US 12,108,939 B2
Endoscopic tissue grasping systems and methods
Stephen West, Austin, TX (US); David Miller, Austin, TX (US); Vladimir Mitelberg, Austin, TX (US); and Donald K. Jones, Dripping Springs, TX (US)
Assigned to BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed by BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed on Aug. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/396,021.
Application 17/396,021 is a continuation of application No. 13/539,661, filed on Jul. 2, 2012, granted, now 11,083,364, issued on Aug. 10, 2021.
Application 13/539,661 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/328,003, filed on Dec. 16, 2011, granted, now 9,198,562, issued on Dec. 1, 2015.
Application 13/328,003 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/485,576, filed on Jun. 16, 2009, granted, now 8,287,556, issued on Oct. 16, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/495,970, filed on Jun. 11, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/483,679, filed on May 8, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/162,249, filed on Mar. 20, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/073,340, filed on Jun. 17, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2022/0061640 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 1/018 (2006.01); A61B 1/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/06 (2006.01); A61B 17/062 (2006.01); A61B 17/068 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/064 (2006.01); A61B 17/29 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/018 (2013.01) [A61B 1/04 (2013.01); A61B 17/0401 (2013.01); A61B 17/0482 (2013.01); A61B 17/0487 (2013.01); A61B 17/0491 (2013.01); A61B 17/06123 (2013.01); A61B 17/0625 (2013.01); A61B 17/068 (2013.01); A61B 17/00234 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00296 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00349 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0042 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0409 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0417 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0454 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0464 (2013.01); A61B 17/0469 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0496 (2013.01); A61B 2017/06047 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0608 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0649 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2912 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of passing a needle through a wall of tissue having a thickness, comprising:
a) providing:
an endoscope having a proximal end, a distal end with a distal end face, an instrument channel extending within the endoscope between the proximal and distal ends, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends,
a distal end cap removably mounted on the distal end of the endoscope,
a needle holder movably mounted on the end cap,
a handle operable from the proximal end of the endoscope to move the needle holder relative to the end cap,
a straight needle removably coupled to the needle holder, the needle having a sharp tissue piercing end and a length of suture coupled thereto, and
the needle holder operable to move the needle along a path from a first location to a second location;
b) providing a tissue grasper;
c) engaging the tissue grasper with the tissue;
d) retracting the tissue with the grasper tissue toward the distal end face of the endoscope and into the path; and
e) operating the handle to rotate the needle holder and thereby advance the needle along the path and through a complete thickness of the wall of tissue, wherein the needle holder rotates the straight needle into an orientation parallel with the longitudinal axis after the needle is advanced through the complete thickness of the wall of tissue.