US 12,357,319 B2
Apparatus and methods for closing vessels
Bradley B. Hill, Santa Clara, CA (US); James Hong, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Wenkang Qi, Cupertino, CA (US)
Assigned to VENOVATION INC., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed by VENOVATION INC., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed on May 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/739,138.
Application 17/739,138 is a continuation of application No. 16/780,796, filed on Feb. 3, 2020, granted, now 11,324,514.
Application 16/780,796 is a continuation of application No. 14/606,892, filed on Jan. 27, 2015, granted, now 10,548,610, issued on Feb. 4, 2020.
Application 14/606,892 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2013/052432, filed on Jul. 27, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/676,551, filed on Jul. 27, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0330945 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/128 (2006.01); A61B 17/12 (2006.01); A61B 17/122 (2006.01); A61B 17/06 (2006.01); A61B 17/064 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/1285 (2013.01) [A61B 17/12031 (2013.01); A61B 17/12109 (2013.01); A61B 17/12145 (2013.01); A61B 17/1227 (2013.01); A61B 2017/061 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0641 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0645 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0647 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0649 (2013.01); A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 2017/1205 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00595 (2013.01); A61B 18/1477 (2013.01); A61B 2090/034 (2016.02)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for closing a tubular structure within a patient's body, comprising:
a tubular member comprising a proximal end, a distal end including a sharpened distal tip for penetrating through the tubular structure, a lumen extending proximally from the distal end, and defining a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal ends;
a clip within the lumen adjacent the distal tip, the clip comprising:
a) an elongate central region aligned with the longitudinal axis;
b) a pair of distal tines extending from a first end of the central region; and
c) a pair of proximal tines extending from a second end of the central region, the pair of distal tines being shorter than the pair of proximal tines, and wherein the pair of distal tines, the pair of proximal tines, and the central region lie within a common plane;
d) the clip loaded within the lumen such that the pair of distal tines and the pair of proximal tines are in a stressed state, the pair of distal tines and the pair of proximal tines biased to a relaxed state shaped to engage and close the tubular structure, the pair of proximal tines having sufficient length to surround the central region and the pair of distal tines in the relaxed state; and
a pusher member comprising a blunt pusher member distal end slidably received within the lumen and positioned proximal to the clip within the lumen for advancing the clip from the distal tip of the tubular member such that the pair of distal tines are initially deployed from the distal tip and resiliently return towards the relaxed state to engage a posterior side of the tubular structure through which the distal end of the tubular member is introduced,
wherein the clip is fully deployable from the lumen beyond the distal tip such that the pair of proximal tines are released and resiliently return towards the relaxed state to surround and engage the tubular structure to compress and close the tubular structure,
wherein the pusher member is movable relative to the tubular member from a first position to a second position wherein the pair of distal tines are deployed from the lumen beyond the distal tip.