Surgery – Instruments – Sutureless closure
Reexamination Certificate
1994-10-18
2001-06-05
Peffley, Michael (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
Sutureless closure
C606S213000, C411S456000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241747
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a barbed bodily tissue connector, and more particularly, to such a connector which can be used to quickly and effectively close a body wound.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Human wounds are typically repaired with a filament introduced into the tissue by a needle attached to one end. After piercing the opposing faces of the wound, the needle is removed, and the ends of the suture are tied together with at least three overhand knots. Such a technique requires considerable time and expertise on the part of the surgeon. There are also a number of other drawbacks to repairing a wound in this manner. For example, it is very difficult to use sutures to repair wounds where there is insufficient space to properly manipulate the suture, especially those wounds repaired using fiber optic visualization. The suture forms a loop as it is tied, and this loop constricts blood flow to the tissue in its confines, promoting necrosis of the wound margins. Further, if the needle's passage was noncircular, the tissue will be distorted as it is secured by the suture.
Alternatives to conventional sutures are known in the prior art. Staples, as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,073, to Green, are often used for approximating the superficial layer of the wound. Staples, however, are generally unsuitable for deeper layers of tissue.
The patent to Alcamo, U.S. Pat. No. 3,123,077, discloses a roughened suture which can be passed through tissue in one direction, but resists movement in the opposite direction. The Alcamo suture, however, still must be sewn, as by a conventional technique, and the trailing end must be secured with knots. Thus, although there is less slippage of the suture in the wound, most of the disadvantages of sutures noted above are also found in the Alcamo suture.
The patent to Tanner, U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,058, discloses a relatively rigid suture with one or more barbs on opposite ends of an arcuate body. One disadvantage of the Tanner suture is that the rigid barbs, which protrude from the suture as it is inserted, will lacerate tissue and prevent retrograde repositioning. Further, since the barbs are only placed at the ends of the suture, the forces applied to the tissue by the barbs will be limited to a relatively small area; this substantially increases the pressure on the blood vessels ensnared by a barb and severely restricts blood flow to the area.
It will be seen from the foregoing that there is a need for a bodily tissue connector which can be placed more expeditiously than sutures, is self-retaining, obviates distortion of the tissue, can close tissue inaccessible to conventional procedures, and which preserves blood flow by broadly distributing the retention force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problems in the prior art and to provide an improved bodily tissue connector.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a barbed bodily tissue connector comprising: an elongated body having a point formed on one end, the body being formed of a material sufficiently hard for the point to pierce tissue and enable the connector to be inserted in tissue when a substantially axial force is applied to the body; and a plurality of barbs projecting from the body, the barbs being disposed around the periphery of the body along a length of the body which extends from adjacent the one end to a predetermined location on the body, the barbs being configured such that they are yieldable in a direction toward the body and are generally rigid in an opposite direction, and the barbs being sufficiently resilient to return to a predetermined position after deflection therefrom.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the barbed bodily tissue connector includes an elongated body and a plurality of barbs which are disposed in a helical pattern on the body and extend from a pointed end of the connector to a predetermined location on the body. Each barb includes a first side, which forms an obtuse angle with the body, and a second side which forms an acute angle with the body. The body is substantially rigid and sufficiently resilient to return to a predetermined position after deflection therefrom. When the connector is inserted in tissue to repair a wound or reconfigure the tissue, the pointed end pierces tissue and the barbs yield toward the body to facilitate entry of the connector.
When the connector has been placed in a desired position in tissue, the barbs strongly resist movement away from this position. The connector can be inserted by gripping the connector in the hand and pushing the connector into the tissue, by means of a stapling device or the connector can be inserted by means of an inserting device which is withdrawn when the connector is in place.
A principal advantage of the barbed bodily tissue connector of the present invention is that it permits a surgeon to rapidly and securely attach the edges of a wound in bodily tissue or reconfigure the tissue without the necessity for threading and tying numerous individual stitches or for the use of a complicated or elaborate tool to insert the connector. The connector is configured to minimize damage to tissue when inserted and to minimize scarring or tissue necrosis across the wound. The connector is capable of insertion into the faces of a wound, can connect tissue at the bottom of a deep wound, and can connect tissue which is inaccessible to a staple. Finally, the connector of the present invention can be inserted quickly and accurately by a surgeon who only has access to tissue from a small opening or from only one direction, as, for example, during an endoscopic procedure.
Other features and advantages will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment when read in light of the attached drawings.
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Johnston Michael G.
Moore & Van Allen PLLC
Peffley Michael
Quill Medical, Inc.
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