US6350274B1 — Soft tissue closure systems

Claim 1

Independent Claim 173 words

An implant delivery device for delivering an implant member to an incision at a wall of a lumen within a living body, said implant delivery device comprising: a cannula extending along an axial direction and having a distal portion to be introduced into the incision, the distal portion configured to suppress movement of the implant member relative to the cannula in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction; a retaining member slidably positioned within the cannula for maintaining the implant member at the distal portion of the cannula during delivery of the implant member at the incision at the wall of the lumen, the retaining member including a solid plate disposed at a distal end thereof for engaging the implant member; and a detector fixedly attached to the cannula for detecting the body fluid flowing in the lumen and thereby locating the implant member at the wall of the lumen, the implant member being simultaneously releasable and maintained at the wall of the lumen by withdrawal of the cannula from the incision.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 173 words

An implant delivery device for delivering an implant member to an incision at a wall of a lumen within a living body, said implant delivery device comprising: a cannula extending along an axial direction and having a distal portion to be introduced into the incision, the distal portion configured to suppress movement of the implant member relative to the cannula in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction; a retaining member slidably positioned within the cannula for maintaining the implant member at the distal portion of the cannula during delivery of the implant member at the incision at the wall of the lumen, the retaining member including a solid plate disposed at a distal end thereof for engaging the implant member; and a detector fixedly attached to the cannula for detecting the body fluid flowing in the lumen and thereby locating the implant member at the wall of the lumen, the implant member being simultaneously releasable and maintained at the wall of the lumen by withdrawal of the cannula from the incision.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 71 words

The implant delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the detector includes a wall forming a tube, the tube having a proximal end to be disposed external to the living body, and a distal end to be inserted into the living body, the wall forming an entry hole for enabling fluid from the lumen to enter the tube, the entry hole being formed proximate to the distal end of the tube.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The implant delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the distal end of the tube is sealed; and the tube is configured to convey the fluid toward the proximal end of the tube.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The implant delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the wall forming a tube forms an exit hole for enabling fluid to exit the tube, the exit hole being formed proximate to the proximal end of the tube.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

The implant delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the wall forming a tube forms an exit hole for enabling fluid to exit the tube, the exit hole being formed proximate to the proximal end of the tube, and wherein the detector further includes a pressure monitor connected to the exit hole.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The implant delivery device of claim 5 , wherein the pressure monitor is configured to detect a pressure of air within the tube.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The implant delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the detector includes a pressure sensor positioned at a distal portion of the cannula.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 129 words

The implant delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the implant member is a compressed bioresorbable implant member disposed within the distal portion of the cannula, the implant member being radially expandable, when wetted, from a compressed state to an uncompressed state, and having, in its compressed state, a volume expansion rate ranging from 2 cm 3 /cm 3 to 100 cm 3 /cm 3 , a pore size ranging from 0.5 μm to 50 μm, and a density ranging from 0.05 g/cm 3 to 1 g/cm 3 ; and having, in its uncompressed state, a pore size ranging from 100 μm to 1,000 μm, a density ranging from 0.01 g/cm 3 to 0.1 g/cm 3 , and a relaxation recovery time ranging from 1 second to 60 seconds.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 101 words

The implant delivery device of claim 8 , wherein, in its compressed state, the implant member has a volume expansion rate ranging from 10 cm 3 /cm 3 to 30 cm 3 /cm 3 , a pore size ranging from 1 μm to 10 μm, and a density ranging from 0.1 g/cm 3 to 0.3 g/cm 3 ; and in its uncompressed state, the implant member has a pore size ranging from 200 μm to 400 μm, a density ranging from 0.02 g/cm 3 to 0.06 g/cm 3 , and a relaxation recovery time ranging from 1 second to 20 seconds.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The implant delivery device of claim 9 , wherein the implant member is made of a biocompatible and biopolymeric material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

