securement of the tissue plication should ideally be relatively quick and performed with a minimal level of confidence.
Another problem with conventional methods involves ensuring that the staple, knotted suture, or clip is secured tightly against the tissue and that the newly created plication will not relax under any slack which may be created by slipping staples, knots, or clips. Other conventional tissue securement devices such as suture anchors, twist ties, crimps, etc. Are also often used to prevent sutures from slipping through tissue. However, many of these types of devices are typically large and unsuitable for low-profile delivery through the body, e.g., transesophageally.
Moreover, when grasping or clamping onto or upon the layers of tissue with conventional anchors, sutures, staples, clips, etc., many of these devices are configured to be placed only after the tissue has been plicated and not during the actual plication procedure.
An example of a tool which may be utilized for endoluminally accessing tissue may generally comprise a flexible catheter or tubular body which may be configured to be sufficiently flexible for advancement into a body lumen, e.g., transorally, percutaneously, laparoscopically, etc. The tubular body may be configured to be torqueable such that when a control handle is manipulated and/or rotated by a practitioner from outside the patient's body, the longitudinal and/or torquing force is transmitted along the flexible body such that the distal end of body is advanced, withdrawn, or rotated in a corresponding manner.
A tissue manipulation assembly may be located at the distal end of the tubular body and is generally used to contact and form tissue Folds, as mentioned above. The tissue manipulation assembly may be connected to the distal end of the tubular body via a pivotable coupling and a lower jaw member may extend distally from the pivotable coupling with an upper jaw member, in this example, pivotably coupled to the lower jaw member via a jaw pivot. The location of the jaw pivot may be positioned at various locations along the lower jaw depending upon a number of factors, e.g., the desired size of the “bite” or opening for accepting tissue between the jaw members, the amount of closing force between the jaw members, etc. One or both jaw members may also have a number of protrusions, projections, grasping teeth, textured surfaces, etc., on the surface or surfaces of the jaw members to facilitate the adherence of tissue therebetween.
A launch tube may extend from the handle, through tubular body, and distally from the end of tubular body where a distal end of the launch tube is pivotally connected to the upper jaw member at a pivot. A distal portion of the launch tube may be pivoted into position within a channel or groove defined in upper jaw member to facilitate a low-profile configuration of the tissue manipulation assembly. When articulated, either via the launch tube or other mechanism, the jaw members may be urged into an open configuration to receive tissue in the jaw opening between the jaw members.
In operation, a shape-lockable endoscopic assembly may be advanced into a patient's stomach per-orally and through the esophagus. Such an endoscopic assembly may generally comprise an endoscopic device which may have a distal portion which may be articulated and steered to position its distal end anywhere within the stomach. Once desirably configured, the assembly may then be locked or rigidized to maintain its shape or configuration to allow for procedures to be performed on the tissue utilizing any number of tools delivered therethrough.
The tissue manipulation assembly may be delivered into the patient while in a low-profile configuration, e.g., transorally, through the shape-lockable endoscopic assembly, through an endoscope, an endoscopic device, or directly. Once desirably positioned, the launch tube may be urged proximally via its proximal end at handle. Because the jaw assembly pivot and the relative positioning of the upper jaw pivot along lower jaw member and launch tube pivot along upper jaw member, the proximal movement of the launch tube may effectively articulate upper jaw into an expanded jaw configuration. Proximally urging the launch tube may also urge the lower jaw member to pivot about the assembly pivot and form an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body. The opening of the upper jaw relative to the lower jaw creates a jaw opening for grasping or receiving tissue. Moreover, the tissue manipulation assembly may also include a stop located adjacent to the jaw assembly pivot or within the pivot itself.
A second tool for initially engaging the tissue region of interest may also be deployed and utilized to engage the tissue and to position the engaged tissue between the jaws of the jaw assembly. Any number of tools may be used in combination with the tissue manipulation assembly. Once the tissue has been engaged between the jaw members, a needle assembly may be urged through the launch tube to pierce through the grasped tissue. Once the needle assembly has been passed through the engaged tissue, one or more tissue anchors may be deployed for securing the tissue.
In manipulating tissue or creating tissue Folds, a having a distal end effector may be advanced endoluminally, e.g., transorally, transgastrically, etc., into the patient's body, e.g., the stomach. The tissue may be engaged or grasped and the engaged tissue may be manipulated by a surgeon or practitioner from outside the patient's body. Examples of creating and forming tissue plications may be seen in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/955,245 filed Sep. 29, 2004, which has been incorporated herein by reference above, as well as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/735,030 filed Dec. 12, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
In engaging, manipulating, and/or securing the tissue, various methods and devices may be implemented. For instance, tissue securement devices may be delivered and positioned via an endoscopic apparatus for contacting a tissue wall of the gastrointestinal lumen, creating one or more tissue Folds, and deploying one or more tissue anchors through the tissue Fold(s). The tissue anchor(s) may be disposed through the muscularis and/or serosa layers of the gastrointestinal lumen.
An illustrative side view of one example of a tool which may be utilized for endoluminally accessing tissue is shown in
Tissue manipulation assembly 14 is located at the distal end of tubular body 12 and is generally used to contact and form tissue Folds, as mentioned above.
Launch tube 28 may extend from handle 16, through tubular body 12, and distally from the end of tubular body 12 where a distal end of launch tube 28 is pivotally connected to upper jaw member 22 at launch tube pivot 30. A distal portion of launch tube 28 may be pivoted into position within a channel or groove defined in upper jaw member 22, to facilitate a low-profile configuration of tissue manipulation assembly 14. When articulated, either via launch tube 28 or other mechanism, as described further below, jaw members 20, 22 may be urged into an open configuration to receive tissue in jaw opening 32 between the jaw members 20, 22.
Launch tube 28 may be advanced from its proximal end at handle 16 such that the portion of launch tube 28, which extends distally from body 12, is forced to rotate at hinge or pivot 30 and reconfigure itself such that the exposed portion forms a curved or arcuate shape that positions the launch tube opening perpendicularly relative to upper jaw member 22. Launch tube 28, or at least the exposed portion of launch tube 28, may be fabricated from a highly flexible material or it may be fabricated, e.g., from nitinol tubing material which is adapted to flex, e.g., via circumferential slots, to permit bending.
Once launch tube 28 has been urged proximally, it may be locked into place thus locking the jaw configuration as well. Moreover, having the launch tube 28 articulate the jaw members 20, 22 in this variation eliminates the need for a separate jaw articulation and/or locking mechanism. Once the tissue has been pulled or manipulated between jaw members 20, 22, launch tube 28 may be pushed distally to actuate the jaw members 20, 22 into a closed, grasping configuration 48, as shown in
Launch tube 28 may further define a flexible portion 44 distally of a rigid portion 46. Although launch tube 28 may be fabricated from different materials having differing flexibilities, it may also be fabricated from a single material, as mentioned above, where the flexible portion 44 may configured, e.g., by slotting, to allow for bending of the launch tube 28 in a plane to form a single curved or arcuate section while the rigid section 46 may extend at least partially into tubular body 12 to provide column strength to launch tube 28 while it is urged distally upon upper jaw member 22 and upon any tissue engaged thereby, as seen in the
Once the tissue has been engaged between jaw members 20, 22, a needle assembly may be urged through handle 16 and out through launch tube 28. The needle assembly may pass through lower jaw member 20 via needle assembly opening 50 defined in lower jaw member 20 to pierce through the grasped tissue. Once the needle assembly has been passed through the engaged tissue, one or more tissue anchors may be deployed for securing the tissue, as described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/955,245, which has been incorporated by reference above.
Although one particular variation of the jaw members 20, 22 is shown, this is not intended to be limiting in jaw member configuration or operation. Other variations may include various placement of the jaws relative to one another, alternative configurations for articulating the jaw members, alternative configurations for the launch tube placement, etc. Other variations are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure.
