Patent US5895412A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5895412A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device and method for sealing tissue
Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA
•
Filing: 1997-05-02
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Granted: 1999-04-20
•
Expires: 2017-05-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for effecting and enhancing wound closure in tissue is disclosed. Wounds and tissue are sealed by heating a sealant material, such as collagen, in an applicator (10) to a temperature sufficient to melt the sealant. The melted sealant is then extruded through a distal tip of an elongate shaft (22) and applied to the target site, where it cools and sets to form bonds with the underlying tissue. The heated sealant flows over the wound to create an effective barrier against further blood leakage and, upon cooling, it readily adheres to the tissue to seal the wound. In addition, since high intensity energy is not applied directly to the wound, damage or destruction of neighboring tissue is minimized.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Tucker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00491; A61B2017/005; A61B2017/00513
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for applying a sealant material to a target site on tissue, said method comprising: providing a reservoir of the sealant material; heating the sealant material; applying the heated sealant material to the target site under conditions which denature surface proteins in the tissue at the target site; applying RF energy from an external probe to the sealant material; and allowing the sealant material to cool and set at the target site.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for applying a sealant material to a target site on tissue, said method comprising: providing a reservoir of the sealant material; heating the sealant material; applying the heated sealant material to the target site under conditions which denature surface proteins in the tissue at the target site; applying RF energy from an external probe to the sealant material; and allowing the sealant material to cool and set at the target site.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sealant material is heated to a temperature from 70° C. to 110° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sealant material comprises at least one of a biologic polymer and a synthetic organic polymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the sealant material is a biologic polymer comprising a protein selected from the group consisting of collagen, fibrin, fibrogen, elastin, serum albumin, fibronectin, hemoglobin, ovalbumin and combinations thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the sealant material is a synthetic organic polymer selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, glycolic acid, hydroxybutyrate, phosphazine, polyester, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylamide, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, poly-vinylpyrrolidon, poly-vinyl-alcohol, polyacrylic acid, polylactate, polycaprolactone, polypropylene, nylon and combinations thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the sealant material is present at from 25% to 75% by weight in a liquid carrier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the sealant material comprises collagen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the sealant material comprises gelatin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the liquid carrier comprises an aqueous solution of polyethylene glycol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sealant material is heated by extruding the sealant material through a heated lumen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heated sealant material is applied to form a layer on a wound in tissue, the method further comprising approximating the tissue together over the wound.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the applying step comprises substantially filling a body cavity with the sealant material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the wound is a surgical incision or puncture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the wound is present in the serosal and underlying tissue of an internal body organ.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the internal body organ is selected from the group consisting of small and large bowels, lungs, stomach, liver, esophagus, bladder, uterus, ovaries and spleen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the wound is present in muscle tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heated sealant material is applied to at least one of the ends of first and second vessels, the method further comprising pressing the ends of the first vessel to the second vessel to bond the vessels to each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heated sealant material is applied to a hole in a vessel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heated sealant material is applied between a skin graft and muscle tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heated sealant material is applied onto a fallopian tube to reconstruct said tube.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for closing a wound in tissue comprising: housing a supply of sealant material within a reservoir of an applicator having a shaft with distal and proximal ends; heating the sealant material; sensing a temperature of the sealant material during the heating step; positioning the distal end of the applicator shaft adjacent the wound; discharging the sealant material through the distal end of the applicator shaft to apply the sealant material to the wound; and allowing the sealant material to cool and set at the wound.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for closing a wound in tissue comprising: housing a supply of sealant material within a reservoir of an applicator having a shaft with distal and proximal ends; heating the sealant material; sensing a temperature of the sealant material during the heating step; positioning the distal end of the applicator shaft adjacent the wound; discharging the sealant material through the distal end of the applicator shaft to apply the sealant material to the wound; and allowing the sealant material to cool and set at the wound.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 21 further including the step of introducing the distal end of the applicator shaft through a percutaneous penetration in the patient to or near a surgical incision or puncture in an internal body organ.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the sealant material is heated by extruding the sealant material through a heated lumen near the distal end of the applicator shaft.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 21 further including loading a solidified sealant plug into the introducer shaft, melting the sealant plug and discharging the melted sealant plug through the distal end of the introducer shaft.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 21 further including loading a volume of sealant material into a reservoir within the applicator, the discharging step including discharging a portion of the volume of sealant material through the distal end of the applicator shaft.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the sealant material is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the sealant material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the discharging step includes extruding the melted sealant material onto the wound.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the sealant material is heated to a temperature sufficient to denature surface proteins on the tissue when the sealant material is applied to the wound.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the sealant material is heated to a temperature greater than 60° C.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the sealant material is heated to a temperature from 70° C. to 110° C.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the sealant material comprises at least one of a biologic polymer and a synthetic organic polymer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the sealant material comprises a protein selected from the group consisting of collagen, fibrin, fibrogen, elastin, serum albumin, fibronectin, hemoglobin, ovalbumin and combinations thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the sealant material is a synthetic organic polymer selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, glycolic acid, hydroxybutyrate, phosphazine, polyester, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylamide, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, poly-vinylpyrrolidon, poly-vinyl-alcohol, polyacrylic acid, polylactate, polycaprolactone, polypropylene, nylon and combinations thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the sealant material is present at from 25% to 75% by weight in a liquid carrier.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the sealant material comprises fibrous collagen.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the sealant material comprises gelatin.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of applying thermal energy to the sealant material after the discharging step and before the allowing step to facilitate bonding between the sealant material and surface proteins on the tissue surrounding the wound.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the applying thermal energy step includes applying RF energy from an external probe.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the applying thermal energy step includes applying energy from the group consisting of electrical energy, heat energy, laser energy and ultrasonic energy.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for closing a wound in tissue comprising: housing a supply of sealant material within a reservoir of an applicator having a shaft with distal and proximal ends; heating the sealant material; positioning the distal end of the applicator shaft adjacent the wound; discharging the sealant material through the distal end of the applicator shaft to apply the sealant material to the wound; applying thermal energy to the sealant material after the discharging step to facilitate bonding between the sealant material and surface proteins on the tissue surrounding the wound; and allowing the sealant material to cool and set at the wound.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for closing a wound in tissue comprising: housing a supply of sealant material within a reservoir of an applicator having a shaft with distal and proximal ends; heating the sealant material; positioning the distal end of the applicator shaft adjacent the wound; discharging the sealant material through the distal end of the applicator shaft to apply the sealant material to the wound; applying thermal energy to the sealant material after the discharging step to facilitate bonding between the sealant material and surface proteins on the tissue surrounding the wound; and allowing the sealant material to cool and set at the wound.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 40 further including the step of introducing the distal end of the applicator shaft through a percutaneous penetration in the patient to or near a surgical incision or puncture in an internal body organ.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the sealant material is heated by extruding the sealant material through a heated lumen near the distal end of the applicator shaft.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 40 further including loading a solidified sealant plug into the introducer shaft, melting the sealant plug and discharging the melted sealant plug through the distal end of the introducer shaft.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 40 further including loading a volume of sealant material into a reservoir within the applicator, the discharging step including discharging a portion of the volume of sealant material through the distal end of the applicator shaft.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 40 further including sensing a temperature of the sealant material during the heating step.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the sealant material is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the sealant material.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the discharging step includes extruding the melted sealant material onto the wound.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the sealant material is heated to a temperature sufficient to denature surface proteins on the tissue when the sealant material is applied to the wound.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the sealant material is heated to a temperature greater than 60° C.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the sealant material is heated to a temperature from 70° C. to 110° C.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the sealant material comprises at least one of a biologic polymer and a synthetic organic polymer.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the sealant material comprises a protein selected from the group consisting of collagen, fibrin, fibrogen, elastin, serum albumin, fibronectin, hemoglobin, ovalbumin and combinations thereof.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the sealant material is a synthetic organic polymer selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, glycolic acid, hydroxybutyrate, phosphazine, polyester, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylamide, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, poly-vinylpyrrolidon, poly-vinyl-alcohol, polyacrylic acid, polylactate, polycaprolactone, polypropylene, nylon and combinations thereof.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 51 wherein the sealant material is present at from 25% to 75% by weight in a liquid carrier.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 54 wherein the sealant material comprises fibrous collagen.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 54 wherein the sealant material comprises gelatin.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the applying thermal energy step includes applying RF energy from an external probe.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the applying thermal energy step includes applying energy from the group consisting of electrical energy, heat energy, laser energy and ultrasonic energy.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-19 | 2002-10-19 | 2003-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-19 | 2006-10-19 | 2007-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-19 | 2010-10-19 | 2011-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |