TISSUE CONNECTOR WITH TISSUE GRASPING PROTRUSIONS EQUALLY SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF THE CONNECTOR AT SUCCESSIVE AXIAL LOCATIONS
A tissue connector has a first end, a second end, a body with a periphery and a plurality of tissue grasping protrusions extending from said periphery of said body. The plurality of protrusions are adapted to grasp tissue in one direction of movement of the connector through tissue and are not adapted to grasp tissue in an opposite direction of movement of the connector through tissue. At axial locations of said body, three of said protrusions are about equally located about the periphery of said body. At axial locations on a cylindrical periphery of the body, protrusions are located at about 120 degree spacings.
1 . A tissue connector comprising:
an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a periphery, and a plurality of protrusions projecting from said periphery of the body,
wherein a first portion of said protrusions extend along a portion of said body and are oriented in one direction and a second portion of said protrusions extend along another portion of said body and are oriented in an opposite direction, the protrusions being adapted to grasp tissue in one direction of movement of the connector through tissue and are not adapted to grasp tissue in an opposite direction of movement of the connector through tissue; and
wherein at an axial location of said body, three of said protrusions are about equally positioned about the periphery of the body.
2 . The tissue connector of claim 1 wherein:
said three protrusions are spaced at intervals of about 120 degrees about the periphery of the body at a cross-section.
3 . The tissue connector of claim 1 wherein:
at each of a plurality of axial locations of said body, three said protrusions, oriented in one direction, are about equally and circumferentially spread about the circular periphery of the body.
4 . A tissue connector comprising:
an elongated body having a first end, a second end, a periphery, and a plurality of protrusions projecting from said periphery of the body,
wherein said protrusions extend along a portion of said body and are oriented in one direction, the protrusions are adapted to grasp tissue in one direction of movement of the connector through tissue and are not adapted to grasp tissue in an opposite direction of movement of the connector through tissue; and
wherein at an axial location of said body, three of said protrusions are about equally positioned about the periphery of the body.
5 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
said three protrusions are spaced at intervals of about 120 degrees about the periphery of the body at a cross-section.
6 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
said body periphery is one of triangular shaped and cylinder shaped.
7 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
said body periphery is non-circular cross-sectional shape.
8 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
said protrusions are triangular in cross-section.
9 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
wherein said body is triangular shaped with three edges and said protrusions are formed into said edges.
10 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
said body is one of rectangular shaped with edges and hexagonal shaped with edges, and said protrusions are located respectively one the edges of the rectangular shaped body and on the edges of the hexagonal shaped body.
11 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
at said axial location of said body one of less than three protrusions and more than three protrusions are formed.
12 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
connector is formed of one of a bioabsorbable material and a non-bioabsorbable material.
13 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
said connector is formed of a first material and a second material with superior strength to said first material.
14 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
said body is made of bioabsorbent material consisting of one of: polyglycolic acid polymer, polyglycolic acid copolymer, polylactic acid polymer and polylactic acid copolymer.
15 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
said protrusions are arranged in a helical pattern on the body.
16 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein:
said connector is configured to minimize at least one of scarring and tissue necrosis.
17 . The tissue connector of claim 4 including:
a needle at the first end of the body and an anchor at the second end of the body.
18 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein said protrusions are barbs.
19 . The tissue connector of claim 4 wherein said tissue connector is a one-way tissue connector.
20 . A tissue connector comprising:
an elongated body with a circular cross-sectional shape having a first end, a second end, a circular periphery, and a plurality of protrusions projecting from said circular periphery of the body,
wherein said protrusions extend along a portion of said body and are oriented in one direction, the protrusions are adapted to grasp tissue in one direction of movement of the connection through tissue and are not adapted to grasp tissue in an opposite direction of movement of the connection through tissue; and
wherein at each of a plurality of axial locations of said body, three said protrusions, oriented in one direction, are about equally and circumferentially spread about the circular periphery of the body.