| US 7,601,159 B2 | ||
| Interlocking tissue anchor apparatus and methods | ||
| Richard C. Ewers, Fullerton, Calif. (US); Tracy D. Maahs, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (US); Cang C. Lam, Irvine, Calif. (US); Vahid Saadat, Saratoga, Calif. (US); and Chris Rothe, San Jose, Calif. (US) | ||
| Assigned to USGI Medical, Inc., San Clemente, Calif. (US) | ||
| Filed on Sep. 30, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/955,244. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0251202 A1, Nov. 10, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 17/03 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 606—139 [606/232] | 22 Claims |

| 1. A tissue anchor for controlled delivery by a delivery device having a lateral constraining member, comprising:
a first anchor body adapted for placement into or against a region of tissue, said first anchor body having a proximal collar,
a distal collar, and a central portion extending between said proximal and distal collars, and with the proximal collar, distal
collar, and central portion defining a lumen extending through the first anchor body;
a suture extending through the first anchor body lumen such that the first anchor body is able to be advanced over the suture;
a second member adapted for temporary engagement with the first anchor body and having a first position in which the second
member is substantially aligned with the first anchor body;
a lateral constraining member in contact with each of said first anchor body and said second member and adapted to maintain
the first anchor body and second member in the first position, said lateral constraining member comprising a flexible tubular
sheath having a tissue penetrating tip at a distal end;
a first locking feature located on at least one end of the first anchor body which is adapted to interlock with a corresponding
second locking feature on the second member when the first anchor body and the second member are in contact with the lateral
constraining member and are in the first position, and which is adapted to release from the corresponding second locking feature
on the second member when the first anchor body is not in contact with the lateral constraining member and the first anchor
and second member are not maintained in the first position; and
a tissue manipulation assembly comprising a first extension member and a second extension member configured to receive a tissue
fold in a space located between said first and second extension members, wherein said flexible tubular sheath has a first
position in which the tissue penetrating tip is located outside of the space between said first and second extension members
and a second position in which the tissue penetrating tip is located within the space between said first and second extension
members.
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