US 12,070,204 B2
Apparatus, device, and method for increasing force distribution at suture-tissue interface
Laura E. Christakis, Framingham, MA (US); Paul Smith, Smithfield, RI (US); Ryan V. Wales, Northborough, MA (US); Scott E. Brechbiel, Acton, MA (US); Jeff Gray, Sudbury, MA (US); and Sean P. Fleury, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Assigned to BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed by Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed on Jun. 10, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/897,561.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/860,108, filed on Jun. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0390436 A1, Dec. 17, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 17/04 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0469 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0401 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0406 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0409 (2013.01); A61B 2017/047 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0479 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tissue suturing apparatus for an endoscope, comprising:
a tissue suturing device extending from a distal end of the endoscope, the tissue suturing device comprising a plurality of tissue supports, wherein each of the plurality of tissue supports is deployable towards a target tissue, and wherein one or more tissue supports of the plurality of tissue supports is configured to receive a suture during deployment;
a deployment device comprising: a housing containing the plurality of tissue supports; and a cover extending across the housing, the cover including an opening to permit access to the plurality of tissue supports by a needle attached to the suture, wherein the plurality of tissue supports is contained within the deployment device prior to deployment; and
the needle, wherein the needle engages a tissue support of the plurality of tissue supports to deploy the tissue support,
the deployment device comprising an interior channel and a biasing device for biasing the plurality of tissue supports within the interior channel, wherein the plurality of tissue supports are arranged end-to-end within the interior channel.