US5476469A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for positive closure of an internal tissue membrane opening
Assignee: Indiana University Research and Technology Corp
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Filing: 1994-02-09
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Granted: 1995-12-19
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Expires: 2014-02-09
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a device having two components: a needle advancing apparatus slidable longitudinally along a catheter to advance needles into a tissue membrane, such as a blood vessel wall, around an opening in the membrane; and, a suture retrieval assembly insertable through the catheter beyond a distal side of the tissue membrane. The needle advancing apparatus advances suture through the tissue wall. The suture retrieval assembly grabs the suture on the distal side of the tissue membrane for extraction thereof through the opening in the tissue membrane. A method for suturing a membrane beneath the patient's skin is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Hathaway
- 👤 Brian Patton
- 👤 Keith L. March
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0469; A61B17/0057; A61B2017/00637; A61B2017/00646; A61B2017/00663; A61B2017/00668; A61B2017/00982; A61B2017/00986; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for closure of an opening in a tissue membrane located beneath the skin of a patient, the tissue membrane having a distal side and a proximal side, comprising the steps of: providing a member for delivery of a retrieval assembly in proximity to the opening in the tissue membrane; inserting a first, distal end of a retrieval assembly beneath the skin of the patient and through the opening in the tissue membrane to a location on the distal side of the tissue membrane; providing at least one needle having a needle tip for penetrating through the tissue membrane and for carrying at least two lengths of suture material through the tissue membrane; advancing said needle through the tissue membrane adjacent but spaced from the opening at at least two separate suture locations, wherein suture material is advanced through the tissue membrane at the suture locations; grabbing the suture material with said retrieval assembly; retrieving said suture material through the opening by withdrawing the distal end of said retrieval assembly out through the opening; and drawing the suture locations together with said suture material passing through the suture locations.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for closure of an opening in a tissue membrane located beneath the skin of a patient, the tissue membrane having a distal side and a proximal side, comprising the steps of: providing a member for delivery of a retrieval assembly in proximity to the opening in the tissue membrane; inserting a first, distal end of a retrieval assembly beneath the skin of the patient and through the opening in the tissue membrane to a location on the distal side of the tissue membrane; providing at least one needle having a needle tip for penetrating through the tissue membrane and for carrying at least two lengths of suture material through the tissue membrane; advancing said needle through the tissue membrane adjacent but spaced from the opening at at least two separate suture locations, wherein suture material is advanced through the tissue membrane at the suture locations; grabbing the suture material with said retrieval assembly; retrieving said suture material through the opening by withdrawing the distal end of said retrieval assembly out through the opening; and drawing the suture locations together with said suture material passing through the suture locations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of: expanding the distal end of said retrieval assembly on the distal side of the tissue membrane after said inserting step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2 and further comprising the step of: urging the expanded distal end of said retrieval assembly toward the opening and into contact with the tissue membrane prior to said step of advancing the needle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: removing a shield from over the needle tip to expose the needle tip; and moving the needle from a compact mode to a deployed mode prior to said step of advancing the needle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 4 and further comprising the steps of: withdrawing the needle from the tissue membrane; moving the needle back to the compact mode; shielding the tip of the needle; and, withdrawing the needle from the patient, wherein said withdrawing step occurs prior to said step of drawing together said suture locations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue membrane is a blood vessel and wherein the opening is an opening formed by catheterization of the blood vessel, and wherein said step of inserting a distal end of the retrieval assembly occurs after a cardiovascular catheterization procedure.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for suturing a tissue membrane located beneath the skin of a patient, the tissue membrane having a distal side and a proximal side, the sutures extending through the membrane at locations positioned adjacent to and around an opening in the tissue membrane, comprising: a tubular body having a portion thereof extendable through the opening and beyond the distal side of the tissue membrane; at least two needles disposed around said tubular body, said needles carrying a respective length of suture, said needles being advanceable through the tissue membrane to provide suture material at separate suture locations in the tissue membrane adjacent to the opening; and a retrieval assembly having an elongated portion disposable within said tubular body and with a first distal end disposable through the opening in the tissue membrane, the first end being adapted to grab suture material at a location on the distal side of the tissue membrane.