System for magnetic movement of tissue and implants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017347998-A1
Application number	US-201715682816-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 22, 2017
Priority date	Dec 3, 2001
Publication date	Dec 7, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to an instrument and method for passing a medical implement through tissue with magnetic forces. The implement can be an implant, either permanent or temporary, and is provided with a magnetic component. A magnetic field is established and the magnetic component and/or magnetic field is manipulated to drive the implant through tissue. Alternatively, the instrument itself is the implement and includes at least one magnetic element so that a magnetic field established by an external magnetic generator drives the instrument through tissue. In another embodiment, the instrument includes two magnetic elements that are moveable with respect to one another and interaction between the magnetic elements drives the instrument through the tissue. Examples of applications of the present invention include a suture passer and a tissue anchor.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An apparatus for moving a medical implement having a magnetic component through a tissue in a patient, comprising;
a magnetic field generator generating a magnetic field of sufficient strength to move the medical implement through the tissue.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator is a permanent magnet.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator is an electromagnet.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the strength of the magnetic field is varied to move the medical implement through the tissue.

5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a polarity of the magnetic field is reversible.

6 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the magnetic field generator is positioned external to the tissue.

7 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the magnetic field generator is selectably positionable to move the medical implement through the tissue.

8 . A medical system for connecting a first tissue to a second tissue in patient, comprising:
a medical implement including a magnetic component; and a magnetic field generator, wherein the magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field of sufficient strength to move the medical implement through the first and second tissue.

9 . The medical system of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic component of the medical implement is a magnetizable material.

10 . The medical system of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic component of the medical implement is a permanent magnet.

11 . The medical system of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic component of the medical implement is an electromagnet.

12 . The medical system of claim 8 , wherein the medical implement is made of a non-magnetized matrix and the magnetic component is dispersed within the matrix.

13 . The medical system of claim 12 , wherein the non-magnetized matrix is made ofa bio-resorbable material.

14 . The medical system of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic component is made of a material removable from the patient by normal physiological mechanisms.

15 . The medical system of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic component is removably attachable to the medical implement.

16 . The medical system of claim 8 , wherein the medical implement is made of a bio-resorbable material.

17 . The medical system of claim 8 , further comprising a suture attached to the medical implement.

18 . The medical system of claim 8 , wherein the medical implement is a suture anchor.

19 . The medical system of claim 8 , wherein the medical implement is a surgical needle.

20 . The medical system of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic field generator is a permanent magnet.

Assignees

• P Tech Llc

Inventors

• Bonutti Peter M

Classifications

• A61N1/3787

  from an external energy source · CPC title

• A61B17/0469 Primary

  Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery · CPC title

• A61B34/20

  Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis · CPC title

• A61F2210/009

  magnetic · CPC title

• A61B17/0401

  Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811) · CPC title