TISSUE FASTENER

Abstract

This tissue fastening apparatus is a tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, including: a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, the second tissue fixation portion continuing into the first tissue fixation portion, in which when falling off first and second biological tissue necrotized by being clamped between the first tissue fixation portion and the second tissue fixation portion, the tissue fastener moves only from the second tissue fixation portion to the first tissue fixation portion side and falls off.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tissue fastener for fastening tissue through a natural orifice.

2. Description of Related Art

As a technique for performing a treatment on a human organ or the like, laparoscopic surgery is known in which a treatment device is percutaneously inserted. This requires less invasion than the case of incising an abdominal region. Therefore, an early recovery is expectable.

A treatment device for use in laparoscopic surgery has a hard shaft which is percutaneously inserted into a body. At a tip of the shaft, forceps or the like are provided. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication, First Publication No 2005-193044 discloses a treatment device for use in application for joining hollow organs. In this intraluminal anastomosis apparatus, a grip device that is freely opened/closed is attached to the tip of the shaft. Into the shaft, a fastener is inserted. The fastener is capable of being pushed out from the tip of the shaft with a plunger mechanism on the hand side. The fastener is manufactured by heat-treating a shape-memory alloy in a flat coil shape. It is inserted into the shaft in an extended state. In application, the fastener is pushed out with the plunger mechanism and piercingly inserted into a body. The fastener is heated by body temperature and is restored into its original coil shape. Hollow organs are joined by the restored fastener.

Another example of providing a clamping apparatus is disclosed in PCT International Patent Publication No. WO 2002/019923 pamphlet. Here, a fastener is pushed out from a needle and is provided to tissue. Therefore, stoppers are provided for controlling the amount of depth that the needle is piercingly inserted into tissue and/or the amount of the fastener to be supplied to the tissue. When a treatment is performed, a device containing the fastener and the needle is placed against the tissue. When the needle is moved forward and piercingly inserted into the tissue, the position of the fastener is fixed with the stoppers. After this, the needle is withdrawn from the tissue. The fastener does not move due to the presence of the stoppers. Therefore, a tip portion of the fastener is left inside the tissue. When the device is detached from the tissue, the remaining part of the fastener is left outside the tissue. When the fastener assumes its original coil shape, the tissue is clamped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tissue fastener of the present invention is a tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, including: a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, the second tissue fixation portion continuing into the first tissue fixation portion, in which when falling off the first and second biological tissue necrotized by being clamped between the first tissue fixation portion and the second tissue fixation portion, the tissue fastener moves only from the second tissue fixation portion to the first tissue fixation portion side and falls off.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a tissue fastening apparatus of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view showing internal structures of a tissue fastener, a stent, and an applicator that constitute the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the tissue fastener that constitutes the above tissue fastening apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the above tissue fastener, seen in a direction different from that of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of first and second ring members provided in the above applicator in the interior of the apparatus. The upper half is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first and second ring members are arranged close to a front end of the applicator main unit. The lower half is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first and second ring members are arranged close to a rear end of the applicator main unit.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a pin for restraining the above first ring member on the second ring member.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which an insertion portion of the applicator is inserted into a work channel of an endoscope.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the insertion portion of the endoscope is inserted into a duodenum.

FIG. 8 to FIG. 14 are cross-sectional views showing how an applicator is used in the respective steps of performing a manipulation for fixing a common bile duct onto a duodenum and communicating both organs.

FIG. 15 to FIG. 42 show other forms of a tissue fastener.

FIG. 43 to FIG. 48 show a procedure of placing the tissue fastener shown in FIG. 42.

FIG. 49 to FIG. 64 show still other forms of a tissue fastener.

FIG. 64 to FIG. 75 show forms of drainages.

FIG. 76 shows another form of a stylet.

FIG. 77 to FIG. 78 show another form of a piercing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. A tissue fastening apparatus S1 of the present embodiment is, as shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus for performing a treatment of fixing second biological tissue onto first biological tissue and communicating both organs. This apparatus includes: a tissue fastener 10A; a stent 30A; and an applicator 50. Note that the first biological tissue and the second biological tissue do not necessarily refer to different organs. For example, a given region of a given organ may be taken as first biological tissue and another region of the same organ may be taken as second biological tissue, and these two regions may be fixed. In the present embodiment, a treatment of fixing a common bile duct as the second biological tissue onto a duodenum as the first biological tissue and communicating both organs will be described.

The tissue fastener 10A is a device for clamping the duodenum and the common bile duct. It includes: a first tissue fixation portion 11 that is locked on the duodenum; and a second tissue fixation portion 12 that is locked on the common bile duct adjacent to the duodenum, as shown in FIG. 2. The tissue fastener 10A is a device for clamping the duodenum and the common bile duct. It includes: a first tissue fixation portion 11 that is locked on the duodenum; and a second tissue fixation portion 12 that is locked on the common bile duct adjacent to the duodenum, as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the tissue fastener 10A includes a linking portion 13 between the first tissue fixation portion 11 and the second tissue fixation portion 12 for linking the two.

The tissue fastener 10A is made of a string of highly elastic metal wire 10 in which all the portions thereof that is, the first tissue fixation portion 11, the second tissue fixation portion 12, and the linking portion 13 are wound in a coil. Note that in this specification, the phrase “wound in a coil” includes all the cases of “wound in a cylinder,” “wound in a frustum of a cone,” and “wound in a vortex.” In the first tissue fixation portion 11, the highly elastic metal wire 10 is wound in a vortex. In the second tissue fixation portion 12, the highly elastic metal wire 10 is wound in a cylinder. An inner diameter of the first tissue fixation portion 11 is equal to that of the second tissue fixation portion 12. An outer diameter of the first tissue fixation portion 11 is larger than that of the second tissue fixation portion.

In a part of the wire positioned between the first tissue fixation portion 11 and the linking portion 13, a bent portion 14 is formed. Similarly, in a part of the wire positioned between the linking portion 13 and the second tissue fixation portion 12, a bent portion 15 is formed. The first tissue fixation portion 11 and the second tissue fixation portion 12 form coils with the same diameter. With the provision of the linking portion 13, a gap G is formed between the two.

The central axis of the coil shape of the first tissue fixation portion 11 coincides with that of the coil shape of the second tissue fixation portion 12. As shown in FIG. 3, a wire portion forming the linking portion 13 has, at the bent portion 14, an angle θ1 with respect to a wire portion forming the coil of the first tissue fixation portion 11. It also has, at the bent portion 15, an angle θ2 with respect to a wire portion forming the coil of the second tissue fixation portion 12. The angle θ1 of the bent portion 14 is substantially the same as the angle θ2 of the bent portion 15.

After the tissue fastener 10A is extended, one end thereof is inserted into biological tissue. Then, the other tissue fixation portion, for example the second tissue fixation portion 12, is penetrated through an intestinal wall of the duodenum and a duct wall of the common bile duct in this order. The second tissue fixation portion 12, which has been penetrated through the intestinal wall of the duodenum and the duct wall of the common bile duct, has its restraint released in an inside of the common bile duct to assume its original coil shape (cylindrical shape), and is locked on the common bile duct. On the other hand, the first tissue fixation portion 11 has its restraint released in an inside of the duodenum to assume its original coil shape (vortex shape), and is locked on the duodenum. With the first tissue fixation portion 11 locked on the duodenum and the second tissue fixation portion 12 locked on the common bile duct, the intestinal wall of the duodenum and the duct wall of the common bile duct are clamped so as to be pressed against each other. The linking portion 13 is placed in the interiors of the clamped walls of both organs.

The stent 30A is, as shown in FIG. 1, a device for communicating the intestinal wall of the duodenum with the duct wall of the common bile duct that are clamped by the tissue fastener 10A. It includes: an extension portion 31; a placement portion 32; a slip-off prevention portion 33; and a through-hole 34, The extension portion 31 is of a cone shape whose diameter is wider from its front end to its rear end. The placement portion 32 is of a cylindrical shape, and is disposed at the rear of the extension portion 31. The placement portion 32 has a constant outer diameter, which is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the extension portion 31. The slip-off prevention portion 33 is of a cylindrical shape, and is disposed at the rear of the placement portion 32. The slip-off prevention portion 33 has an outer diameter larger than that of the placement portion 32. The through-hole 34 penetrates through the extension portion 31 the placement portion 32, and the slip-off prevention portion 33 in the longitudinal direction of the stent 30A.

In the inside surface of the slip-off prevention portion 33, protrusions 33a that are formed in the radial directions of the stent 30A are provided. The protrusions 33a constitute a part of an attachment portion for detachably attaching the stent 30A onto a later-described sheath 54 of the applicator 50.

As a material for the stent 30A, any of stainless steel (SUS), titanium (Ti), bioabsorbable magnesium, polyethylene (PE), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polysulfone, liquid crystal polymer, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polydioxanone, polyhydroxyalkanoate, and caprolactone, or a polymer of these can be adopted. These are excellent in biocompatibility. Therefore, they will not impose an undue burden on a living body after placement of the stent 30A in the living body. Especially polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polydioxanone, polyhydroxyalkanoate, and caprolactone are advantageous because they are absorbed in a living body while they are placed in the living body for a long period of time, and finally no foreign matter is left in the living body.

The applicator 50 is a device for performing a treatment of placing the tissue fastener 10A and the stent 30A within a body. It includes: an applicator main unit 51; a piercing device 52; a stylet (a fastener pusher) 53; a sheath 54; and a stent pusher 55, as shown in FIG. 1. The applicator main unit 51 is of a cylindrical shape. The piercing device 52 is of a needle tube shape. It is used with the tissue fastener 10A being inserted thereinto. Note that electrodes may be provided at a tip of the piercing device 52 and that the piercing device 52 may be piercingly inserted into the intestinal wall of the duodenum and the duct wall of the common bile duct while burning the biological tissue. In this case, the tip of the piercing device 52 is not required to be formed sharp.

