METHODS FOR DETERMINING CHARACTERISTICS OF AN INTERNAL TISSUE OPENING
A medical system for treating an internal tissue opening can include a closure device and associated delivery device. The closure device can include a multi-cellular body portion operatively associated with a first anchor and a second anchor. The delivery device can include an actuating assembly configured to partially deploy the closure device by a first movement, and deploy a second portion of the closure device by a second movement. The delivery device can also include a release assembly to selectively release or disconnect the closure device from the delivery device. A method of measuring a characteristic of a PFO or verifying placement of the closure device can include positioning the closure device in the PFO and utilizing two or more indicators to determine a characteristic of the PFO, such as tunnel width, or estimating placement of the closure device.
1 . A method for measuring characteristics of a tissue structure, comprising the steps of:
positioning at least a portion of a medical device in the tissue structure, said medical device comprising a multi-cellular structure, at least one anchor linked to said multi-cellular structure, and two or more indicators; and
measuring a physical characteristic of the tissue structure utilizing said two or more indicators of said medical device.
2 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said measuring a physical characteristic comprises determining the distance between two of said two or more indicators.
3 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said positioning comprises moving a delivery device linked to said medical device.
4 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said physical characteristic comprises the width of a tunnel of a PFO.
5 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said medical device comprises a PFO closure device.
6 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two or more indicators comprises a dense material associated with said medical device.
7 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said two or more indicators comprises a radiopaque material.
8 . A method for measuring the tunnel width of a Patent Foramen Ovale, comprising the steps of:
locating at least a portion of a medical device in a tunnel of the Patent Foramen Ovale of a heart, said medical device comprising a multi-cellular body portion, a first anchor linked to said multi-cellular body structure and a second anchor linked to said multi-cellular body structure;
positioning said first anchor against a left atrial wall of the heart;
deploying said second anchor; and
measuring the tunnel width of at least a portion of the tunnel of the Patent Foramen Ovale utilizing at least one of said first anchor, said second anchor or said multi-cellular body portion.
9 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein said locating comprises inserting at least a portion of a delivery device into the heart.
10 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein said positioning comprises moving a delivery device in a distal direction.
11 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein said positioning comprises moving a handle body of a delivery device.
12 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein said deploying said second anchor comprises rotating an actuating assembly of a delivery device.
13 . A method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising deploying said first anchor in the left atrium of the heart.
14 . A method as recited in claim 8 , wherein said measuring comprises measuring a distance between two or more indicators positioned on said medical device.
15 . A method for verifying the placement of a medical device, comprising the steps of:
deploying at least a portion of a first anchor of a medical device in the left atrium of a heart, said medical device comprising a multi-cellular structure operatively associated with said first anchor, a second anchor operatively associated with said multi-cellular structure, and two or more indicators;
deploying at least a portion of said second anchor in at least one of a tunnel of a Patent Foramen Ovale or the right atrium of the heart; and
estimating placement of said medical device with respect to the Patent Foramen Ovale utilizing said two or more indicators.
16 . A medical device as recited in claim 15 , wherein said first anchor is deployed by a first movement of an actuating assembly of a delivery device.
17 . A medical device as recited in claim 15 , wherein said second anchor is deployed by a second movement of the actuating assembly of a delivery device.
18 . A medical device as recited in claim 15 , wherein said two or more indicators are positioned on said first anchor.
19 . A medical device as recited in claim 15 , wherein said two or more indicators are positioned on said multi-cellular structure.
20 . A medical device as recited in claim 15 , wherein said estimating comprises determining the relative positions of said two or more indicators after said second anchor is deployed.