As mentioned above, a needle deployment assembly 60 may be deployed through the assembly 10 by introducing needle deployment assembly 60 into the handle 16 and through tubular body 12, as shown in the assembly view of
Elongate pusher 76 may comprise a flexible wire or hypotube which is translationally disposed within sheath 64 and movably connected within housing 62. A proximally-located actuation member 78 may be rotatably or otherwise connected to housing 62 to selectively actuate the translational movement of elongate pusher 76 relative to sheath 64 for deploying the anchors from needle opening 74. Anchor assembly 68 may be seen positioned distally of elongate pusher 76 within sheath 64 for deployment from sheath 64. Needle assembly guides 80 may also be seen protruding from housing 62 for guidance through the locking mechanism described above.
With respect to the anchor assemblies, the types of anchors shown and described are intended to be illustrative and are not limited to the variations shown. For instance, the tissue anchor variations may also include T-type anchors while other variations may include reconfigurable “basket”-type anchors, which may generally comprise a number of configurable struts or legs extending between at least two collars or support members or reconfigurable mesh structures extending between the two collars. Other variations of these or other types of anchors are also contemplated for use in an anchor assembly. Moreover, a single type of anchor may be used exclusively in an anchor assembly; alternatively, a combination of different anchor types may be used in an anchor assembly. Furthermore, the different types of cinching or locking mechanisms are not intended to be limited to any of the particular variations shown and described but may be utilized in any of the combinations or varying types of anchors as practicable.
Other variations for the needle assemblies and for the anchors are described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/955,245, which has been incorporated by reference above.
In operation when manipulating and securing tissue within a patient's body, a separate elongate shaft having a tool on or near the distal end of the shaft may be utilized in conjunction with the tissue manipulation assembly 14. Such tools are generally utilized in endoluminal procedures where the tools are delivered through an endoscope. Generally, several different tools may be utilized for performing a procedure endoluminally.
As illustrated in
Shape-lockable assembly 90 may be generally comprised of shape-lockable endoscopic body 92 having an articulatable distal portion 96. The endoscopic body 92 may define at least first and second lumens 98, 100, respectively, through the endoscopic body 92 through which one or more tools may be deployed into the stomach s. Additional lumens may be provided through shape-lockable endoscopic body 92, such as a visualization lumen 101, through which an endoscope may be positioned to provide visualization of the region of tissue. Alternatively, an imager such as a CCD imager or optical fibers may be provided in lumen 101 to provide visualization. An optional thin wall sheath 94 may be disposed through the patient's mouth, esophagus e, and possibly past the gastroesophageal junction GEJ into the stomach s. Shape-lockable body 92 may be advanced through esophagus e (and through sheath. 94, if utilized) and into stomach s while disposed in a flexible state.
Distal steerable portion 96 of endoscopic body 92 may be then articulated to an orientation, e.g., whereby distal portion 96 facilitates engagement of tissue near and/or inferior to the patient's gastroesophageal junction GEJ. Accordingly, distal steerable portion 96 may comprise a number of steering features, as described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/734,562, incorporated above. With distal steerable portion 96 disposed in a desired configuration or orientation, endoscopic body 92 may be reversibly shape-locked to a rigid state such that the endoscopic body 92 maintains its position within the stomach s. Various methods and apparatus for rigidizing endoscopic body 92 along its length are also described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/734,562, incorporated above.
As tissue manipulation assembly 14 may be utilized to grasp and secure the engaged tissue, any number of tools may be utilized with tissue manipulation assembly 14, e.g., through shape-lockable endoscopic body 92, to engage and manipulate the tissue of interest relative to tissue manipulation assembly 14.
Turning to
The examples of the various tools as shown and described are intended merely to be illustrative of the range of tools which may be usable with assembly 14 and are not intended to be limiting in any manner. Any number of other tools may be accordingly utilized and are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure.
An example of performing an endoluminal tissue manipulation and securement procedure utilizing tissue manipulation assembly 14 in combination with a separate tissue grasping tool within, e.g., a patient's stomach, is illustrated in
The tissue region of interest 130 as well as the procedure may be visualized through visualization lumen 101 or a separate imager, as described above. In either case, tissue manipulation assembly 14 and tissue engagement member 102 may be advanced distally out from endoscopic body 92 through their respective lumens 98, 100. Tissue engagement member 102 may be advanced into contact against the tissue surface, as shown in
Alternatively, once the tissue F has been engaged, tissue manipulation assembly 14 may be advanced distally in its open configuration onto the engaged tissue. In yet another variation, tissue engagement member 102 may be omitted entirely and tissue manipulation assembly 14 may be utilized alone to grasp onto the tissue region of interest 130. In yet another alternative, a second tissue manipulation assembly may be used in combination with tissue manipulation assembly 14.
Turning back to
Because needle body 72 may penetrate the tissue wall twice, it exits within the body lumen if utilized within, e.g., the stomach, thus reducing the potential for injury to surrounding organs. As described above, needle body 72 may define needle lumen or opening 74 through which expandable an anchor, e.g., distal anchor 82 and/or proximal anchor 84, may be situated during deployment and positioning of the assembly. A single suture or flexible element 132 (or multiple suture elements) may connect distal anchor 82 and proximal anchor 84 to one another and end in terminal loop 134. For instance, element 132 may comprise various materials such as monofilament, multifilament, or any other conventional suture material, elastic or elastomeric materials, e.g., rubber, etc.
Once distal anchor 82 has been ejected, needle body 72 may be urged proximally back through tissue F, where proximal anchor 84 may then be ejected from needle body 72 with suture 132 still connecting the two anchors 82, 84 through tissue F. Alternatively, tissue manipulation assembly 14, with suture 132 still depending therefrom, may be disengaged from tissue F and the procedure may be repeated at a second region of tissue where proximal anchor 84 may then be ejected.
Various examples of cinching devices and methods which may be utilized with the tools and devices herein are described in further detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,950 filed May 7, 2004, which has been incorporated herein above.
In using the launch tube as a jaw actuation mechanism, other variations of the launch tube may be utilized to ensure sufficient strength and force transmission in tissue manipulation assembly 14 for jaw member actuation. One such example is shown in the perspective view of
In another variation, as shown in
Although a number of illustrative variations are described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, although specific configurations and applications may be shown, it is intended that the various features may be utilized in various combinations and in various types of procedures as practicable. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/815,335, filed Jun. 14, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,828,027, which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/070,846, filed on Mar. 1, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,736,374, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/955,245, filed on Sep. 29, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,863, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,950, filed on May 7, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,308,765, and is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/070,863 filed on Mar. 1, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,216,252, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5015249 | Nakao | May 1991 | A |
| 5152780 | Honkanen et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
| 5549621 | Bessler | Aug 1996 | A |
| 5624379 | Ganz | Apr 1997 | A |
| 5766189 | Matsuno | Jun 1998 | A |
