CPC A61B 17/32 (2013.01) [A61B 17/3478 (2013.01); A61B 2017/320044 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3488 (2013.01)] | 23 Claims |
1. A tissue engagement device, comprising:
a lumen tube having a maximum exterior width;
a proximal end and a distal end; and
at least two adjacent engagement arms each including a piercing tip and a curved non-piercing edge adjacent the piercing tip, wherein the at least two adjacent engagement arms are configured to move between (i) a retracted undeployed orientation in which the curved non-piercing edges of the two adjacent engagement arms extend out beyond an end of the lumen tube to define a lateral width less than the maximum exterior width of the lumen tube and the piercing tips of the at least two adjacent engagement arms face each other to define a gap therebetween and each curved non-piercing edge is oriented to pass over and deflect tissue, without penetrating the tissue, when the distal end is pressed against the tissue, and (ii) an actuated orientation in which each curved non-piercing edge faces distally from the lumen tube, throughout a transition from the retracted undeployed orientation to the actuated orientation, and the piercing tips of the at least two adjacent engagement arms are moved towards each other to eliminate the gap and then cross over each other to end in a full actuated orientation facing away from each other, such that the curved non-piercing edges are spaced from each other by a distance greater than the maximum exterior width.
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