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for suturing a tissue membrane located beneath the skin of a patient, the tissue membrane having a distal side and a proximal side, the sutures extending through the membrane at locations positioned adjacent to and around an opening in the tissue membrane, comprising: a tubular body having a portion thereof extendable through the opening and beyond the distal side of the tissue membrane; at least two needles disposed around said tubular body, said needles carrying a respective length of suture, said needles being advanceable through the tissue membrane to provide suture material at separate suture locations in the tissue membrane adjacent to the opening; and a retrieval assembly having an elongated portion disposable within said tubular body and with a first distal end disposable through the opening in the tissue membrane, the first end being adapted to grab suture material at a location on the distal side of the tissue membrane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 7 and further comprising a needle shield received about said tubular body allowing selective shielding and exposing of said needles, said tubular body being advanceable with said shield in a first position shielding said needles, said shield being selectively movable to a second position to expose said needles adjacent to the opening in the tissue membrane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said needles are movable from a compact mode to a deployed mode radially away from said tubular member, said needles in said compact mode being shieldable by said needle shield, said needles in said deployed mode having needle tips exposed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said needles has a distal end including a respective needle tip, a proximal end, and a central portion therebetween, wherein the central portion of each of said needles defines a respective longitudinal pivot axis, the distal end and the proximal end of said needles each being eccentric to the respective longitudinal pivot axis, and wherein rotational movement of the proximal end of each of said needles causes a respective central portion to move to cause the respective distal end of each of said needles to move between the compact mode and the deployed mode.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for suturing, comprising: a retrieval assembly having .an elongated portion with a distal end; wherein said distal end is selectively expandable and collapsible and wherein said distal end in a collapsed position is insertable through a catheter lumen; said distal end being expandible along a distal side of a tissue membrane to be sutured while said elongated portion is disposed in said catheter lumen, said distal end being expandible to receive suture advanced through said tissue membrane with said distal end in an expanded position, wherein said distal end further includes at least one needle tarrying suture and, an elastomeric membrane expandable on the distal side of an opening in a tissue membrane, wherein said elastomeric membrane receives said needle carrying suture pierced therethrough, and wherein upon withdrawal of the needle from the elastomeric membrane the suture remains pierced through said elastomeric membrane for withdrawal of the elastomeric membrane and suture together through the opening in the tissue membrane.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus for suturing, comprising: a retrieval assembly having .an elongated portion with a distal end; wherein said distal end is selectively expandable and collapsible and wherein said distal end in a collapsed position is insertable through a catheter lumen; said distal end being expandible along a distal side of a tissue membrane to be sutured while said elongated portion is disposed in said catheter lumen, said distal end being expandible to receive suture advanced through said tissue membrane with said distal end in an expanded position, wherein said distal end further includes at least one needle tarrying suture and, an elastomeric membrane expandable on the distal side of an opening in a tissue membrane, wherein said elastomeric membrane receives said needle carrying suture pierced therethrough, and wherein upon withdrawal of the needle from the elastomeric membrane the suture remains pierced through said elastomeric membrane for withdrawal of the elastomeric membrane and suture together through the opening in the tissue membrane.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for suturing, comprising: a retrieval assembly having an elongated portion with a distal end; wherein said distal end is selectively expandable and collapsible and wherein said distal end in a collapsed is insertable through a catheter lumen; said distal end being expandible along a distal side of a tissue membrane to be sutured while said elongated portion is disposed in said catheter lumen, said distal end being expandible to receive suture advanced through said tissue membrane with said distal end in an expanded position; a tubular catheter having a portion thereof extendable through an opening in and beyond a distal side of the tissue membrane; and at least two needles disposed around said tubular body, said needles carrying a respective length of suture, said needles being advanceable through the tissue membrane to provide suture material at separate suture locations in the tissue membrane adjacent to the opening.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for suturing, comprising: a retrieval assembly having an elongated portion with a distal end; wherein said distal end is selectively expandable and collapsible and wherein said distal end in a collapsed is insertable through a catheter lumen; said distal end being expandible along a distal side of a tissue membrane to be sutured while said elongated portion is disposed in said catheter lumen, said distal end being expandible to receive suture advanced through said tissue membrane with said distal end in an expanded position; a tubular catheter having a portion thereof extendable through an opening in and beyond a distal side of the tissue membrane; and at least two needles disposed around said tubular body, said needles carrying a respective length of suture, said needles being advanceable through the tissue membrane to provide suture material at separate suture locations in the tissue membrane adjacent to the opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the distal end includes expanding elements and wherein said needles are disposed to insert sutures interstitially between said expanding elements.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-12-18 | 1999-06-19 | 1999-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-18 | 2003-06-19 | 2003-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-18 | 2007-06-19 | 2007-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |