US7048754B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suture fasteners and methods of use
Assignee: Evalve Inc
•
Filing: 2002-03-01
•
Granted: 2006-05-23
•
Expires: 2022-03-01
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides apparatuses, systems, methods and kits for fastening sutures or similar devices used in medical surgical procedures. In particular, the present invention is suitable for use with percutaneous or minimally invasive procedures in which sutures are placed with catheter-based devices wherein the tying of knots is particularly challenging. Suture fasteners of the present invention provide for fastening the sutures together in a fixed position at any location along the suture strands. In addition, the fasteners are adjustable to allow repositioning of the fastener after placement to a new desired location along the suture strands. Similarly, such fasteners may be used to hold a single suture strand for various applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian B. Martin
- 👤 Troy L. Thornton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0487; A61B17/0469; A61B50/00; A61B50/30; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B17/0401; A61B2017/0409; A61B2017/0416; A61B2017/0417; A61B17/06; A61B17/06166; A61B2017/06176; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for securing two or more suture strands together, comprising the steps of: providing at least one fastening element comprised of a shape-recovery material, wherein the element is in a tensioned position for engaging the suture strands while allowing sliding of the element relative to the suture strands, and wherein the element comprises a coil where each turn of the coil includes two or more suture retention loops; engaging the suture strands with the element, wherein the engaging step comprises positioning the suture strands along a path through at least a portion of the element, and wherein positioning includes positioning the suture strands through two or more suture retention loops; and transitioning the element to a relaxed shape-recovery position wherein the strands are in a fixed position relative to the element or to each other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for securing two or more suture strands together, comprising the steps of: providing at least one fastening element comprised of a shape-recovery material, wherein the element is in a tensioned position for engaging the suture strands while allowing sliding of the element relative to the suture strands, and wherein the element comprises a coil where each turn of the coil includes two or more suture retention loops; engaging the suture strands with the element, wherein the engaging step comprises positioning the suture strands along a path through at least a portion of the element, and wherein positioning includes positioning the suture strands through two or more suture retention loops; and transitioning the element to a relaxed shape-recovery position wherein the strands are in a fixed position relative to the element or to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the engaging step comprises positioning a first suture strand along a first path and a second suture strand along a second path which differs from the first path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the suture retention loops of each coil turn are disposed in diametrical opposition when the element is in the relaxed shape-recovery position, and the positioning step includes positioning the suture strands through successive suture retention loops so that the strands follow a tortuous path when the element is in the relaxed shape-recovery position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the providing step comprises loading the element on a loading tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the providing step comprises providing the element loaded on or within a loading tool.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 4 or 5 , wherein the transitioning step comprises releasing the element from the loading tool.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising sliding the element along the suture strands to a desired position prior to the transitioning step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the position of the element along the suture strands after the transitioning step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 8 , wherein the adjusting step comprises: transitioning the element to the tensioned position; and moving the element in relation to the suture strands.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for securing two or more suture strands together, comprising the steps of: providing at least one fastening element comprised of a shape-recovery material, wherein the element is in a tensioned position for engaging the suture strands while allowing sliding of the element relative to the suture strands, wherein the element comprises an elongate wire, ribbon, rod, filament, shaft, mesh or woven sheet having two or more apertures along its length; engaging the suture strands with the element, wherein the engaging step comprises positioning the suture strands along a path through at least a portion of the element, wherein positioning includes positioning the suture strands through at least two apertures and positioning the suture strands through the apertures in a stitching fashion; and transitioning the element to a relaxed shape-recovery position wherein the strands are in a fixed position relative to the element or to each other.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for securing two or more suture strands together, comprising the steps of: providing at least one fastening element comprised of a shape-recovery material, wherein the element is in a tensioned position for engaging the suture strands while allowing sliding of the element relative to the suture strands, wherein the element comprises an elongate wire, ribbon, rod, filament, shaft, mesh or woven sheet having two or more apertures along its length; engaging the suture strands with the element, wherein the engaging step comprises positioning the suture strands along a path through at least a portion of the element, wherein positioning includes positioning the suture strands through at least two apertures and positioning the suture strands through the apertures in a stitching fashion; and transitioning the element to a relaxed shape-recovery position wherein the strands are in a fixed position relative to the element or to each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 10 , wherein the engaging step comprises positioning a first suture strand along a first path and a second suture strand along a second path which differs from the first path.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 10 , wherein the providing step comprises loading the element on a loading tool.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 10 , wherein the providing step comprises providing the element loaded on or within a loading tool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 12 or 13 , wherein the transitioning step comprises releasing the element from the loading tool.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 10 , further comprising sliding the element along the suture strands to a desired position prior to the transitioning step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 10 , further comprising adjusting the position of the element along the suture strands after the transitioning step.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for securing two or more suture strands together, comprising the steps of: providing at least one fastening element comprised of a shape-recovery material, wherein the element is in a tensioned position for engaging the suture strands while allowing sliding of the element relative to the suture strands, wherein the element comprises an elongate wire, ribbon, rod, filament or shaft; engaging the suture strands with the element; and transitioning the element to a relaxed shape-recovery position wherein the strands are in a fixed position relative to the element or to each other, the engaging step comprising positioning the suture strands near at least two elements so that the elements capture the suture strands during the transitioning step by interlocking with each other.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for securing two or more suture strands together, comprising the steps of: providing at least one fastening element comprised of a shape-recovery material, wherein the element is in a tensioned position for engaging the suture strands while allowing sliding of the element relative to the suture strands, wherein the element comprises an elongate wire, ribbon, rod, filament or shaft; engaging the suture strands with the element; and transitioning the element to a relaxed shape-recovery position wherein the strands are in a fixed position relative to the element or to each other, the engaging step comprising positioning the suture strands near at least two elements so that the elements capture the suture strands during the transitioning step by interlocking with each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 17 , wherein the engaging step comprises positioning a first suture strand along a first path and a second suture strand along a second path which differs from the first path.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 17 , wherein the providing step comprises loading the element on a loading tool.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 17 , wherein the providing step comprises providing the element loaded on or within a loading tool.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 19 or 20 , wherein the transitioning step comprises releasing the element from the loading tool.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 17 , further comprising sliding the element along the suture strands to a desired position prior to the transitioning step.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 17 , further comprising adjusting the position of the element along the suture strands after the transitioning step.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for securing two or more suture strands together, comprising the steps of: providing at least one fastening element comprised of a shape-recovery material, wherein the element is in a tensioned position for engaging the suture strands while allowing sliding of the element relative to the suture strands, wherein the element has a first portion having at least one first aperture and a second portion having at least one second aperture wherein the at least one first aperture is concentrically aligned with at least one second aperture; engaging the suture strands with the element, wherein the engaging step comprises positioning the suture strands along a path through at least a portion of the element, wherein positioning comprising positioning the suture strands through at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture and positioning the suture strands through apertures in a stitching fashion; and transitioning the element to a relaxed shape-recovery position wherein the strands are in a fixed position relative to the element or to each other.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for securing two or more suture strands together, comprising the steps of: providing at least one fastening element comprised of a shape-recovery material, wherein the element is in a tensioned position for engaging the suture strands while allowing sliding of the element relative to the suture strands, wherein the element has a first portion having at least one first aperture and a second portion having at least one second aperture wherein the at least one first aperture is concentrically aligned with at least one second aperture; engaging the suture strands with the element, wherein the engaging step comprises positioning the suture strands along a path through at least a portion of the element, wherein positioning comprising positioning the suture strands through at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture and positioning the suture strands through apertures in a stitching fashion; and transitioning the element to a relaxed shape-recovery position wherein the strands are in a fixed position relative to the element or to each other.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 24 , wherein the engaging step comprises positioning a first suture strand along a first path and a second suture strand along a second path which differs from the first path.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 24 , wherein the providing step comprises loading the element on a loading tool.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 24 , wherein the providing step comprises providing the element loaded on or within a loading tool.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 26 or 27 , wherein the transitioning step comprises releasing the element from the loading tool.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as in claim 24 , further comprising sliding the element along the suture strands to a desired position prior to the transitioning step.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 24 , further comprising adjusting the position of the element along the suture strands after the transitioning step.
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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) | 2009-05-22 | 2009-11-21 | 2010-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-05-22 | 2013-11-21 | 2014-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-05-22 | 2017-11-21 | 2018-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |