Surgical implant
View Patent ↗An implant is disclosed including a bio-compatible implant body that can be provided with a tip, or interconnected by one or more filaments. The implant body can be formed of a variety of biocompatible materials, including bio-remodelable materials such as small intestine submucosa. Methods are disclosed for assembly of the implant. Additionally, a method is disclosed for delivering the implant to a desired location in a patient.
1. A method of implanting a medical device into a target tissue for bulking the tissue, the method comprising:
inserting a distal end of an elongate device comprising a needle into a target tissue, the needle having a lumen therethrough;
providing a linked implant, the linked implant comprising a plurality of implant bodies and a first filament, the plurality of implant bodies disposed on the first filament;
delivering the linked implant through the lumen into the tissue bulking the tissue by inserting the linked implant into the tissue; and
withdrawing the elongate device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering the elongate device to the target tissue through an endoscope.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a guidewire into the target tissue to maintain access to the target tissue and withdrawing the needle.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising delivering the elongate device over the guidewire and into the target tissue.
5. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing one or more of the implant bodies comprising a passageway and inserting a guidewire through the passageway.
6. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing a pusher tool inserted through the lumen of the elongate device to push the linked implant into the target tissue.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repositioning the elongate device and distributing the implant bodies throughout the target tissue.
8. The method of claim 1 , comprising delivering the linked implant to the lower esophageal sphincter.
9. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing the implant bodies on a net of filaments.
10. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing the implant bodies on the filament so that the spacing between the implant bodies is non-uniform.
11. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing the implant bodies comprising a bio-remodelable material.
12. The method of claim 11 , comprising providing the implant bodies comprising an extracellular matrix.
13. The method of claim 11 , comprising providing the implant bodies comprising submucosa.
14. The method of claim 1 comprising providing the implant bodies comprising one or more strips of material that are coiled together.
15. A method of implanting a medical device into a target tissue for bulking the tissue, the method comprising:
providing a linked implant, the linked implant comprising a plurality of implant bodies and a first filament, the plurality of implant bodies disposed on the first filament, one or more of the implant bodies comprising a passageway therethrough;
inserting a guidewire through the passageway;
inserting a distal end of the guidewire into a target tissue;
delivering the linked implant over the guidewire into the target tissue bulking the tissue by inserting the linked implant into the tissue; and
withdrawing the guidewire.
16. The method of claim 15 , comprising providing a pusher tool inserted through the lumen of the elongate device to push the linked implant into the target tissue.