The stylet 53 is of a shaft shape. It is movably inserted inside the piercing device 52, and pushes out the tissue fastener 10A inserted into the piercing device 52 from the tip of the piercing device 52.

The sheath 54 has the piercing device 52 movably inserted into the inside thereof, and moves the stent 30A that is detachably attached onto the tip thereof, relatively to the piercing device 52.

The stent pusher 55 is of a sheath-like shape. It detaches the stent 30A, into the inside of which the sheath 54 is movably inserted and which is attached onto the front end thereof, from the sheath 54.

In the applicator main unit 51, a piercing device operation portion 56, a stylet operation portion (a fastener pusher operation portion) 57, a sheath operation portion 58, and a stent pusher operation portion 59 are provided. All of the piercing device 52, the stylet 53, the sheath 54, and the stent pusher 55 have flexibility, and are arranged coaxially. These constitute an insertion portion 60 that is inserted through a work channel of an endoscope. Obviously, the insertion portion 60 is longer than the work channel of the endoscope.

A tip face of the piercing device 52 is formed diagonally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the piercing device 52. As a result, a tip of the piercing device 52 is finished sharp. A base end of the piercing device 52 is connected with the piercing device operation portion 56, which is provided to a rear portion of the applicator main unit 51.

A tip of the stylet 53 is formed into a shape not sharp but smooth. A base end of the stylet 53 is connected with the stylet operation portion 57, which is provided in an interior of the piercing device operation portion 56.

A tip face of the sheath 54 is formed flat so as to orthogonally cross the longitudinal direction of the sheath 54. In the tip of the sheath 54, small holes 54a are provided and the number of which is the same as or more than that of the protrusions 33a of the stent 30A. The small holes 54a are arranged in a circumferential direction of the sheath 54. They penetrate through a duct wall of the sheath 54. The small holes 54a constitute a part of the attachment portion for detachably attaching the stent 30A on the sheath 54. When the tip of the sheath 54 is inserted into the through-hole 34 of the stent 30A from the rear end, the protrusions 33a are engaged in the small holes 54a. As a result, the stent 30A is attached onto the tip of the sheath 54. Since the sheath 54 has flexibility, when the sheath 54 is pulled in a rear direction with the stent 30A retained in position, the sheath 54 is elastically deformed and is detached from the small holes 54a. As a result, the stent 30A is disengaged from the tip of the sheath 54. Note that if the stent 30A is made of an elastic material, both of the sheath 54 and the protrusions of the stent 30A may be elastically deformed, to thereby cause the stent 30A to be disengaged from the tip of the sheath 54.

Incidentally, the small holes 54a need not penetrate through the wall portion of the sheath 54. They may be recesses formed in an outside surface of the sheath 54. Furthermore, small holes may be formed in the stent 30A, and also protrusions may be formed in the sheath 54, and then both may be engaged.

A base end of the sheath 54 is connected with a sheath operation portion 58 provided in a front portion of the applicator main unit 51.

A tip face of the stent pusher 55 is formed flat so as to orthogonally cross the longitudinal direction of the stent pusher 55. A base end of the stent pusher 55 is connected with a stent pusher operation portion 59 provided in the front portion of the applicator main unit 51.

The piercing device operation portion 56 includes a cylindrical first shaft 56a that is inserted into the inside of the applicator main unit 51 from a rear end thereof. The first shaft 56a has an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the rear portion of the applicator main unit 51. Therefore, the first shaft 56a is slidable with respect to an inner surface of the rear portion of the applicator main unit 51. The base end of the piercing device 52 is fixedly attached to a tip face of the first shaft 56a, which is inserted into the applicator main unit 51, so as to coincide the longitudinal direction of the piercing device 52 with that of the first shaft 56a. The piercing device 52 is capable of changing a relative position between itself and the applicator main unit 51 by sliding the first shaft 56a with respect to the applicator main unit 51.

In the rear portion of the applicator main unit 51, a female thread hole is formed in a radial direction of the applicator main unit 51. Into this female thread, a male thread 61 is screwed. A tip of the male thread 61 protrudes inside the applicator main unit 51. On the other hand, in an outside surface of the first shaft 56a, a groove 56b is formed along the longitudinal direction of the first shaft 56a. Into the groove 56b of the first shaft 56a inserted into the applicator main unit 51, the tip of the male thread 61 is loosely fitted. As a result, the groove 56b defines a range of movement of the first shaft 56a with respect to the applicator main unit 51. When the male thread 61 is further screwed into the female thread hole to press the tip thereof against a bottom surface of the groove 56b, it is possible to hold the first shaft 56a at any position with respect to the applicator main unit 51.

The stylet operation portion 57 includes: a cylindrical second shaft 62 that is inserted into an inside of the first shaft 56a from a rear end thereof; a lever 63 that is swingably supported by the first shaft 56a supporting the piercing device 52; a torsion coil spring 64 for biasing the lever 63 in a direction for spacing the lever 63 away from the applicator main unit 51; and a link mechanism 65 for transforming a swing of the lever 63 into a linear movement along the piercing device 52 of the stylet 53.

The base end of the stylet 53 is inserted into an interior of the second shaft 62 from the tip thereof. It is fixedly attached to the second shaft 62 so that the longitudinal direction of the stylet 53 is coincided with that of the second shaft 62. The stylet 53 is capable of changing a relative position between itself and the piercing device 52 by sliding the second shaft 62 with respect to the first shaft 56a.

The link mechanism 65 includes: a base material 66; a bracket 68; a bar 70; a plate member 72; and a compression coil spring 74. The base material 66 is fixed onto an outside surface of the first shaft 56a. The bracket 68 is pivotally supported by the base material 66. The lever 63 has a lower end fixed in the bracket 68. The bar 70 has one end pivotally supported by the bracket 68 and the other end pivotally supported by the base material 66. A pin 71 provided in the other end of the bar 70 is fitted into an oval hole 66a with allowance, the oval hole 66a being formed in the base material 66 along a sliding direction of the second shaft 62.

In the plate member 72, a hole 73 is formed with a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the second shaft 62. The second shaft 62 inserted into the first shaft 56a penetrates through this hole 73. The difference between the outer diameter of the second shaft 62 and the inner diameter of the hole 73 is very slight. When the plate member 72 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the second shaft 62, that is, in the insertion direction of the second shaft 62 into the first shaft 56a, as if the plate member 72 is inclined, an inner surface of the hole 73 interferes with an outer surface of the second shaft 62, thus producing friction. Thereby, the force applied to the plate member 72 acts on the second shaft 62.

The compression coil spring 74 is disposed in an interior of the first shaft 56a. It biases the plate member 72 in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the second shaft 62 into the first shaft 56a.

When the lever 63 is moved in a direction of going closer to the applicator main unit 51, the bar 70 is pulled to the front direction of the applicator main unit 51 via the bracket 68, causing the other end of the bar 70 to move along the oval hole 66a. The plate member 72 is pressed forward by the other end of the bar 70 to move in the insertion direction of the second shaft 62 into the first shaft 56a while resisting the compression coil spring 74. At this time, the plate member 72 is slightly inclined to produce friction between itself and the second shaft 62. As a result, the force applied to the plate member 72 acts on the second shaft 62, causing the second shaft 62 to be pushed into the first shaft 56a. When the lever 63 is released, the torsion coil spring 64 spaces the lever 63 away from the applicator main unit 51. In addition, the compression coil spring 74 pushes the plate member 72 back to an initial position without producing friction between the plate member 72 and the second shaft 62.

A movement amount of the other end of the bar 70 for one operation on the lever 63 is always constant. Accordingly, an insertion length of the second shaft 62 into the first shaft 56a for one operation on the lever 63 is always constant as well. Therefore, it is possible to control the insertion length of the second shaft 62 into the first shaft 56a, that is, the insertion length of the stylet 53 into the piercing device 52 according to the number of operations on the lever 63. This means that it is possible to control the length of the tissue fastener 10A which is pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52 according to the number of operations on the lever 63.

Here, when the tissue fastener 10A is of a coil shape as in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the insertion length of the stylet 53 for one operation on the lever 63 be substantially n times or substantially 1/n (n is a natural number) the circumference of the tissue fastener 10A. For example, if the insertion length of the stylet 53 for one operation on the lever 63 is substantially equal to the circumference of the tissue fastener 10A, one turn amount of the tissue fastener 10A is pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52 for every one operation on the lever 63. If the length of the second tissue fixation portion 12 is equal to two turns of the tissue fastener 10A, it is possible to push out only the second tissue fixation portion 12 from the tip of the piercing device 52 through two operations on the lever 63. If the insertion length of the stylet 53 for one operation on the lever 63 is substantially equal to a half circumference of the tissue fastener 10A, a half turn amount of the tissue fastener 10A is pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52 for every one operation on the lever 63. Furthermore, if the length of the second tissue fixation portion 12 is equal to two turns of the tissue fastener 10A, it is possible to push out only the second tissue fixation portion 12 from the tip of the piercing device 52 through four operations on the lever 63.

The sheath operation portion 58 includes a first ring member 58a that is arranged in an interior of the applicator main unit 51 and through an internal hole of which the piercing device 52 is inserted. The first ring member 58a has an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the front portion of the applicator main unit 51. The first ring member 58a has an inner diameter substantially the same as that of the sheath 54. Therefore, the first ring member 58a is slidable with respect to an inner surface of the front portion of the applicator main unit 51. The base end of the sheath 54 is fixedly attached to a front face of the first ring member 58a so as to coincide the center of the sheath 54 with that of the first ring member 58a. The sheath 54 is capable of changing a relative position between itself and the applicator main unit 51 by sliding the first ring member 58a with respect to the applicator main unit 51.

The stent pusher operation portion 59 is arranged especially in an anterior of the first ring member 58a in the interior of the applicator main unit 51. It includes a second ring member 59a through an internal hole of which the sheath 54 is inserted. The second ring member 59a has an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the front portion of the applicator main unit 51. The second ring member 59a has an inner diameter substantially the same as that of the stent pusher 55 of a sheath tube shape. Therefore, the second ring member 59a is slidable with respect to an inner surface of the front portion of the applicator main unit 51. The base end of the stent pusher 55 is fixedly attached to a front face of the second ring member 59a so as to coincide the center of the stent pusher 55 with that of the second ring member 59a. The stent pusher 55 is capable of changing a relative position between itself and the applicator main unit 51 by sliding the second ring member 59a with respect to the applicator main unit 51.

As shown in FIG. 1, in an outside surface of the second ring member 59a, a female thread hole is formed in a radial direction of the second ring member 59a. On the other hand, in the front portion of the applicator main unit 51, an oval hole 51a is formed along a sliding direction of the second ring member 59a. Into the female thread of the second ring member 59a, a male thread 76 is screwed through the oval hole 51a. As a result, the oval hole 51a defines a range of movement of the second ring member 59a with respect to the applicator main unit 51. When the male thread 76 is further screwed into the female thread hole to press the head portion of the thread against the applicator main unit 51, it is possible to hold the second ring member 59a at any position with respect to the applicator main unit 51.

In an outside surface of the first ring member 58a, as shown in FIG. 4, two recessed portions 58b are formed. On the other hand, on the second ring member 59a, two bars 75 that protrude backward are provided. In the respective two bars 75, an oval hole 75a is formed along a sliding direction of the first ring member 58a with respect to the applicator main unit 51. Furthermore, in the applicator main unit 51, two oval holes 51b that extend parallel to the oval hole 75a are formed. Into the two recessed portions 58b of the first ring member 58a, the two pins 77 are inserted through the oval hole 51b of the applicator main unit 51 and the oval hole 75a of the second ring member 59a, respectively. As a result, the oval hole 75a defines a range of movement of the first ring member 58a with respect to the second ring member 59a. The second ring member 59a itself slides with respect to the applicator main unit 51. Therefore, the oval hole 51b is formed longer than the oval hole 75a in consideration of not only the range of movement of the first ring member 58a but also the range of movement of the second ring member 59a.

Between the recessed portion 58b and a tip of the pin 77, a compression spring 78 is interposed, as shown in FIG. 5. As a result, the pin 77 is always biased outwardly in a radial direction of the second ring member 59a. In the bar 75, a recessed portion 75b is formed with which a large diameter portion 77a of the pin 77 is engaged when the first ring member 58a is arranged at the position closest to a tip face of the second ring member 59a.

When the first ring member 58a is arranged at the position closest to the tip face of the second ring member 59a, the large diameter portion 77a of the pin 77 is engaged with the recessed portion 75b of the bar 75. Therefore, the first ring member 58a is restrained by the second ring member 59a via the pin 77. When the pin 77 is pushed into the applicator main unit 51 against a biasing force of the compression spring 78, the large diameter portion 77a of the pin 77 is detached from the recessed portion 75b. Consequently, the first ring member 58a is released from the second ring member 59a, and hence becomes capable of being moved toward a rear end of the applicator main unit 51. Therefore, it is possible to move the sheath 54 to the hand side with respect to the stent pusher 55.

Into a tip of the applicator main unit 51, a pipe sleeve 80 is inserted. On the pipe sleeve 80, an inside screw is formed. By screwing this inside screw into a pipe sleeve 8 of an endoscope 2, it is possible to fix the applicator 50 to the endoscope 2. In an outside surface of 80, a groove 81 is formed along a circumferential direction. On the other hand, on the applicator main unit 51, a female thread hole is formed in a radial direction of the applicator main unit 51. Into this female thread hole, a male thread 82 is screwed. A tip of the male thread 82 protrudes inside the applicator main unit 51. Into the groove 81 of the pipe sleeve 80, the tip of the male thread 82 is loosely fitted. As a result, it is possible to freely rotate the applicator main unit 51 with respect to the pipe sleeve 80 fixed on the endoscope 2. When the male thread 82 is further screwed into the female thread hole to press the tip thereof against a bottom surface of the groove 81, it is possible to hold the applicator main unit 51 at any position with respect to the pipe sleeve 80.

FIG. 6 shows a linear scanning ultrasonic endoscope as an endoscope 2 for use with the tissue fastening apparatus S1. This endoscope 2 includes a flexible insertion portion 4 extending from an operation portion 3 for use outside the body. To the operation portion 3, a knob 3A for curving a tip portion of the insertion portion 4 and various buttons 3B are disposed. To a tip of the insertion portion 4, a cover 5 is attached. To this cover 5, an ultrasonic apparatus 6 is attached. The ultrasonic apparatus 6 swells out on a plane including an axis line of the insertion portion 4. It has a plurality of ultrasonic transducers arranged along an arc-shaped outer circumference. Furthermore, the endoscope 2 is provided with an elevator 7 so that the tip of the applicator 50 can be sent out laterally. With an operation on the elevator 7 at hand, it is possible to adjust an orientation of an insertion portion 60 of the applicator 50 which is sent out from the tip of the insertion portion 4. Note that the endoscope 2 may be provided with an ultrasonic apparatus of another probe type. In addition, an endoscope without an ultrasonic apparatus 6 may be used. In this case, an ultrasonic apparatus for use outside the body, or an X-ray apparatus, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, or a CT (Computerizing Tomography) apparatus is additionally used.

Next is a description of a manipulation in which the tissue fastening apparatus S1 configured as above is used to fix a common bile duct on a duodenum and to communicate both. Such a manipulation is executed in the case where bile is mixed into blood to develop jaundice as a result of inability to discharge bile due to obstruction of a duodenal papilla Dp by a tumor Tr, as shown in FIG. 7. With this manipulation, it is possible to discharge bile directly from a common bile duct Cb to a duodenum Dd.

First, the insertion portion 4 of the endoscope 2 is inserted from a mouth of a patient. The endoscope 2 is inserted into the duodenum Dd, which is an upper gastrointestinal tract. With the ultrasonic apparatus 6, a state of an outside of the duodenum Dd is checked for a site appropriate for the manipulation, the site being on a side closer to a stomach St than a duodenal papilla Dp and being close to the common bile duct Cb.

In the applicator 50, the first shaft 56a is operated in advance to move back the piercing device 52 with respect to the applicator main unit 51, and the second shaft 62 is previously operated to move back the stylet 53 with respect to the applicator main unit 51, as shown in FIG. 8. Furthermore, the first ring member 58a and the second ring member 59a are simultaneously operated in advance to move back the sheath 54 and the stent pusher 55 with respect to the applicator main unit 51. However, the first ring member 58a is arranged at a position closest to the second ring member 59a. In this condition, the piercing device 52 with the tissue fastener 10A inserted thereinto is pulled inside the sheath 54 until the tip thereof is arranged in the interior of the stent 30A.

The insertion portion 60 of the applicator 50 is inserted into a work channel of the endoscope 2 and then is moved forward, to thereby fix the applicator 50 onto the endoscope 2. As a result, the tip of the insertion portion 60 is caused to protrude from the tip of the insertion portion 4 of the endoscope 2. Then, the orientation of the protruded insertion portion 60 is adjusted with the elevator 7.

The ultrasonic apparatus 6 provided to the endoscope 2 is used to scan the common bile duct Cb across the duodenum Dd to determine a position at which the piercing device 52 is piercingly inserted into the common bile duct Cb. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the male thread 61 is loosened and the first shaft 56a is pushed into the applicator main unit 51 to protrude the tip of the piercing device 52 from the tip of the stent 30A attached to the tip of the sheath 54. As a result, the sharp tip of the piercing device 52 is pierced through an intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd from the inside to the outside, and subsequently is pierced through a duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb from the outside to the inside. Then, the male thread 61 is tightened to fix the first shaft 56a onto the applicator main unit 51.

As shown in FIG. 10, the lever 63 is operated to push the second shaft 62 into the S first shaft 56a by a predetermined amount. For example, the lever 63 is operated a predetermined number of times. As a result, the stylet 53 changes its relative position to the piercing device 52. Thereby, the second tissue fixation portion 12 of the tissue fastener 10A is pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52. The second tissue fixation portion 12, when pushed out from the piercing device 52, assumes its original coil shape, and is locked on the inside of the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb.

Then, the male thread 61 is loosened, and the first shaft 56a is pulled out a little from the applicator main unit 51 to shorten the protrusion length of the piercing device 52 from the tip of the stent 30A. Furthermore, the male thread 61 is tightened to fix the first shaft 56a onto the applicator main unit 51. As a result, the tip of the piercing device 52 is spaced apart a little from the inside surface of the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd.

As shown in FIG. 11, the lever 63 is operated again to push the second shaft 62 into the first shaft 56a by a predetermined amount. For example, the lever 63 is operated a predetermined number of times. As a result, the stylet 53 changes its relative position to the piercing device 52. Thereby, the linking portion 13 and the first tissue fixation portion 11 of the tissue fastener 10A are pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52. The first tissue fixation portion 11, when pushed out from the piercing device 52, assumes its original coil shape, and is locked on the inside of the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd.

The tissue fastener 10A, when pushed out from the piercing device 52, clamps the duodenum Dd and the common bile duct Cb as if to cause the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd locked on by the first tissue fixation portion 11 and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb locked on by the second tissue fixation portion 12 to press against each other.

As shown in FIG. 12, the second shaft 62 is pulled a little to retract the tip of the stylet 53 inside the piercing device 52. Then, the male thread 61 is loosened, and the first shaft 56a is again pushed into the applicator main unit 51 to protrude the tip of the piercing device 52 from the tip of the stent 30A. As a result, the sharp tip of the piercing device 52 is pierced through the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb inside the tissue fastener 10A. Then, the male thread 61 is tightened to fix the first shaft 56a onto the applicator main unit 51. The lever 63 is further operated to push the second shaft 62 completely into the first shaft 56a. As a result, the smooth tip of the stylet 53 is protruded from the sharp tip of the piercing device 52. Therefore, the possibility of the sharp tip of the piercing device 52 carelessly injuring the surrounding tissue is eliminated.

As shown in FIG. 13, the male thread 76 is loosened, and then the first ring member 58a and the second ring member 59a are moved toward the tip of the applicator main unit 51. This changes relative positions of the sheath 54 and the stent pusher 55 with respect to the piercing device 52 that is fixed onto the applicator main unit 51 via the first shaft 56a. As a result, the stent 30A is pressed forward along the piercing device 52. Then, the extension portion 31 of the stent 30A is pierced through the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb from the inside of the tissue fastener 10A so as to and widen a bore that has been opened by the piercing device 52. When the extension portion 31 has penetrated through the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb, the stent 30A is placed in the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb in a state with the placement portion 32 being arranged within the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc, the extension portion 31 being protruded inside the common bile duct Cb, and the slip-off prevention portion 33 being left inside the duodenum Dd. After the stent 30A is placed, the male thread 76 is tightened to fix the second ring member 59a onto the applicator main unit 51.

While pressing the pin 77 shown in FIG. 4 into the applicator main unit 51, the first ring member 58a is moved toward the rear end of the applicator main unit 51, as shown in FIG. 14. At this time, the second ring member 59a is fixed onto the applicator main unit 51. Therefore, the relative position between the sheath 54 and the stent pusher 55 is changed, and hence the sheath 54 is pulled to the hand side. However, the stent 30A tries to stay in position because it is abutted with the tip face of the stent pusher 55. As a result, the tip of the sheath 54 is elastically deformed, causing the protrusions 33a of the stent 30A to be detached from the small holes 54a of the sheath 54. When the protrusions 33a are detached from the small holes 54a, the tip of the sheath 54 is pulled into the stent pusher 55. As a result, the stent 30A is disengaged from the tip of the insertion portion 60 of the applicator 50.

Next, the male thread 61 is loosened, the first shaft 56a is pulled out from the applicator main unit 51, and the tip of the piercing device 52 is pulled into the tip of the sheath 54. Then, the male thread 61 is tightened to fix the first shaft 56a onto the applicator main unit 51. Subsequently, the applicator 50 is removed from the endoscope 2. Thus, the fastening of the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb by the tissue fastener 10A is finished, and also the placement of the stent 30A in the interiors of the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb is finished. As a result, the duodenum Dd and the common bile duct Cb are communicated through the through-hole 34 of the stent 30A. Thereby, bile is discharged from the common bile duct Cb to the duodenum Dd.

When the tissue fastener 10A is left in a living body, the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb are compressed by the tissue fastener 10A, thus putting the biological tissue inside the tissue fastener 10A in an ischemic state. A continued ischemic state necrotizes the biological tissue. On the other hand, outside the tissue fastener 10A, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are adhered over the entire circumference of the tissue fastener 10A. As a result, the necrotized biological tissue and the tissue fastener 10A and the stent 30A fall off from the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc. The tissue fastener 10A and the stent 30A are excreted later. In the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc from which the necrotized biological tissue has fallen off, an anastomotic fistula is formed. Through this anastomotic fistula, the duodenum Dd and the common bile duct Cb are communicated, and hence bile is discharged from the common bile duct Cb to the duodenum Dd. The margin of the anastomotic fistula is adhered over the entire circumference. Therefore, bile will not leak into the abdominal cavity from between the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc.

According to the applicator 50, an operation on the lever 63 as if to hold it lightly allows the tissue fastener 10A to be pushed out from the piercing device 52 easily and accurately. Furthermore, it is possible to separate the stent 30A from the tip of the sheath 54 at a proper timing. As a result, it is possible to suitably place the tissue fastener 10A and the stent 30A at a desired position in a living body.

In addition, according to the applicator 50, when the sheath 54 and the stent pusher 55 are used to press the stent 30A against the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb, the piercing device 52 is immovably held in position. As a result, organs will not be injured unexpectedly by the piercing device 52, and the safety operation can be performed. Next is a description of a behavior of the tissue fastener 10A that is pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52.

The tissue fastener 10A is first pushed out so as to protrude only the second tissue fixation portion 12 from the tip of the piercing device 52 that has penetrated through the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb. The second tissue fixation portion 12, in the process of being pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52, successively assumes its original coil shape, and is locked on the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb.

The second tissue fixation portion 12, in the process of being pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52, generates force for restoring its own shape to its original coil shape. With this force acting on the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb, the tissue fastener 10A may be pulled inside the common bile duct Cb by an amount more than the push-out amount of the stylet 53. However, the tissue fastener 10A is provided with the linking portion 13 between the first tissue fixation portion 11 and the second tissue fixation portion 12. In addition, the bent portion 15 is formed between the second tissue fixation portion 12 and the linking portion 13. As a result, if the whole of the second tissue fixation portion 12 is pushed out, the second tissue fixation portion 12 changes orbit from one in the process of being pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52, as shown in FIG. 10. This is because when the bent portion 15 of the tissue fastener 10A is pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52, the second tissue fixation portion 12 that is released from the restraint by the piercing device 52 changes its orientation depending on the angle of the bent portion 15. With the change in orientation of the second tissue fixation portion 12, even if force is generated in the second tissue fixation portion 12 for restoring its own shape to its original coil shape, the force ceases to act on the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb. Therefore, the tissue fastener 10A will not be pulled inside the common bile duct Cb by more than a push-out amount of the stylet 53.

After that, the whole tissue fastener 10A including the remaining first tissue fixation portion 11 is pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52, which has been pulled out from the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb. The first tissue fixation portion 11, in the process of being pushed out from the tip of the piercing device 52, successively assumes its original coil shape, and is locked on the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd.

With the first tissue fixation portion 11 locked on the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the second tissue fixation portion 12 locked on the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are clamped. The linking portion 13 is placed in the interiors of the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc that are clamped. Because the gap G is provided between the first tissue fixation portion 11 and the second tissue fixation portion 12, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are clamped so that they press against each other with uniform force.

It is preferable that the angle θ1 of the linking portion 13 with respect to the first tissue fixation portion 11 and the angle θ2 of the linking portion 13 with respect to the second tissue fixation portion 12 be both 45° or less (see FIG. 3). when the angles θ1, θ2 are larger than 45°, the bent portion 14 forming the angle θ1 and the bent portion 15 forming the angle θ2 come into contact with the inner surface of the piercing device 52 in the process of pushing out the tissue fastener 10A from the tip of the piercing device 52, resulting in production of strong frictional force. This makes it difficult to smoothly push out the tissue fastener 10A from the piercing device 52.

It is preferable that the gap G between the first tissue fixation portion 11 and the second tissue fixation portion 12 be 15 mm or less. When the gap G is 15 mm or less, it is possible to fix biological tissue by use of the applicator 50, in substantially all the organs which can be approached using the endoscope 2.

However, plural types of tissue fastener 10A with difference in the size of the gap G are provided in order to offer an optional selection according to the thickness of the organ to be treated or to characteristics of individual patients. Appropriate selection and use of these makes it possible to perform a suitable treatment in various situations.

As described above, the portion of the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb inside the tissue fastener 10A is compressed by the tissue fastener 10A into an ischemic state. Later, the portion is necrotized and the tissue fastener 10A and the stent 30A fall off the other portions of the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc. At that time, as shown in FIG. 15B, there are cases where the tissue fastener 10A and/or the stent 30 fall(s) off to the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum Dd and to the duct wall Wc side of the common bile duct Cb. If the tissue fastener 10A and/or the stent 30 fall(s) off to the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum Dd, they are (it is) excreted out of the body via the small intestine and the large intestine as a result of natural processes. Therefore, this poses no problem. However, if the tissue fastener 10A and/or the stent 30 fall(s) off to the duct wall Wc side of the common bile duct Cb, they are (it is) left there.

To avoid such inconvenience, the outer diameter of the first tissue fixation portion 11 is made larger than that of second tissue fixation portion 12 in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 15C, an inner diameter of a anastomotic fistula K formed after living tissue, which has been clamped by the tissue fastener 10A into necrosis, falls off becomes substantially the same as an outer diameter of the second tissue fixation portion 2 (in FIG. 15C, the stent 30A is omitted.). The second tissue fixation portion 12 is capable of passing through this anastomotic fistula K, but the first tissue fixation portion 11 is not. Therefore, when the tissue fastener 10A and the necrotized tissue fall off from the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc, there is a higher probability that the tissue fastener 10A moves only to the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum Dd and falls off.

Note that in the above embodiment, the first tissue fixation portion 12 is made of a highly elastic metal wire wound in a vortex. However, the shape is not limited to this.

As shown in FIGS. 16A, 16B, the first tissue fixation portion 12 may be made of a highly elastic metal wire wound in a frustum of a cone, or may be made by outwardly protruding a part of a highly elastic metal wire wound in a cylinder. It is essential only that at least a part of the above first tissue fixation portion 11 be protruded outward more than the outer diameter of the second tissue fixation portion 12.

Modifications

Hereunder is a description of modifications of the above embodiment. For convenience of description, like constituent parts to those described in the above embodiment may be designated with like reference numerals to omit repetitious explanation.

The structure of the tissue fastener is not limited to one described in the above embodiment. For example, a tissue fastener 10B shown in FIGS. 17A, 17B has a first tissue fixation portion 101 and a second tissue fixation portion 102, both of which are made of a highly elastic metal wire 10 wound in a coil. A tip portion of the first tissue fixation portion 101, for example one turn portion 101A at the tip is inclined approximately 90 degrees with respect to the other portion of the first tissue fixation portion 101.

In this modification, for example, food S passes through a duodenum Dd on which the first tissue fixation portion 101 is locked. When passing along an intestinal wall Wd, this food S hits a tip portion 101A of the first tissue fixation portion 101 to thereby press the tip portion 101A to a small intestine side. As a result, when the tissue fastener 10B and the necrotized tissue fall off from the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc, there is a higher probability that the tissue fastener 10B moves to the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum Dd and falls off.

In the case where the tip portion 101A of the first tissue fixation portion 101 is inclined, the number of turns at the tip need not be one. For example, it may be one and a half or two. Furthermore, the inclination angle of the tip portion 101A need not be 90 degrees. The angle at which the tip portion 101A is inclined may be for example in the range of 45 degrees to 135 degrees. It is essential only that the food S hits the tip portion of the first tissue fixation portion 101.

Furthermore, in the case of this modification, no linking portion is provided between the first tissue fixation portion 101 and the second tissue fixation portion 102. The first tissue fixation portion 101 is directly linked with the second tissue fixation portion 102. However, there may be provided a linking portion 13 between the two, as shown in FIG. 2. This may be employed in the following modifications.

A tissue fastener 10C shown in FIGS. 18A, 18B has a first tissue fixation portion 111 and a second tissue fixation portion 112, both of which are made of a highly elastic metal wire 10 wound in a coil (a cylinder). The number of coil turns of the first tissue fixation portion 111 is larger than that of the second tissue fixation portion 112.

In this modification, the first tissue fixation portion 111 is heavier than the second tissue fixation portion 112 by the increased number of coil turns. Therefore, when the tissue fastener 10C and the necrotized tissue fall off from the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc, there is a higher probability that the tissue fastener 10A moves to the side of the first tissue fixation portion 111 which is set heavier, that is, to the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum Dd and falls off.

When the number of coil turns of the first tissue fixation portion 111 is set to larger than that of the second tissue fixation portion 111, it is preferable that the number be set to a degree such that the difference in weight between these tissue fixation portions is evident, for example to 1.5 or more times than that of the second tissue fixation portion 111.

A tissue fastener 10D shown in FIGS. 19A, 19B has a first tissue fixation portion 121 and a second tissue fixation portion 122, both of which are made of a highly elastic metal wire 10 wound in a coil (a cylinder). The coil turn density of the first tissue fixation portion 121 is less than that of the second tissue fixation portion 122. That is, the coil of the highly elastic metal wire of the first tissue fixation portion 121 is roughly wound, and the coil of the highly elastic metal wire of the second tissue fixation portion 121 is densely wound.

In this embodiment, when food S passes along the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd, there is a higher probability that the food hits the roughly-wound first tissue fixation portion 121. As a result, when the tissue fastener 10D and the necrotized tissue fall off from the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc, the tissue fastener 10D moves to the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum Dd and falls off.

A tissue fastener 10E shown in FIG. 20 has a first tissue fixation portion 131 and a second tissue fixation portion 132, both of which are made of a highly elastic metal wire wound in a coil (a cylinder). To the first tissue fixation portion 131, a resisting entity (anchoring body) 134 is linked via a string member 133. The resisting entity 134 is of a cylindrical shape a part of which is cut out along an axis line direction for easy load in the applicator, as will be described later.

In this modification, when food passes along the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd, there is a higher probability that this food hits the resisting entity 134. As a result when the tissue fastener 10E and the necrotized tissue fall off from the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc, there is a higher probability that the tissue fastener 10E moves to the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum Dd and falls off. Furthermore, the resisting entity 134 has a weight of its own to some degree. Also due to this weight, there is a higher probability that the tissue fastener 10E moves to the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum Dd and falls off.

When the resisting entity 134 is loaded in the applicator, a gap between a piercing device 52 and a sheath 54 is utilized as shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22. Therefore, a radius of the resisting entity 134 is set between an outer radius of the piercing device 52 and an inner radius of the sheath 54. Furthermore, in the piercing device 52, a slit 52a is formed from its tip to its base end. The string member 133 is arranged by being pulled out from this slit 52a. Thereby, it is loaded on the applicator in a state with the first and second tissue fixation portions 131, 132 loaded inside the piercing device 52 being linked with the resisting entity 134 loaded outside the piercing device.

A tissue fastener 10F shown in FIGS. 23A, 23B has a first tissue fixation portion 141 and a second tissue fixation portion 142, both of which are made of a highly elastic metal wire 10 wound in a coil (a cylinder). The first tissue fixation portion 141 and the second tissue fixation portion 142 have substantially the same length. However, a diameter of the highly elastic metal wire constituting the first tissue fixation portion 141 is set to be larger than a diameter of the highly elastic metal wire, which is made of the same material as that for the above, constituting the second tissue fixation portion 142.

In this modification, the first tissue fixation portion 141 is heavier than the second tissue fixation portion 142 by the difference in wire diameter, the former being set to be larger than the latter. Therefore, when the tissue fastener 10F and the necrotized tissue fall off from the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc, there is a higher probability that the tissue fastener 10A moves to the side of the first tissue fixation portion 141 which is set heavier, that is, to the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum Dd and falls off.

FIG. 24 shows a problem when the tissue fastener 10A is placed in a living body.

That is, when the tissue fastener 10A is placed in a living body by clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, firstly a tip of a piercing device 52 of a needle tube shape is piercingly inserted into the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc. Then, a second tissue fixation portion 12, which is a part of the tissue fastener 10A, is placed in the second biological tissue. After that, when the piercing device 52 is pulled back from these intestinal wall Wd and duct wall Wc, a gap Ga is formed between a hole We that is formed in the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc when the piercing device 52 is piercingly inserted, and the wire 10 that constitutes the tissue fastener 10A. In the case where liquid is filled in the second biological tissue, which is a lumen, a phenomenon occurs in which the liquid flows through this gap Ga, and further flows through a gap Gb between the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc, to thereby leak into an abdominal cavity. This situation occurs even after the tissue fastener 10A is placed in the living body. Here, if the liquid that leaks into the abdominal cavity is for example bile, which shows strong alkalinity, there is a possibility of producing bile peritonitis. To prevent such an undesirable situation, a variety of contrivances are adopted as follows:

FIG. 25A, 25B shows a structure in which a highly elastic metal wire constituting a tissue fastener 10G is made of a multitude of highly elastic thin wires 150, not of a single highly elastic thin wire. That is, a first tissue fixation portion 151 and a second tissue fixation portion 152 are made of the multitude of highly elastic thin wires 150 being stranded.

Here, a stranded wire has less elasticity than a single wire. Therefore, supposing that tissue fasteners with the same spring strength are formed, one made of stranded wires allows use of a wire with larger diameter than one made of a single wire.

In this modification, the tissue fastener 10G is made of a multitude of highly elastic thin wires 150, not of a single highly elastic thin wire. This allows use of wires with a diameter larger by that much, for example wires with a diameter substantially the same as an inner diameter of the piercing device 52, for wires constituting the tissue fastener 10G. Thereby, the gap Ga between the hole We of the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc formed when the piercing device 52 is piercingly inserted can be made as small as possible. As a result, it is possible to prevent a body fluid such as bile from leaking out into an abdominal cavity through this gap Ga.

Note that one shown in FIGS. 25A, 25B has a structure in which the multitude of highly elastic thin wires 150 are stranded over an entire region of the tissue fastener 10G. However, the structure is not limited to this. It will suffice that at least only a linking portion between the first tissue fixation portion 151 and the second tissue fixation portion 152, more specifically, a portion that penetrates through the duct wall Wc and its neighboring area be made of the multitude of highly elastic thin wires 150 being stranded Therefore, the other portions may be made of a single wire.

A tissue fastener 10H shown in FIG. 26 has a first tissue fixation portion 161 and a second tissue fixation portion 162, both of which are made of a highly elastic metal wire 10 wound in a coil Around an outer circumference of a linking portion 163 between the first tissue fixation portion 161 and the second tissue fixation portion 162, a thin wire 164 is wound with a smaller diameter than that of the highly elastic metal wire 10. The substantial diameter thereof is set to be approximately equal to an inner diameter of the piercing device.

In this modification, the thin wire 164 is wound around the linking portion 163 between the first tissue fixation portion 161 and the second tissue fixation portion 162 of the tissue fastener 10H, to thereby make its substantial diameter larger. As a result, the gap Ga between the hole We of the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc formed when the piercing device 52 is piercingly inserted can be made as small as possible, to thereby make it possible to prevent a body fluid such as bile from leaking out into an abdominal cavity through this gap Ga.

Note that in one shown in FIG. 26, the thin wire 164 is wound around a part of the tissue fastener 10H. However the structure is not limited to this. The thin wire 164 may be wound around an entire region of the tissue fastener 10H.

Fixation methods of the thin wire 164 onto the highly elastic metal wire 10 include: a method in which the thin wire 164 is wound around the outer circumference of the highly elastic metal wire 10 for fixation by friction between the two; a method in which after the thin wire 164 is wound, the highly elastic metal wire 10 is fixed onto the thin wire 164 at a plurality of points on the outer circumference by welding or with an adhesive harmless to a human body, as shown in FIG. 27; and a method in which a hole 165 is bored in the highly elastic metal wire 10 and a tip of the thin wire 164 is inserted into this hole 165 for fixation, as shown in FIGS. 28A, 28B.

Furthermore, the thin wire 164 is of a coil shape. Therefore, the end portion of the thin wire 164 is unlikely to come off the hole 165. However, other methods of making the end portion further unlikely to come off are conceivable. They include: a method of press-inserting the end portion of the thin wire 164; a method of fixedly attaching the end portion with an adhesive; a method of applying external force on the highly elastic metal wire 10 in a state with the end portion of the thin wire 164 inserted, to thereby deform the end portion (caulking); and a method of welding the insertion portion.

A tissue fastener 101 shown in FIGS. 29A, 29B has a first tissue fixation portion 171 and a second tissue fixation portion 172, both of which are made of a highly elastic metal wire 10 wound in a coil (a cylinder). Around an outer circumference of the second tissue fixation portion 172, the first tissue fixation portion 171 is arranged. That is, the tissue fastener 10I is of a double coil shape made of an inner and outer coils.

In this modification, as shown in FIG. 30, the second tissue fixation portion 172 on the inner circumference side is locked on the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct Cb as second biological tissue, and the first tissue fixation portion 171 on the outer circumference side is locked on the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd. In this case, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are brought into close contact with each other by the first tissue fixation portion 171 and the second tissue fixation portion 172, and are clamped in a radial direction. As a result, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc, which are on the outer circumference side than the hole We formed when a piercing device 52 is piercingly inserted, that is, on the outer circumference side of an area through which the wire of the tissue fastener 10I penetrates, are clamped into close contact with each other. Therefore, a body fluid such as bile will not leak out from between the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc into a body cavity through the hole We.

A tissue fastener 10J shown in FIG. 31 has a first tissue fixation portion 181 and a second tissue fixation portion 182, both of which are made of a highly elastic metal wire 10 wound in a coil (a cylinder). The first tissue fixation portion 181 has a large coil-shaped portion 181A formed of two-tier large and small coils, and a small coil-shaped portion 181B. The large coil-shaped portion 181A and the small coil-shaped portion 181B have their upper ends at the same height. However, at their lower ends, the large coil-shaped portion 181A stretches out over the small coil-shaped portion 181B. The second tissue fixation portion 182 has the same diameter as the small coil-shaped portion 181B so as to continue into the small coil-shaped portion. This tissue fastener 10J is the same in general shape as the one shown in FIG. 29A, 29B. The difference lies in the position at the tissue fastener is locked on the first tissue and the second biological tissue.

In this modification, when the tissue fastener is placed in living tissue, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are sandwiched between the small coil-shaped portion 181B of the first tissue fixation portion and the second tissue fixation portion 182, and also on the outer circumference side thereof, the lower end of the large coil-shaped portion 181 on the outer circumference side of the first tissue fixation portion 181 presses the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum Dd in the downward direction in the figure. As a result, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are clamped into close contact with each other on the outer circumference side than the hole We formed when the piercing device 52 is piercingly inserted. Therefore, a body fluid such as bile will not leak out from between the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc into a body cavity through the hole We, similarly to the one shown in FIG. 30 described above.

A tissue fastener 10K shown in FIGS. 32A, 32B has a first tissue fixation portion 191 and a second tissue fixation portion 192, both are made of a highly elastic metal wire 10 wound in a coil (a cylinder). A linking portion 193 for linking the first tissue fixation portion 191 and the second tissue fixation portion 192 is bent in an S shape so as to pass through a central portion between those coil-shaped portions.

In this modification, when the tissue fastener is placed in a living body as shown in FIGS. 33A, 33B, the hole We formed when the piercing device 52 is piercingly inserted, that is, an area through a wire of the tissue fastener 10K penetrates is inside the intestinal wall Wd and duct wall Wc portions clamped by the first tissue fixation portion 191 and the second tissue fixation portion 192. As a result, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are clamped into close contact with each other on the outer circumference side than the hole We formed when the piercing device 52 is piercingly inserted. Therefore, a body fluid such as bile will not leak out from between the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc into a body cavity through the hole We, similarly to the ones shown in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 described above.

A tissue fastener 10L shown in FIG. 34 has: a first tissue fixation portion 201 and a second tissue fixation portion 202, both are made of a highly elastic metal wire wound in a coil (a cylinder); and a cap 203 (see FIG. 37). The cap 203 is formed in a cylindrical shape. An outer diameter thereof is set to be larger than that of the first tissue fixation portion 201 and the second tissue fixation portion 202. In a central portion of the cap 203, a small diameter portion 204 is formed. In an inner circumference thereof, a female thread portion 205 is formed to be fit onto the coil-shaped first tissue fixation portion 201. In the cap 203, an upper opening portion functions as a fitting portion 203A to be fit into a tip of an endoscope N, and a lower end portion functions as a ring-shaped stretching portion 203B that stretches toward the second tissue fixation portion 202 side when the lower end portion fits the female thread portion onto the first tissue fixation portion 201.

To place the tissue fastener 10L of this modification in a living body, the fitting portion 203A of the cap 203 is previously fitted onto the tip of the endoscope N, as shown in FIG. 35. Then, as shown in FIG. 36, the first tissue fixation portion 201 and the second tissue fixation portion 202 are placed in a living body so as to clamp the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc, as described in the above embodiment.

Next, the prepared endoscope N with the cap is inserted into the living body. Then, as shown in FIG. 37, the cap 203 fitted onto the tip is abutted against the first tissue fixation portion 201 while positioning the cap 203 so as to be coaxial with the first tissue fixation portion 201. In this condition, the cap 203 is rotated to screw the female thread portion 205 onto the first tissue fixation portion 201. At this time, the more the female thread portion 205 is screwed, the more the first tissue fixation portion 201 penetrates into the cap 203. As a result, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are drawn into the cap 203 side while being clamped by the first tissue fixation portion 201 and the second tissue fixation portion 202. Then, the outer circumference side of the portion of the intestinal wall W that is locked on by the first tissue fixation portion 201 is strongly pressed to the duct wall Wc side by the stretching portion 203B of the cap 203. As a result, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are clamped into close contact with each other on the outer circumference side than the hole We formed when the piercing device is piercingly inserted. Therefore, a body fluid such as bile will not leak out from between the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc into a body cavity through the hole We.

Note that after the cap 203 is screwed onto the first tissue fixation portion 201, the endoscope N is detached from the cap 203, and the endoscope N is pulled out with the cap 203 being placed in the living body, as shown in FIG. 38.

A tissue fastener 10M shown in FIG. 39A to FIG. 41 has: a first tissue fixation portion 201 and a second tissue fixation portion 202, both are made of a highly elastic metal wire 10 wound in a coil (a cylinder); and a cap 213. The cap 213 has: an internal barrel portion 214; and a hemisphere portion 215 that expands down from an upper portion of the internal barrel portion 214 while gradually extending outwardly. In an inner circumferential lower end portion of the internal barrel portion 214, a female thread portion 216 is formed. This female thread portion 216 fits onto the coil-shaped first tissue fixation portion 201. A lower end of the hemisphere portion 215 extends lower than a lower end of the internal barrel portion 214. Therefore, this lower end functions as a ring-shaped stretching portion 215B that outwardly stretches toward the second tissue fixation portion 202, when the female thread portion 214 is fitted onto the first tissue fixation portion 201. Furthermore, an upper portion of the hemisphere portion 213 is made flat. On this flat portion, knob portions 217 that extend in a straight line are formed.

This modification is the same as the one described above in that the first tissue fixation portion 201 and the second tissue fixation portion 202 are placed in a living body so as to clamp the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc.

Here, next, an endoscope is used to insert the cap 213 into the living body. The knob portions 217 of the cap 213 are held by straight grasping forceps O that are inserted into the living body via a channel of the endoscope The cap 213 is rotated while being positioned so as to be coaxial with the first tissue fixation portion 201, to thereby screw the female thread portion 216 onto the first tissue fixation portion 201. At this time, similarly to the above, the outer circumference side of the portion that is locked on by the first tissue fixation portion 201 of the intestinal wall W is strongly pressed to the duct wall Wc side by the stretching portion 215B of the cap 203. As a result, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc which are clamped into close contact with each other on the outer circumference side than the hole We formed when the piercing device is piercingly inserted. As a result a body fluid such as bile will not leak out from between the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc into a body cavity through the hole We.

A tissue fastener 10N shown in FIG. 42 has a first tissue fixation portion 221 and a second tissue fixation portion 222, both are made of a highly elastic material 220 wound in a coil (a cylinder). Here, the highly elastic material 220 is tubular in shape, and an inner diameter thereof is set to be larger than an outer diameter of the piercing device 52 of the applicator. Furthermore, a tip portion of the highly elastic material 220 is formed into a tapered portion 223 that is gradually narrowed.

To place this tissue fastener 10N in a living body, the tissue fastener 10N is first arranged around an outer circumference of the piercing device 52, as shown in FIG. 43. At this time, a base end side of the tissue fastener 10N is previously fitted into a sheath 54 by friction. Next, as shown in FIG. 44, a piercing device operation portion 56 is moved forward to piercingly insert the piercing device 52 into first biological tissue and second biological tissue, here, into an intestinal wall Wd of a duodenum and a duct wall Wc of a common bile duct. Next, as shown in FIG. 45, a stylet 53 is moved forward to protrude past a tip of the piercing device 52.

Next, as shown in FIG. 46, the sheath 54 and a pusher 55 are moved forward to place a part of the tissue fastener 10N in the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct. A portion of the tissue fastener 10N exposed in the common bile duct returns its original coil shape by its own elastic action, and is placed therein. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 47, the piercing device 52 and the stylet 53 are pulled back from the first and the second biological tissue Wd to the hand side. Next, as shown in FIG. 48, the sheath 54 is moved backward to the hand side, to thereby separate the applicator from the tissue fastener 10N.

As a result, it is possible to place the tissue fastener 10N in the living body.

Here, the outer diameter of the tissue fastener 10N is larger than that of the piercing device, that is, larger than a hole We in the living tissue formed by the piercing device. Consequently, no gap is produced between the hole and the tissue fastener. Therefore, a body fluid will not leak out from the gap between the hole and the tissue Fastener.

In addition, the tissue fastener 10N is made of a tubular material. Therefore, it is possible to allow a body fluid such as bile to flow from the duct wall Wc side of the common bile duct to the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum through a lumen of the tubular material, without using a stent.

A tissue fastener 10O shown in FIG. 49 has a first tissue fixation portion 231 and a second tissue fixation portion 232, both of which are made of a highly elastic metal wire 230 wound in a coil (a cylinder). The first tissue fixation portion 231 and the second tissue fixation portion 232, in a state with the first tissue fixation portion 231 being locked on an intestinal wall Wd of a duodenum and the second fixation portion 232 being locked on a duct wall Wc of a common bile duct, clamp these intestinal wall Wd and duct wall Wc so as to be brought in close contact with each other. To be more specific, the first tissue fixation portion 231 is made of a first inner circumference spring portion 231a to be locked on the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum, and the second tissue fixation portion 232 is made of a second inner circumference spring portion 232a to be locked on the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct. From a tip of the first inner circumference spring portion 231a, an outer circumference spring portion 233 is provided so as to extend outwardly in a radial direction and also to return to the second inner circumference spring portion 232a side to be locked on the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum.