| 6074401 | Gardiner | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6139508 | Simpson | Oct 2000 | A |
| 6269819 | Oz | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6312437 | Kortenbach | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6494888 | Laufer | Dec 2002 | B1 |
| 6551315 | Kortenbach | Apr 2003 | B2 |
| 6551328 | Kortenbach | Apr 2003 | B2 |
| 6569085 | Kortenbach | May 2003 | B2 |
| 6569105 | Kortenbach | May 2003 | B1 |
| 6663640 | Kortenbach | Dec 2003 | B2 |
| 6695866 | Kuehn | Feb 2004 | B1 |
| 6808491 | Kortenbach | Oct 2004 | B2 |
| 6821285 | Laufer | Nov 2004 | B2 |
| 6835200 | Laufer | Dec 2004 | B2 |
| 6921361 | Suzuki | Jul 2005 | B2 |
| 6966919 | Sixto, Jr. | Nov 2005 | B2 |
| 6986737 | Suzuki | Jan 2006 | B2 |
| 7033378 | Smith | Apr 2006 | B2 |
| 7037315 | Sancoff | May 2006 | B2 |
| 7131978 | Sancoff | Nov 2006 | B2 |
| 7153314 | Laufer | Dec 2006 | B2 |
| 7156857 | Pasricha | Jan 2007 | B2 |
| 7232445 | Kortenbach | Jun 2007 | B2 |
| 7347863 | Rothe et al. | Mar 2008 | B2 |
| 7361180 | Saadat | Apr 2008 | B2 |
| 7416554 | Lam | Aug 2008 | B2 |
| 7569062 | Kuehn | Aug 2009 | B1 |
| 7601159 | Ewers et al. | Oct 2009 | B2 |
| 7618426 | Ewers | Nov 2009 | B2 |
| 7621925 | Saadat et al. | Nov 2009 | B2 |
| 7678122 | Kortenbach | Mar 2010 | B2 |
| 7686819 | Kortenbach | Mar 2010 | B2 |
| 7713277 | Laufer | May 2010 | B2 |
| 7727246 | Sixto, Jr. | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 7736372 | Reydel et al. | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 7736378 | Maahs et al. | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 7955340 | Michlitsch | Jun 2011 | B2 |
| 8057511 | Flores et al. | Nov 2011 | B2 |
| 20020035370 | Kortenbach | Mar 2002 | A1 |
| 20020040226 | Laufer | Apr 2002 | A1 |
| 20020068946 | Kortenbach | Jun 2002 | A1 |
| 20020078967 | Sixto, Jr. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
| 20020111534 | Suzuki | Aug 2002 | A1 |
| 20020173786 | Kortenbach | Nov 2002 | A1 |
| 20020193816 | Laufer | Dec 2002 | A1 |
| 20030105476 | Sancoff | Jun 2003 | A1 |
| 20030130561 | Suzuki et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
| 20030195387 | Kortenbach | Oct 2003 | A1 |
| 20040010245 | Cerier | Jan 2004 | A1 |
| 20040010271 | Kortenbach | Jan 2004 | A1 |
| 20040059349 | Sixto, Jr. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| 20040059354 | Smith | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| 20040059358 | Kortenbach | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| 20040092967 | Sancoff | May 2004 | A1 |
| 20040116949 | Ewers | Jun 2004 | A1 |
| 20040162568 | Saadat | Aug 2004 | A1 |
| 20040225183 | Michlitsch | Nov 2004 | A1 |
| 20050250984 | Lam et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20050250985 | Saadat et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20050250986 | Rothe et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20050250987 | Ewers et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20050250988 | Ewers et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20050251166 | Vaughn et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20050251176 | Swanstrom et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20050251177 | Saadat et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20050251189 | Saadat et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20050251205 | Ewers et al. | Nov 2005 | A1 |
| 20060135971 | Swanstrom et al. | Jun 2006 | A1 |
| 20060271073 | Lam et al. | Nov 2006 | A1 |
| 20060271074 | Ewers et al. | Nov 2006 | A1 |
| 20060271101 | Saadat et al. | Nov 2006 | A1 |
| 20080086155 | Rothe et al. | Apr 2008 | A1 |
| 20080200930 | Saadat et al. | Aug 2008 | A1 |
| 20100042115 | Saadat et al. | Feb 2010 | A1 |
| 20100249500 | Reydel et al. | Sep 2010 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140358164 A1 | Dec 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11070846 | Mar 2005 | US |
| Child | 12815335 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12815335 | Jun 2010 | US |
| Child | 14463377 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10955245 | Sep 2004 | US |
| Child | 11070846 | US | |
| Parent | 10840950 | May 2004 | US |
| Child | 10955245 | US |
