Suture clip deployment devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9017347-B2
Application number	US-201213715640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2012
Priority date	Dec 22, 2011
Publication date	Apr 28, 2015
Grant date	Apr 28, 2015

Abstract

Suture clip deployment devices for applying suture clips to sutures are described. Some embodiments can include a generally tubular main body and a vacuum port located at the distal end, a hollow inner body longitudinally slidable within the main body and extending from the main body at its distal end, and a suture recess located in the generally tubular main body. At least one suture clip configured to frictionally fit on an outer surface of the inner body is deployed during use. Clip deployment can occur after a vacuum source is applied to the device so as to draw the suture into the device. The suture lines can be retrieved through the suture recess, and the device can be actuated so as to deliver the suture clip off the delivery device and onto the suture, locking the suture in place.

First claim

We claim:

1. A device for successively deploying a plurality of preloaded suture clips onto sutures, comprising:
a proximal handle portion comprising an actuation mechanism;
a generally tubular main shaft having an inner lumen, a proximal end portion coupled to the actuation mechanism, a distal end portion having a distal opening in communication with the inner lumen, and an intermediate portion having a radial opening in communication with the inner lumen, wherein the main shaft holds a plurality of annular suture clips preloaded around the distal end portion of the main shaft, and wherein the main shaft is configured to receive at least one suture extending through the distal opening, through the inner lumen, and through the radial opening; and
a pusher positioned at least partially around the main shaft and coupled to the actuation mechanism independently of the main shaft, the pusher configured to be positioned proximal to the suture clips when the suture clips are loaded around the distal end portion of the main shaft;
wherein the actuation mechanism causes the main shaft to move proximally relative to the handle portion, the pusher, and the suture clips, such that a distal-most one of the suture clips slides off of a distal end of the main shaft and onto one or more sutures extending through the distal opening of the main shaft; and
wherein, after the distal-most one of the suture clips is deployed onto a suture, the actuation mechanism causes the main shaft, the pusher, and a remaining portion of the suture clips to move distally relative to the handle portion such that a distal-most one of the remaining portion of the suture clips is ready to be successively deployed.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the inner lumen of the main shaft is fluidly couplable to a vacuum source that reduces pressure within the inner lumen such that a suture can be drawn into the inner lumen through the distal opening of the main shaft.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the handle portion further comprises a manual vacuum controller that controls the vacuum in the inner lumen.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the handle portion comprises a vacuum source that is fluidly coupled the inner lumen of the main shaft to assist in drawing a suture through the distal opening and into the inner lumen.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an outer shaft positioned around the main shaft and the pusher and coupled to the actuation mechanism, the outer shaft comprising a blade at a distal end portion that is configured to cut the suture after the suture clip is deployed onto the suture, wherein the blade is oriented in a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the main shaft, and wherein the cutting of the suture occurs between the distal end of the main shaft and a proximal end of the deployed suture.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the actuation mechanism causes the outer shaft to rotate relative to the main shaft and the handle portion, and wherein the rotation of outer shaft causes the cutting of the suture.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a cover member slidably mounted over the radial opening of the main shaft, the cover member being configured to selectively open and close the radial opening of the main shaft.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the pusher comprises a ratcheting mechanism that allows the pusher to slide distally relative to the main shaft but prevents the pusher from sliding proximally relative to the main shaft.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to be loaded with a plurality of tubular suture clips that are axially aligned along an outer surface of the main shaft, and that are sequentially deployable without reloading the device.

10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a suture tension monitoring system configured to determine and display the amount of tension in a suture positioned within the inner lumen of the main shaft.

11. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a suture clip monitoring system configured to determine and display the number of suture clips that are currently loaded on the main shaft.

12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a lighting system configured to provide light near the distal end of the main shaft.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the lighting system comprises one or more light fibers that extend along a length of the main shaft and are configured to conduct light from a proximal light source to near the distal end portion of the main shaft.

14. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a visual monitoring system configured to capture visual information from near the distal end portion of the main shaft and transfer the captured visual information to a proximal visual display.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the suture clips are comprised of a shape-memory material, wherein the suture clips are held in a resiliently deformed tubular configuration when loaded onto the main shaft, and wherein the suture clips resiliently return toward a natural collapsed configuration when deployed onto a suture, thereby becoming frictionally secured to the suture.

16. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fixed shaft that is fixed relative to the proximal handle portion and positioned around the main shaft, the pusher, and the suture clips; and
a clip guide that is positioned within the fixed shaft and positioned at least partially around the pusher, the main shaft, and the suture clips, wherein the clip guide is fixed relative to the fixed shaft and the proximal handle portion; and
wherein the clip guide prevents the pusher and the suture clips from moving proximally when the main shaft moves proximally, and wherein the clip guide allows the pusher and the suture clips to move distally along with the main shaft.

17. The device of claim 16 , further comprising an outer shaft positioned around the fixed shaft and coupled to the actuation mechanism, the outer shaft being rotatable relative to the fixed shaft and comprising a blade at its distal end that cuts the suture via its rotational motion after the distal-most suture clip is deployed onto the suture.

18. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an tubular cover mounted around the radial opening in the main shaft and axially slidable relative to the main shaft between a closed position wherein the cover fully covers the radial opening to maintain a vacuum in the inner lumen and an open position wherein the cover at least partially uncovers the radial opening to allow one or more sutures to pass from the inner lumen through the radial opening and out of the device.

19. The device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal handle portion comprises a first trigger that, when actuated, applies a vacuum to the inner lumen of the main shaft, and a second trigger that, when actuated, causes the main shaft to move proximally relative to the proximal handle portion, and when released, causes the main shaft, the pusher, and the remaining portion of the suture clips to move distally relative to the proximal handle portion.

20. A device for deploying a suture clip onto a suture, comprising:
a proximal handle portion comprising an actuation mechanism;
a generally tubular main shaft having an inner lumen, a proximal end portion coupled to the actuation mechanism, a distal end portion having a distal opening in communication with the inner lumen, and an intermediate portion having a radial opening in communication with the inner lumen, wherein the main shaft holds one or more tubular

Assignees

• Edwards Lifesciences Corp

Inventors

• Oba Travis Zenyo
• Murad Michael C
• Miraki Manouchehr A
• Carcia Anthony Peter
• Schroeder Fabian Daniel
• Mazzei Raffaele
• Smith Tyler Douglas

Classifications

• A61B2017/0488

  Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks · CPC title

• A61B2017/00561

  creating a vacuum · CPC title

• A61B17/0469

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

• A61B2017/00783

  Valvuloplasty · CPC title

• A61B2017/00526

  Methods of manufacturing · CPC title