Patent US5972023A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5972023A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantation device for an aortic graft method of treating aortic aneurysm
Assignee: EVA Corp
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Filing: 1996-08-05
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Granted: 1999-10-26
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Expires: 2016-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A surgical stapler and method for implanting an aortic graft with staples to treat an aortic aneurysm. A prosthetic graft is implanted within the aorta to functionally replace the segment of the aorta damaged by an aneurysm. The stapler would typically be used where the graft is to be attached to an area of the aorta which lacks sufficient healthy tissue to ensure secure attachment by conventional fasteners such as when an aneurysm develops near the iliac arteries. The graft is implanted with staples fired from the surgical stapler. The stapler consists of a stapling device attached to the end of a modified catheter by a hinge. In order to allow greater flexibility in positioning the staples, a mechanism may be used to move the stapling device into the desired angle or position to implant the staple. The stapler may be positioned and fired by remote control. The staples consist of a base member, posts located at both ends of the base member and radiating away from the base member, and a hook attached to the distal end of each shank. The hook may also consist of several barbs. The barbs may be orientated inward to minimize injury to surrounding tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard Miles Tanner
- 👤 Hugh Henry Trout, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/068; A61B17/064; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00544; A61B2017/0647; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/04; A61F2/06; A61F2/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A device having a distal end for temporary introduction into an animal for attaching a repair member to an animal vessel, and a proximal end interconnected to said distal end for use external of the animal, said device comprising: means for storing plural attachment members for attaching the repair member to the vessel wherein said means for storing plural attachment members being located at said distal end of said device; and means for inserting one of said attachment members at a time through the repair member and the vessel to thereby connect the repair member and the vessel, wherein said means for inserting being located at said distal end of said device; means for controlling the operation of said means for storing and means for inserting such that said means for storing delivers one attachment member at a time to said means for inserting and said means for inserting applies pressure to said attachment member to insert the attachment member through the repair member and the vessel, wherein said means for controlling being located at said proximate end.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
A device having a distal end for temporary introduction into an animal for attaching a repair member to an animal vessel, and a proximal end interconnected to said distal end for use external of the animal, said device comprising: means for storing plural attachment members for attaching the repair member to the vessel wherein said means for storing plural attachment members being located at said distal end of said device; and means for inserting one of said attachment members at a time through the repair member and the vessel to thereby connect the repair member and the vessel, wherein said means for inserting being located at said distal end of said device; means for controlling the operation of said means for storing and means for inserting such that said means for storing delivers one attachment member at a time to said means for inserting and said means for inserting applies pressure to said attachment member to insert the attachment member through the repair member and the vessel, wherein said means for controlling being located at said proximate end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said repair member comprises a surgical graft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said means for storing comprises a multi-chambered cylinder, wherein one attachment member is stored in each chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said distal end comprises a cylinder and said means for storing is co-axial with and rotatable within said distal end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the rotation of said means for storing aligns a chamber therein with the means for inserting such that an attachment member may be delivered from said chamber to the means for inserting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said means for storing is removably attached to said distal end such that said storing means is removable to thereby permit reloading the distal end of the device with attachment members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The device of claim 1 wherein an attachment member comprises a staple having a head connecting first and second prongs, wherein said prongs are compressed together while the staple is in the means for storing and wherein the ends of the prongs distal from said head separate from each other after the prongs are inserted through the repair member and the vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the staple prongs are comprised of wire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the staple prongs are comprised of flat strip material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 7 further comprising at least one barb extending from the staple prongs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the staple prongs are twisted around each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 wherein an attachment member comprises a means for drilling through a hardened vessel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 wherein an attachment member comprises a screw and the means for inserting comprises means for rotationally driving a screw through the repair member and the vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 13 further comprising at least one barb extending from the screw.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising means connected to said distal end for delivering pressurized air from said proximate end of said device to the means for inserting to power said inserting means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 15 further comprising means connected to said distal end for delivering pressurized air from said proximate end of said device to the means for storing to power said storing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising means connected to said distal end for delivering electricity from said proximate end of said device to the means for inserting to power said inserting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising an elongated catheter connecting the proximal and distal ends of the device and wherein said distal end is selectively orientable relative to said catheter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 18 wherein the distal end is rotatable and angularly pivotable relative to said catheter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 18 further comprising an inflatable sleeve for maintaining the position of said catheter within the animal vessel wherein said inflatable sleeve being located on said catheter adjacent said distal end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising means for providing a visual representation of the vessel surrounding the distal end of the device, said means being located adjacent said distal end.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1 further comprising ultrasound means for determining the condition of the vessel, said ultrasound means being located adjacent said distal end.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
