Tissue ligation devices and controls therefor
View Patent ↗Described here are devices for closing one or more tissues, and handles for controlling these devices. Generally, the devices described here comprise a snare loop assembly, wherein the snare loop assembly comprises a snare and a suture loop, and a handle for controlling the snare loop assembly. In some variations the snare loop assembly may comprise a retention member that may releasably connect the suture loop to the snare. In other variations the devices comprise one or more force-reducing suture locks to help prevent the suture loop from inadvertently disengaging from the snare loop assembly. In still other variations, the excess-suture management features. The handles described here may be configured to remove excess suture from a suture loop, and may also be configured to release the suture loop from the snare loop assembly.
1. A tissue closure device comprising:
an elongate body;
a snare comprising a snare loop that at least partially extends outside of the elongate body, wherein the snare has a proximal end that is connected to a first member;
a suture loop releasably coupled to the snare loop, and
a suture hook comprising a spring, wherein a proximal end of the suture hook is attached to the first member and a distal end of the suture hook releasably retains a portion of the suture loop; and
wherein the first member is moveable within the elongate body to move the snare and the suture hook.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first member comprises a hypotube.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein a proximal end of the spring attaches to the first member.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the spring is disposed around the snare.
5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve having a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein the suture hook passes through the first lumen and the snare passes through the second lumen.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the sleeve is fixed relative to the snare.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the tissue closure device further comprises a retention member releasably coupling the suture loop to the snare loop.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the elongate body comprises a first lumen and a second lumen.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein a distal end of the snare is releasably held in a tip portion of the elongate body.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the distal end of the snare is connected to a frangible member, and wherein breaking the connection between the snare and the frangible member releases the snare from the tip portion.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein the suture loop comprises a suture knot, and wherein a tip portion of the elongate body comprises a recess for housing the suture knot.