Abstract:
An implantable support includes a tissue support material having sutures engaged with the support material and anchors engaged with the sutures. Each anchor has a body, a fin extending from the body in a first direction with an eyelet formed in the fin, a pair of radial barrels extending from the body in a radial direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a gripping tab removably attached to the fin. Each of the sutures is threaded through both the anchor assembly and the support material to form a continuous closed loop of suture with trailing end portions of each suture being brought together and maintained within a conduit. At least the ends of the suture are welded together to form a break pad that maintains the ends of the continuous closed loop of suture in an organized fashion until the continuous closed loop of suture is separated at the break pad.
Abstract:
A tissue anchor has a body, protrusions from the body, and a tissue engaging fin. The body is oriented on a longitudinal axis and has a leading tip, a leading end portion extending from the leading tip, a trailing end portion connected to the leading end portion, with the trailing end portion that extends from a longitudinal midpoint M to the trailing end. A tissue engagement fin is located along the leading end portion of the anchor to provide the anchor with more area on the leading end portion then on the trailing end portion. A barrel is located on the leading end portion of the anchor. The barrel, in combination with the tissue engagement fin, contributes to a distribution of mass for the anchor that is predominantly distributed forward in the anchor along the leading end portion.
Abstract:
A suture system spool (30) is configured to retain suture (26) having a suture diameter and tension the suture between a distal and proximal end portions of a suturing tool. The spool includes a monolithically formed disc (100) defining a central opening (at 106) that pro¬ vides the disc with an inside diameter (106). The disc includes a base (110) and a flap (112) joined with the base at the inside diameter, and the flap extends from the inside diameter to an outer periphery of the disc to define a cavity (114) between the flap and the base. The flap is spaced away from the base at a location between the inside diameter (S) and the outer periphery of the disc by a factor of at least two times the suture diameter, and the flap is spaced away from the base at the outer periphery of the disc by a distance (G) that is approximately equal to the suture diameter.
Abstract:
A suture fixation system includes a suture assembly having an anchor, an introducer, and a delivery device. The introducer is attachable to a finger of a person and includes a platform attached to an exterior of the introducer and a zip line attached to the platform. The delivery device is movable along the zip line and configured to removably retain the anchor. The introducer allows the finger to identify a target landmark within a patient and the delivery device is movable along the zip line and attachable to the platform to position the anchor for insertion to the target landmark. A method of fixing a suture to tissue of a patient includes placing an introducer onto a finger, the introducer including a zip line trailing from a proximal end of the introducer. The method additionally includes identifying a landmark with the finger, guiding a delivery device along the zip line toward the introducer, where the delivery device maintaining an anchor attached to a suture line, and ejecting the anchor from the delivery device and into the tissue of the patient.
Abstract:
A suture fixation system includes a suture assembly having an anchor, an introducer, and a delivery device. The introducer is attachable to a finger of a person and includes a platform attached to an exterior of the introducer and a zip line attached to the platform. The delivery device is movable along the zip line and configured to removably retain the anchor. The introducer allows the finger to identify a target landmark within a patient and the delivery device is movable along the zip line and attachable to the platform to position the anchor for insertion to the target landmark. A method of fixing a suture to tissue of a patient includes placing an introducer onto a finger, the introducer including a zip line trailing from a proximal end of the introducer. The method additionally includes identifying a landmark with the finger, guiding a delivery device along the zip line toward the introducer, where the delivery device maintaining an anchor attached to a suture line, and ejecting the anchor from the delivery device and into the tissue of the patient.
Abstract:
An incontinence treatment device includes a section of synthetic urethra and a closure device attached to the section of synthetic urethra. The section of synthetic urethra provides a flow diameter and is configured to be spliced into a natural urethra such that the flow diameter is aligned with a lumen of the natural urethra for passage of urine. The closure device is attached to the section of synthetic urethra and operable to coapt the flow diameter to allow a user to impede the passage of urine and be continent.
Abstract:
A suturing assembly includes shaft attached between a handle and a head. The handle includes a brace and an actuator attached to the handle, where the actuator has a neutral position that is distal the brace. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis of the assembly. The head includes a proximal portion housing a needle that is movable through a needle exit port, and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat. The distal end is radially offset from the longitudinal axis and defines a cavity. Movement of the actuator from the neutral position to the brace moves the needle both in a first direction out of the needle exit port into the cavity and in a second direction out of the cavity and into the needle exit port.
Abstract:
A suturing assembly configured to place suture in tissue includes a handle having an actuator, a shaft coupled to the handle, and a head coupled to the shaft. The head includes a proximal portion housing a needle movable through a needle exit port and a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat, the distal end defining a cavity. The actuator is configured to move the needle out of the needle exit port formed in the proximal portion of the head and across the throat to engage a capsule disposed in the cavity formed in the distal end of the head, the capsule attached to the suture.