The implant delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the biocompatible and biopolymeric material is collagen.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The implant delivery device of claim 8 , wherein the implant member is made of a biocompatible and biopolymeric material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 16 words

The implant delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the biocompatible and biopolymeric material is collagen.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

The implant delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the cannula is sized so that the implant member is held in the distal portion by tension.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

The implant delivery device of claim 14 , wherein the distal portion of the cannula has an inner diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the implant member.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 122 words

A method of closing an incision in a wall of a lumen, said method comprising: engaging an implant member within a distal portion of a cannula; positioning the distal portion of the cannula within the incision; moving a detector fixedly attached to the cannula to detect the presence of body fluid flowing in the lumen, thereby locating the implant member at the wall of the lumen; and maintaining the implant member at the wall of the lumen by applying a pressure to a proximal end of a retaining member having a solid plate engaging the implant member, and while the pressure is thus applied to the proximal end of the retaining member, removing the distal portion of the cannula from the incision.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 122 words

A method of closing an incision in a wall of a lumen, said method comprising: engaging an implant member within a distal portion of a cannula; positioning the distal portion of the cannula within the incision; moving a detector fixedly attached to the cannula to detect the presence of body fluid flowing in the lumen, thereby locating the implant member at the wall of the lumen; and maintaining the implant member at the wall of the lumen by applying a pressure to a proximal end of a retaining member having a solid plate engaging the implant member, and while the pressure is thus applied to the proximal end of the retaining member, removing the distal portion of the cannula from the incision.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of claim 16 , wherein moving the detector includes providing a wall forming a tube having a sealed distal end and an entry hole through the wall near the sealed distal end for enabling body fluid from the lumen enter the tube, and iteratively moving the entry hole into and out of the lumen to locate the implant member at the wall of the lumen.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 17 , wherein moving the entry hole into the lumen causes the body fluid to be conveyed through the tube to an opening at a proximal end of the tube external to the living body.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 16 , wherein moving the detector includes iteratively moving a pressure sensor into and out of the lumen, and monitoring the difference between a pressure within the lumen and a pressure outside the lumen, thereby locating the implant member at the wall of the lumen.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method of claim 16 , wherein moving the detector includes providing a pressure sensor at the distal Portion of the cannula, iteratively moving the pressure sensor into and out of the lumen, and monitoring the difference between a pressure within the lumen and a pressure external to the lumen, thereby locating the implant member at the wall of the lumen.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 16 , wherein maintaining the implant member at the wall of the lumen includes slidably positioning a retaining member within the cannula, with a distal end of the retaining member contacting a proximal end of the implant member during removal of the cannula.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 130 words

A method of closing an incision extending through a wall of a lumen within a living body, said method comprising: providing an implant delivery device having a cannula extending in an axial direction and having a distal portion for insertion into the incision, and a detector fixedly attached to the cannula for detecting body fluid flowing in the lumen; placing an implant member on a flat plate within the distal portion of the cannula; positioning the implant delivery device within the incision; moving the implant delivery device to detect the presence of body fluid flowing in the lumen, thereby locating the implant member at the wall of the lumen; and maintaining the implant member at the wall of the lumen while simultaneously removing the implant delivery device from the incision.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 130 words

A method of closing an incision extending through a wall of a lumen within a living body, said method comprising: providing an implant delivery device having a cannula extending in an axial direction and having a distal portion for insertion into the incision, and a detector fixedly attached to the cannula for detecting body fluid flowing in the lumen; placing an implant member on a flat plate within the distal portion of the cannula; positioning the implant delivery device within the incision; moving the implant delivery device to detect the presence of body fluid flowing in the lumen, thereby locating the implant member at the wall of the lumen; and maintaining the implant member at the wall of the lumen while simultaneously removing the implant delivery device from the incision.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-02-25	2005-08-27	2006-02-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-02-25	2009-08-27	2010-02-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-02-25	2013-08-27	2014-02-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Soft tissue closure systems

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