Furthermore, the inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a are provided with an initial tension. This initial tension is set to a degree such that in placing the tissue fastener 10O in a living body, even if a tip of the outer circumference spring portion 233 presses the intestinal wall Wd downwardly and then receives a reaction force from there, the first inner circumference spring portion 231a is not pulled away from the intestinal wall Wd, and that no gap is produced between the portions of the highly elastic metal wire 230 as shown in FIG. 50. A description of this will be given later. Furthermore, a height H1 of the first inner circumference spring portion 231a and a height H2 of the second inner circumference spring portion 232a are set to heights such that when the tissue fastener 10O is placed in the living body, the two spring portions protrude past the living tissue as the placement target moves outwardly in an axial direction. For example, in the case of the first inner circumference spring portion 231a that is placed in the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum, the height H1 is set to 1.5 mm or more. The duct wall Wc of the common bile duct is thinner than the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum. Therefore, the height H2 of the second inner circumference spring portion 232a that is placed in the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct is 0.5 mm or more.

In the tissue fastener 10O with the above structure, as shown in FIG. 50, the first inner circumference spring portion 231a is locked on the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum and the second inner circumference spring portion 232a is locked on the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct. Thereby, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are clamped so as to be brought in close contact with each other by those inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a. Furthermore, the outer circumference spring portion 233 presses the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum to the duct wall Wc side of the common bile duct.

Here, the case without the outer circumference spring portion 233 will be described. When the tissue fastener is placed in a living body, the highly elastic metal wire 230 is previously inserted and set in the piercing device 52 in an extended manner, as shown in FIG. 51. This piercing device 52 is then piercingly inserted into the intestinal wall Wd of duodenum and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct, and the highly elastic metal wire 230 is pushed out from a tip thereof to place the tissue fastener. As a result, a gap Ga is formed between the hole We formed in the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct when the piercing device 52 is piercingly inserted and the highly elastic metal wire 230 is penetrated and arranged through this hole We. Therefore, there arises a phenomenon in which a body fluid such as bile flows out through this gap Ga, and furthermore flows through a gap Gb between the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct, to thereby leak into an abdominal cavity. If the body fluid is bile, there is a possibility of producing bile peritonitis.

However, in this modification, the outer circumference side of the portion of the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum clamped by the first and second inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a is pressed to the duct wall Wc side of the common bile duct by the outer circumference spring portion 233, as shown in FIG. 50. Therefore, no gap is produced between the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct. As a result, even if a body fluid such as bile leaks out through the gap Ga, this body fluid will not leak into an abdominal cavity through the gap between the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct.

Furthermore, the insides of the portions of the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct clamped by the inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a have a flow of blood prevented and develops pressure necrosis. At the same time, around the inner circumference spring portions, the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc are adhered and joined. Then, the tissue fastener and the necrotized tissue fall off from the other tissue. At this time, the inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a are always biased to a duodenal lumen side by the outer circumference spring portion 233. Therefore, when the tissue fastener falls off, the tissue fastener inevitably falls off to the lumen side of the duodenum. As a result, the tissue fastener is promptly excreted out of the body through the small intestine and the large intestine.

As described above, the outer circumference spring portion 233 presses the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum to the duct wall Wc side of the common bile duct. The reactive force at that time also functions as force to separate the first inner circumference spring portion 231a from the intestinal wall Wd. Therefore, if an initial tension of the inner circumference spring portion is smaller than a biasing force of the outer circumference spring portion, a clamping force between the first inner circumference spring portion 231a and the second inner circumference spring portion 232a is weakened, and also a gap is produced between the portions of the highly elastic metal wire 230 of the first inner circumference spring portion 231a, as shown in FIG. 53.

In this manner, if the force generated between the inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a for clamping the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc is weakened, it is not possible to sufficiently prevent a flow of blood in the intestinal wall Wd and the duct wall Wc. Furthermore, if a gap is produced between the portions of the highly elastic metal wire 230 constituting the inner circumference spring portion, tissue surrounded by the inner circumference spring portion is brought into contact with tissue outside thereof through the gap between the portions of the highly elastic metal wire 230, allowing a flow of blood to occur between the two. It follows that the tissue surrounded by the inner circumference spring portion will not be necrotized. Therefore, the tissue will not fall off, and it is not possible to form a subsequent healed hole.

In this modification, the initial tension of the inner circumference spring portion, especially of the first inner circumference spring portion, is set to a degree such that in placing the tissue fastener 10O in a living body, even if a tip of the outer circumference spring portion 233 presses the intestinal wall Wd downwardly and then receives a reaction force from there, the first inner circumference spring portion 231a is not pulled away from the intestinal wall Wd, and that no gap is produced between the portions of the highly elastic metal wire 230, as shown in FIG. 50. Therefore, when the tissue fastener is placed, no gap is produced between the portions of the highly elastic metal wire 230 of the inner circumference spring portion, and hence it is possible to maintain the close contact condition. As a result, a flow of blood is prevented between the tissue surrounded by the inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a and the outside tissue, and then the tissue surrounded by the inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a is necrotized. Subsequently, the tissue fastener and the necrotized tissue fall off, and a healed hole for communicating the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct is formed.

In this modification, the initial tension of the inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a is increased. It is set to a degree such that when the tissue fastener is placed, the first inner circumference spring portion 231a is not separated from the intestinal wall Wd and that no gap is produced between the portions of the highly elastic metal wire 230. However, the structure is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 54, a wire diameter of a highly elastic metal wire constituting an outer circumference spring portion 233 is set to be smaller than a wire diameter of a highly elastic metal wire constituting an inner circumference spring portion, to thereby make it possible to weaken a reactive force generated by the outer circumference spring portion 233. Therefore, it is possible to produce an effect similar to the one as described above.

On the other hand, if the heights of the second inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a are too low, a flow of blood may be maintained as a result of the tissue surrounded by those first and second inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a being brought into contact with the outside tissue through an upper side portion of the inner circumference spring portion. If the flow of blood is maintained, the tissue surrounded by the inner circumference spring portion will not be necrotized, and hence will not fall off.

However, in this modification, the heights H1, H2 of the first and second inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a are set to heights such that when the tissue fastener 10O is placed in the living body, the two portions protrude past the living tissue as the placement target outwardly. For example, in the case of the first inner circumference spring portion 231a being placed in the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum, the height H1 is 1.5 mm or more. In addition, because the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct is thinner than the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum, the height H2 of the second inner circumference spring portion 232a placed in the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct is 0.5 mm or more. As a result, when the tissue fastener is placed, it is possible to prevent a flow of blood between the tissue surrounded by those first and second inner circumference spring portions 231a, 232a and the outside tissue. Therefore, it is possible to necrotize the tissue surrounded by the inner circumference spring portion and to let it fall off.

A tissue fastener 10P shown in FIG. 55 has a first tissue fixation portion (first inner circumference spring portion) 231 and a second tissue fixation portion (second inner circumference spring portion) 242, both of which are made of a highly elastic metal wire 230 wound in a coil (a cylinder), and furthermore has an outer circumference spring portion 233 that extends from a tip of the first inner circumference spring portion outwardly in a radial direction. In this point, this modification is similar to the modification described above.

In this modification, a tip portion of the second inner circumference spring portion 242, for example substantially one turn 242A is not closely wound but is wound so as to be spaced apart from the other portions.

Incidentally, the first and second inner circumference spring portions are provided with an initial tension, and hence are not capable of shrinking any more. In the case where the second inner circumference spring portion is closely wound to its tip, when for example the inner circumference spring portion of a right wound coil is pushed out from the piercing device 52, the inner circumference spring portion assumes its original right wound coil shape as shown in FIG. 56, if the coil is not provided with an initial tension. However, if the inner circumference spring portion is provided with an initial tension, the coil tries to shrink. Therefore, its tip may be wound on the opposite side (on the left wound side), as shown by a double-dot line in FIG. 56. Once this occurs, the inner circumference spring portion, when pushed out from the piercing device, is forced to be of a left wound shape, although it is originally of a right wound shape. Such a situation is not preferable because the inner circumference spring portion will not assume its original coil shape, and hence will be incapable of exerting an expected biasing force.

In this modification, a tip portion of the second inner circumference spring portion 242, for example the substantially one turn 242A is not closely wound but is wound so as to be spaced apart from the other portions. Therefore, when the second inner circumference spring portion 242 is pushed out from the piercing device, no extra force acts on the one turn of the inner circumference spring portion, and hence the one turn is wound in its original shape. If the first portion is wound in its original coil shape, the subsequent portion is followingly wound in its original coil shape even if a strong initial tension is provided.

Note that the above modification is configured such that the tip portion 242A of the second inner circumference spring portion 242 is not closely wound but is wound so as to be spaced apart from the other portions. However, the structure is not limited to this. It may be configured such that a tip portion, for example substantially one turn portion 242A on the tip side, of the second inner circumference spring portion 242 is not provided with an initial tension, or is provided with a weaker initial tension than that of the other portions.

A tissue fastener 10Q shown in FIGS. 57A, 57B is provided with a stopper 253 between a first tissue fixation portion 251 and a second tissue fixation portion 252, aside from its main unit (that is, a highly elastic metal wire 10). A thin wire 253A with a diameter smaller than that of the wire 10 in a linking portion is inserted into a tube member 253B which is fitted onto the wire 10. Thereby, the stopper 253 is attached while being curved in a coil so as to be positioned inside the first and second tissue fixation portions 251, 252.

As a precondition, a diameter of the thin wire 253A at its curved portions is made smaller than an inner diameter of the coils of the first and second tissue fixation portions 251, 252. In addition, for placing a stent 30A, it is set to be larger than an outer diameter of the stent 30A, as shown in FIG. 58. Alternatively, it is set as small as possible, as shown in FIG. 59. In the latter case, this is for securing a sufficient space for placing the stent 30A between the thin wire 253A and the first and second tissue fixation portions 251, 252.

The stopper 253 is one that is locked on an intestinal wall Wd of a duodenum Dd to prevent a phenomenon where a tissue fastener 10B is pulled inside a common bile duct Cb, thus resulting in placement with an imbalance in number of coil turns between the first tissue fixation portion 251 locked on the intestinal wall Wd side of the duodenum Dd and the second tissue fixation portion 252 locked on the duct wall of the common bile duct.

As methods of fixing the thin wire 253A onto the highly elastic metal wire 10 in the linking portion between the first tissue fixation portion 251 and the second tissue fixation portion 252, the following can be listed.

A method of winding the thin wire 253A around an outer circumference of the highly elastic metal wire 10 for fixation by friction, as shown in FIG. 60; a method of winding the thin wire 253A and welding the entire region or a plurality of points thereof as shown in FIG. 61; a method of utilizing the tube member 253B that is fitted onto the highly elastic metal wire 10, in which the tip of the thin wire 253A is inserted into the tube member 253B, and an adhesive is used or the tube member 253B is subjected to plastic deformation such as caulking for fixation, as shown in FIG. 62; and a method in which a hole 254 is bored in the highly elastic metal wire 10, and an end of the thin wire 253A is inserted into this hole to be fixed by known means such as an adhesive or caulking, as shown in FIG. 63 can be listed.

FIG. 64 shows a modification of a stylet of the applicator. A stylet, when inserted into a piercing device 2, originally has a function of pushing out a tissue fastener 10A at a tip of the piercing device 2 from the tip.

In a stylet 53B shown here, a hemispheric protrusion 262 is provided on a tip of a bar member 261, and an elastic coil 263 capable of expanding its diameter is wound around a small diameter portion 261A of the bar member 261 on a side closer to a base end than the protrusion. Furthermore, the elastic coil 263 functions as an electrode. It is configured such that to this electrode, high-frequency current is supplied from a power source (not shown in the figure) as required.

According to the stylet 53B with such a structure, forward movement causes a tissue fastener 10A inserted into the piercing device 52 to be pushed out. After that, as shown in FIG. 65, the protrusion 262 on the tip and the elastic coil 263 is protruded from the tip of the piercing device 52. At this time, the elastic coil 263 is expanded in diameter by its own elasticity. Then, in this condition, high-frequency current is supplied to the elastic coil 263 expanded in diameter. In this condition, the stylet 53B is pulled back to the hand side as shown in FIG. 66 and FIG. 67. Thereby, it is possible to burn off the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct, which are clamped by the tissue fastener 10A, to form a drainage hole 264.

After that, as described above, the tissue fastener 10A falls off after the necrosis of the tissue, to thereby form an anastomotic fistula 265 as shown in FIG. 68.

In a stylet 53C shown in FIG. 69, a hemispheric protrusion 262 is provided on a tip of a bar member 261, and cutting blades 271 are provided on the bar member 261 on a side closer to a base end than the protrusion. In a rear portion of each cutting blade 271, a blade portion 271A is provided in an inclined manner. Furthermore, the cutting blades 271 are elastic enough to be retractable in a piercing device 52 in a vortex manner seen from the front, as shown in FIG. 70.

According to the stylet 53C with the above structure, when the cutting blades 271 are protruded forward from the tip of the piercing device 52 as shown in FIG. 71 after the tissue fastener 10A inserted into the piercing device 52 is pushed out, the cutting blades 271 extend in a flat plate shape by their own elasticity. Then, they are pulled back to the hand side in this condition. As a result, it is possible to cut in the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct with the blade portions 271A in the rear portion, to thereby form a drainage hole 273.

It is not configured such that high-frequency current is supplied to these cutting blades 271. However, it may be configured such that high-frequency current is supplied as required.

In a stylet 53D shown in FIG. 73, a hemispheric protrusion 262 is provided on a tip of a bar member 261, and cutting blades 281 are provided on the bar member 261 on a side closer to a base end than the protrusion. The cutting blades 281 are curved in an arc shape. It is configured such that the outlines thereof draw a circle as a whole. In a rear portion of each blade, a blade portion 281A is provided in an obliquely inclined manner. Furthermore, the cutting blades 281 are elastic enough to be retractable in a piercing device 52 in a vortex manner seen from the front, as shown in FIG. 74.

According to the stylet 53D with the above structure, when the cutting blades 281 are protruded forward from the tip of the piercing device 52 after the tissue fastener inserted into the piercing device is pushed out, each of the cutting blades 271 extends in an arc shape by its own elasticity so that they draw a circle as a whole. Then, they are pulled back to the hand side in this condition. As a result, it is possible to cut in the intestinal wall Wd of the duodenum and the duct wall Wc of the common bile duct with the blade portions 281A in the rear portion, to thereby form a circular drainage hole 283.

In a stylet 53E shown in FIG. 76, a spiral groove 291 is formed in a tip of the stylet.

When a common bile duct has an increased internal pressure due to retention of bile, it is preferable that a hole be provided in the common bile duct in advance, and that the manipulation be conducted in a state of a reduced internal pressure after the suction of the bile from this hole.

According to the stylet 53E with this structure, a base end side of the stylet 53E is connected with a suction mechanism, and the spiral groove 291 formed between the piercing device 52 and the stylet 53E can be utilized to suck the bile. In the case of using a simple stick-shaped stylet, there arise contradictory problems as follows. If to secure a bile suction passage, a gap between the stylet and the piercing device is made larger by making the diameter of the stylet smaller, it becomes difficult to push out the tissue fastener. On the contrary, if the diameter of the stylet is made larger to make the push-out of the tissue fastener favorable, it becomes difficult to secure a bile suction passage.

FIG. 77 and FIG. 78 show a modification of the piercing device.

In a piercing device 300 shown here, a tip portion 301 is a separate entity from a piercing device main unit 302, and hence is detachable by being threadingly fitted into the piercing device main unit 302.

When a tissue fastener 10A is previously inserted into a tip portion 301 of this piercing device to be used as a cartridge, it is possible to reuse the piercing device main unit 302 as a common portion by replacing a tip portion into which a tissue fastener 10A is inserted, as required. Furthermore, a needle tip portion 301A on the tip of the tip portion of the piercing device 300 is renewed for every use. Therefore, it is possible to secure a sharp edge.

Claims

1. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, the second tissue fixation portion continuing into the first tissue fixation portion, wherein

when falling off first and second biological tissue necrotized by being clamped between the first tissue fixation portion and the second tissue fixation portion, the tissue fastener moves only from the second tissue fixation portion to the first tissue fixation portion side and falls off.

2. The tissue fastener according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of at least a part of the first tissue fixation portion is set to be larger than a diameter of the second tissue fixation portion.

3. The tissue fastener according to claim 1, wherein a tip portion of the first tissue fixation portion is inclined with respect to other portions of the first tissue fixation portion.

4. The tissue fastener according to claim 1, wherein a number of coil turns of the first tissue fixation portion is larger than that of the second tissue fixation portion.

5. The tissue fastener according to claim 1, wherein a coil turn density of the first tissue fixation portion is lower than that of the second tissue fixation portion.

6. The tissue fastener according to claim 1, wherein an anchoring body is attached around the first tissue fixation portion, the anchoring body flowing along a surface of the first biological tissue.

7. The tissue fastener according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the elastic wire of the first tissue fixation portion is larger than that of the elastic wire of the second tissue fixation portion.

8. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, wherein

an elastic wire of at least a linking portion between the first tissue fixation portion and the second tissue fixation portion is made of a multitude of thin wires being stranded.

9. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, wherein

around an outer circumference of an elastic wire of at least a linking portion between the first tissue fixation portion and the second tissue fixation portion, a thin wire is wound.

10. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, wherein

the first tissue fixation portion is arranged around an outer circumference of the second tissue fixation portion.

11. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in two-tier large and small coils, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, the second tissue fixation portion continuing into the small coil of the first tissue fixation portion.

12. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, the second tissue fixation portion continuing into the first tissue fixation portion, wherein

a linking portion between the first tissue fixation portion and the second tissue fixation portion passes through a central portion of the coil.

13. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue;

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue; and

a cap formed in a cylindrical shape and having a female thread portion to fit onto the first tissue fixation portion therein and a ring-shaped stretching portion that stretches toward the second tissue fixation portion side when the female thread portion is fitted onto the first tissue fixation portion.

14. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of a tubular elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of a tubular elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue.

15. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue;

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue; and

an outer circumference spring portion that extends from a tip of the first tissue fixation portion outwardly in a radial direction and that returns to the second tissue fixation portion side to press the first biological tissue.

16. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, wherein

a height of the coil of the first tissue fixation portion is set to 1.5 mm or more.

17. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, wherein

a height of the coil of the second tissue fixation portion is set to 0.5 mm or more.

18. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, wherein

an initial tension of a part of a tip end side of the second tissue fixation portion is set to be smaller than that of other portions of the second tissue portion.

19. The tissue fastener according to claim 18, wherein an initial tension of substantially one turn of the second tissue fixation portion is set to be smaller than that of other portions of the second tissue portion.

20. A tissue fastener for clamping first biological tissue and second biological tissue so as to be in close contact with each other, comprising:

a first tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the first biological tissue; and

a second tissue fixation portion, made of an elastic wire wound in a coil, that is locked on the second biological tissue, wherein

a part of a tip end side of the second tissue fixation portion is not closely wound.

21. The tissue fastener according to claim 20, wherein substantially one turn of the tip end side of the second tissue fixation portion is not closely wound.

22. The tissue fastener according to claim 15, wherein the outer circumference spring portion presses the first biological tissue to the second biological tissue side.

23. The tissue fastener according to claim 22, wherein an initial tension of the coil of the first tissue fixation portion is set to be stronger than an amount of force with which the outer circumference spring portion presses the first tissue fixation portion when the tissue fastener is placed in a living body.

24. The tissue fastener according to claim 22, wherein the outer circumference spring portion is set to be smaller than that of the first and second tissue fixation portions.