METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ENDOSONOGRAPHY-GUIDED FUNDOPLEXY
The present invention relates to a tissue securement system, device and method for endoscopy or endosonography-guided transluminal interventions whereby a litigation or anchor is placed and secured into soft tissue. An objective of this invention is to provide a method to reduce gastroesophageal reflux by endosonography-guided intervention. Specifically, endosonography is used to insert a litigation element through the esophageal wall, through the diaphragmatic crus and into the fundus of the stomach. This litigation element placed from the esophagus and around the angle of His that may create a barrier to gastroesophageal reflux.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/449,365, filed Jun. 8, 2006, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/688,837, filed Jun. 9, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCEAll publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
FIELDThe present invention relates to a tissue securement system, device and method for endoscopy or endosonography-guided transluminal interventions whereby a ligation or anchor is placed and secured into soft tissue.
BACKGROUNDGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition caused by the failure of the anti-reflux barrier located at the gastroesophageal junction to keep the contents of the stomach from refluxing back into the esophagus.
Surgical fundoplication is the gold standard for anatomic correction of the cardia in patients with GERD. However this procedure can have a high incidence of postoperative complications and extended recovery times. Therefore endoscopic methods for enhancing the lower esophageal sphincter have been developed as an alternative to surgery. Endoscopic treatments of GERD target the esophageal and gastric wall in the region of the lower esophageal sphincter. Methods including suture plication, radiofrequency energy ablation, and implant insertion are employed to prevent reflux by mechanisms that include the creation of a mechanical barrier by narrowing the lumen, altering the esophago-gastric angle (angle of His or “flap valve”), and altering the lower esophageal sphincter to enhance its function or decrease transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations. The endoscopic methods can be performed entirely through the endoscope placed transorally, avoiding any abdominal incisions.
Endoscopic treatment is often limited because the operator can only visualize the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal wall that is located directly in front of the endoscope. Structures deep within the wall, and outside the wall, cannot be seen. The ability to visualize these structures may influence the proper placement of a treatment apparatus and may expand the therapeutic strategies. For example placement of a suture or ligating element through the esophageal and fundal walls that also includes placement through the diaphragmatic crura may be useful. The use of endoscopic ultrasonography may address this limitation. In this procedure a combination endoscope and ultrasound instrument called an echoendoscope is utilized. From the distal esophagus, pertinent structures visualized with the echoendoscope include the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) within the wall, the crural diaphragm, and the fundus of the stomach. The diaphragmatic crura are typically seen interposed between the distal esophageal wall and the fundus of the stomach. One aspect of this invention utilizes the visualization capabilities of ultrasound endoscopy to permit a novel device and method for treating GERD.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREAccordingly, an objective of this invention is to provide a method to reduce gastroesophageal reflux by endosonography-guided intervention. Specifically, endosonography is used to insert a ligation element through the esophageal wall, through the diaphragmatic crus and into the fundus of the stomach. This ligation element placed from the esophagus and around the angle of His may create a barrier to gastroesophageal reflux.
The present invention is directed to a device, system and method that, as embodied and broadly described herein, includes an implantable ligation element for fastening layers of tissue together. The ligation element has proximal and distal ends and is suitable for insertion through the esophageal wall, the crura and into the fundus of the stomach. The distal end of the ligation element can be brought from the fundus, around the gastro-esophageal flap valve and secured to the proximal end of the ligation element in the esophagus. This ligating element forms a loop that can be used to draw the tissues described together.
In a further aspect of the invention, a system for fastening tissue is provided. The system includes a tissue securement apparatus that can be initially positioned in the esophagus using an echoendoscope. The securement apparatus is comprised of a hollow needle with a detachable needle tip. A connecting element is positioned inside the needle and attached to the needle tip. When an inner stylet is advanced, the needle tip separates from the needle body and the needle tip with a portion of the connecting element moves apart from the needle body to reside in the fundus of the stomach.
In another aspect of the invention, the system for fastening tissue also includes a ligating element that can be attached to the proximal end of the connecting element once the hollow needle is removed. The ligating element may utilize a dilating element positioned at its distal end that is sized to dilate a tissue tunnel so that the ligating element may be drawn more easily through the tissue structures.
In still another aspect of the invention, the system may also utilize an endoscopically guided grasper to grasp the distal end of a connecting element and pull the ligating element across the esophageal wall and into the stomach. The system may also utilize a securement element that is configured to engage the proximal and distal ends of the ligating element together. This may prevent the ligating element loop from loosening.
In yet another aspect, the present invention includes a method of treating gastroesophageal reflux disease. In the method, a ligating element having a proximal end and a distal end is passed transorally through the esophagus to a position near the junction between the esophagus and the stomach. The distal end of the ligating element is placed through the wall of the esophagus, through a portion of the diaphragmatic crura and into the gastric fundus using ultrasonic guidance. The distal end of the ligating element is grasped in the fundus, wrapped around the gastro-esophageal flap valve and secured to the proximal end of the ligation element in the esophagus.
All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the present invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures. The invention is not limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.
The system and method described herein may offer improvements over the techniques currently utilized to perform endoscopic procedures. This tissue securement system has several embodiments that are intended to work together to create a novel device and method for the treatment of GERD. However these embodiments also function independently and some of the embodiments of this system may be removed and the system may still achieve its desired function. Alternatively several of these embodiments may be useful as stand alone devices. The principle elements of this system are; an echoendoscope, a delivery needle, a stylet, a needle tip, a connecting element, a ligating element and securement elements.
A first component of the tissue securement system, the delivery needle 10, is shown in
In one embodiment shown in
A connecting element 40 is connected to the needle tip 24 at point 41 and the connecting element 40 extends through the hollow pusher stylet 22 to the proximal end of the needle where it can be manipulated by the operator outside the patient's body. Upon advancement of the delivery needle 10 into soft tissue, the operator places tension on the connecting element 40 which firmly seats the needle tip 24 in the needle body 20. This facilitates the introduction of the needle body 20 and needle tip 24 through tissue and into a targeted delivery site. Once at the delivery site, the tension can be released. The connecting element 40 is preferably a suture, thread, plastic filament or wire. The pusher stylet 22 extends along the length of the needle body 20 to the proximal end of the needle tip located at the retention boss 32.
Once the delivery needle 10 is advanced to a point where the needle tip 24 is at the delivery site, the stylet 22 can be used to deploy the needle tip 24 and connecting element 40. As shown in
The needle tip 24 may utilize a retrieval loop 44 attached near its apex 46 as illustrated in
The delivery needle 10 has several potential advantages over other delivery systems that deliver T-tags, plugs or anchors. First, the working channel of a standard echoendoscope has a small diameter in the range of 2.8 mm. This small size limits the size of the needle and T-tag that can be delivered through the working channel. A T-tag may be preloaded inside the hollow core of a needle, but this requires that the T-tag be very small for the procedure. T-tags of this size are difficult to handle by the physician and may be less effective. An alternative to placing the T-tag within a needle requires multiple instrument exchanges whereby first a needle is delivered to the intended site, a guidewire is inserted through the needle lumen, the needle coaxially exchanged for a sheath over the guidewire and the guidewire removed so that a T-tag can be delivered with a pushing stylet. The delivery needle 10 described in this application facilitates a simple delivery of a 19-23 gauge needle tip that acts like a T-tag. This delivery needle can save the operator time and permit delivery of an anchor with a single instrument.
The system so far described is designed to deliver a connecting element 40 and needle tip 24 through soft tissue to an intended delivery site. More preferably this system is designed to deliver the connecting element 40 and the needle tip 24 through the esophageal and stomach wall for the treatment of GERD. In this position, the connecting element 40 can be used to pull another component of the system, a ligating element 60, through soft tissue.
The ligating element 60 as shown in
The proximal end 62 and distal end 64 of the ligating element 60 may have securement elements 70 and 72 respectively as illustrated in
Another embodiment of the securement element 70, shown in
Methods of treating GERD are discussed with reference to
As shown in
The distal end 64 of the ligating element is attached to the proximal end of the connecting element 40 outside the patient's body. As shown in
An important feature of the securement elements is that the securement formed between the two ends of the ligating element is slidable so that the diameter of the loop 120 can be reduced to cinch various anatomical features together. By cinching down the loop 120, the fundus 3 of the stomach 2 is drawn into close proximity with the esophageal wall 100. This causes the stomach 2 to be partially wrapped around the esophagus so that esophagus 1 and stomach 2 are positioned in a method similar to a Nissen fundoplication procedure. As the internal pressure of the stomach 2 increases during digestion, the stomach applies a compressive force to the esophagus 1 that tends to reduce the internal luminal diameter of the esophagus. The compressive force reduces the likelihood of the stomach contents being able to pass through the esophagus 1. In other words the lower esophagus functions like a properly functioning lower esophageal sphincter.
This invention has been described and specific examples of the invention have been portrayed. The use of those specifics is not intended to limit the invention in anyway. Additionally, to the extent that there are variations of the invention, which are within the spirit of the disclosure or equivalent to the inventions found in the claims, it is my intent that this patent will cover those variations as well.
Claims
1. A tissue securement apparatus for creating a gastric fundoplexy comprising:
- a hollow needle with proximal and distal end portions, the needle comprising a needle body and a detachable needle tip; and
- a stylet positioned coaxially inside the needle body with a connecting element positioned inside the needle and extending from the proximal needle end portion to the distal needle end portion, said connecting element coupled to the needle tip at one end, the needle configured to be inserted through an esophageal and fundal wall and then withdrawn to leave behind the distal portion of the connecting element in the fundus.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 21, 2014
Publication Date: Nov 6, 2014
Inventor: Kenneth F. BINMOELLER (Rancho Santa Fe, CA)
Application Number: 14/337,014
International Classification: A61B 17/12 (20060101); A61B 17/04 (20060101);