227 words
A device having a distal end for temporary introduction into an animal for attaching a surgical graft to an animal blood vessel, and a proximal end interconnected to said distal end for use external of the animal, said device comprising: a multi-chambered cylinder, co-axial and rotatable within the distal end, for storing an attachment member in each chamber, said cylinder being located at said distal end; at least one attachment member to attach the surgical graft to the vessel; means for inserting attachment members through the surgical graft and into the vessel to thereby connect the graft and the vessel, said inserting means being located at said distal end, said multi-chambered cylinder supplying said inserting means with attachment members; means located at said distal end for providing a visual representation of the vessel surrounding the distal end of the device; means located at said proximate end for (i) controlling the rotation of said multi-chambered cylinder so that each chamber thereof may be aligned in turn with the means for inserting to provide an attachment member to the means for inserting and for (ii) controlling the insertion of an attachment member by the means for inserting through the graft and into the vessel; and an elongated catheter connecting the proximal and distal ends and providing means for delivering electricity and pressurized air between said proximal and distal ends.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
227 words
A device having a distal end for temporary introduction into an animal for attaching a surgical graft to an animal blood vessel, and a proximal end interconnected to said distal end for use external of the animal, said device comprising: a multi-chambered cylinder, co-axial and rotatable within the distal end, for storing an attachment member in each chamber, said cylinder being located at said distal end; at least one attachment member to attach the surgical graft to the vessel; means for inserting attachment members through the surgical graft and into the vessel to thereby connect the graft and the vessel, said inserting means being located at said distal end, said multi-chambered cylinder supplying said inserting means with attachment members; means located at said distal end for providing a visual representation of the vessel surrounding the distal end of the device; means located at said proximate end for (i) controlling the rotation of said multi-chambered cylinder so that each chamber thereof may be aligned in turn with the means for inserting to provide an attachment member to the means for inserting and for (ii) controlling the insertion of an attachment member by the means for inserting through the graft and into the vessel; and an elongated catheter connecting the proximal and distal ends and providing means for delivering electricity and pressurized air between said proximal and distal ends.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of implanting a repair member in a vessel, using an implantation device comprising positioning means, means for storing plural attachment means, implanting means for implanting said attachment means to implant the repair member in the vessel, and control means for controlling the operation of said implantation device, wherein said implantation device has a distal end and said means for storing being located in said distal end, said method comprising the steps of: gaining access to the vessel, sufficient to allow passage of the repair member and at least the distal end of the implantation device into the vessel to a point of repair; assessing the parameters of the vessel being repaired and selecting an appropriate repair member for the vessel; passing the repair member and at least the distal end of the implantation device into the vessel to a level at which the repair is to be effected; implanting a distal end of the repair member in the vessel; stabilizing the implantation device in the vessel being repaired; maneuvering the implantation device at a caudel end of the repair member; actuating the implanting means to implant the attachment means from the storing means circumferentially around the caudel end of the repair member without removing the implantation device from the vessel, until no leaks are detected; removing the implantation device; and sealing access to the vessel.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of implanting a repair member in a vessel, using an implantation device comprising positioning means, means for storing plural attachment means, implanting means for implanting said attachment means to implant the repair member in the vessel, and control means for controlling the operation of said implantation device, wherein said implantation device has a distal end and said means for storing being located in said distal end, said method comprising the steps of: gaining access to the vessel, sufficient to allow passage of the repair member and at least the distal end of the implantation device into the vessel to a point of repair; assessing the parameters of the vessel being repaired and selecting an appropriate repair member for the vessel; passing the repair member and at least the distal end of the implantation device into the vessel to a level at which the repair is to be effected; implanting a distal end of the repair member in the vessel; stabilizing the implantation device in the vessel being repaired; maneuvering the implantation device at a caudel end of the repair member; actuating the implanting means to implant the attachment means from the storing means circumferentially around the caudel end of the repair member without removing the implantation device from the vessel, until no leaks are detected; removing the implantation device; and sealing access to the vessel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said attachment means comprises a surgical staple.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said vessel is an aneurysm that is calcified and wherein said attachment means comprises a screw adapted to penetrate calcified areas of the aorta.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The methods of claim 24, wherein said method further comprises the step of using visualization means positioned within the distal end of the implantation device to determine the position of the implantation means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The methods of claim 24, wherein said method further comprises the step of using ultrasound means positioned within the distal end of the implantation device for determining the condition and status of the vessel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-25 | 2003-04-26 | 2003-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-25 | 2007-04-26 | 2007-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-25 | 2011-04-26 | 2011-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |