DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] FIGS. 1A to 3 B illustrate a first embodiment of the invention which deploys two curved projections that can be used as an anchor against tissue surrounding an opening into a vessel lumen. In this particular example, the two curved projections are opposite ends of a single ribbon shaped element which passes through a central rotatable element of the device. The present invention is not so limited. Rather, other embodiments are also contemplated.

[0026] For example, FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a second embodiment of the invention which deploys four curved projections. This embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, but instead uses two ribbon shaped elements which are spaced longitudinally apart from one another. FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a third embodiment of the invention which deploys four curved projections into the tissue. In this particular example, the curved projections may either be attached to the central rotatable element, or may be integrally formed with the central rotatable element. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a fourth embodiment of the invention which deploys a single curved projection in the form of a wire attached at one end to the central rotatable element. Lastly, FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a fifth embodiment of the invention in which a suturing device includes needles and suture in operative relationships with the anchoring elements or projections.

[0027] Each of the four embodiments of the invention ( FIGS. 1A to 6 B) illustrate the present invention as incorporated into a catheter system. Thus, for clarity, each of FIGS. 1A, 1B , and 4 to 6 B illustrates only a cut-out longitudinal section of a catheter system in which the present invention is incorporated. FIGS. 3A and 3B show a greater length of the catheter. As can be appreciated, the catheter extends upwardly and/or downwardly perpendicular from the page in FIGS. 2A and 2B .

[0028] Referring first to FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3 A, a system 10 for securing a catheter system in a body lumen is provided. Sheath 12 has a pair of side openings 14 disposed on opposite sides thereof. A central rotatable element 20 is received within sheath 12 . A pair of projections 22 A and 22 B extend radially outwardly from rotatable element 20 , as shown in FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3 B. The sheath described herein may be a portion of a catheter body, an introducer sheath, or simply a hollow tubular body that is part of a device into which the present invention is incorporated. As will also be explained and illustrated, the present invention may be used in applications other than in a catheter body. For example, the present invention may be incorporated into a suturing device as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B . It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be incorporated into other devices as well.

[0029] Returning to FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3 A, rotation of rotatable element 20 within sheath 12 in direction R ( FIG. 2A ) causes the distal ends of each of projections 22 A and 22 B to be pushed out through openings 14 . Thus, rotation of rotatable element 20 with respect to sheath 12 in direction R moves curved projections 22 A and 22 B from the pre-deployed position ( FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3 A) to the fully deployed position ( FIGS. 1B, 2B and 3 B). As can be seen in FIG. 3 B, such deployment causes curved projections 22 A and 22 B to extend beyond the edges E of side hole 11 in the wall W of body lumen L. Thus, curved projections 22 A and 22 B can act as an anchoring system, such that they will push against the interior surface of wall W when the catheter system 10 is pulled proximally in direction P.

[0030] It is to be understood that all reference herein made to rotation of the rotatable element (which is disposed within the sheath) both in the specification and claims, refers to rotation of the rotatable element with respect to the sheath. Thus, “rotation of the rotatable element” in the specification and claims, encompasses rotation of the rotatable element with the sheath held stationary, rotation of the sheath with the rotatable element held stationary, rotation of the sheath and rotatable element in opposite directions, and rotation of the sheath and rotatable element in the same direction, but at different speeds.

[0031] As can be appreciated, removal of the present anchoring system is accomplished by simply rotating rotatable element 20 with respect to sheath 12 in a direction opposite to R, thereby retracting curved projections 22 A and 22 B into the sheath.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1A to 3 B, curved projections 22 A and 22 B move through side openings 14 which are disposed on opposite sides of sheath 12 . Thus, in various embodiments, any number of side openings 14 may be disposed equidistantly around the circumference of sheath 12 .

[0033] Projections 22 A and 22 B may be curved. The projections preferably extend radially from the rotatable element in a plane that may be perpendicular or otherwise transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device or to the rotatable element. Specifically, the projections 22 A and 22 B move through side openings 14 as the projections are deployed in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the device. Such movement in the radial direction may preferably be confined to movement in the transverse plane defined by the lengths of the projections.

[0034] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 3 B, projections 22 A and 22 B are simply opposite ends of a single deformable member 22 which passes through a hole 21 in rotatable element 20 . Deformable member 22 (and its curved projections 22 A and 22 B) may be formed from a ribbon shaped material (having a rectangular cross section, as shown). Alternatively, deformable member 22 (and its curved projections 22 A and 22 B) may be formed from a wire (having a circular cross section). In further embodiments, deformable member 22 (and its curved projections 22 A and 22 B) may be formed from a member having an I-beam cross section.

[0035] An advantage of curved projections 22 A and 22 B being ribbon shaped or I-beam shaped (or any other dimension in which they are thicker in the direction along the length of sheath 12 ) is that they are more resistant to bending when the catheter is pulled in direction P, such that the projections push against the tissue surrounding the interior of opening 11 through tissue wall W (see FIG. 3B ).

[0036] It is to be understood that although curved projections 22 A and 22 B may be opposite ends of a single deformable member 22 (as shown), curved projections 22 A and 22 B may also be two separate elements which either are fastened to rotatable element 20 or are integrally formed from the same block of material as rotatable element 20 . Whether or not curved projections 22 A and 22 B are opposite ends of a single member, or are separate elements, such curved projections are preferably formed from a deformable material. Suitable deformable materials may include (but are not limited to) metals, including shape memory metals, polymers, or any combinations thereof.

[0037] In optional preferred embodiments, curved projections 22 A and 22 B may be formed of a material which causes them to be biased such that their ends spring radially outwardly (i.e.: straighten out) as they pass through side openings 14 . An example of this effect can be seen in FIG. 2B where the curved radially extending ends of projections 22 A and 22 B are shown as being straighter than the center portion of deformable member 22 that is inside sheath 12 . This is advantageous in that it is the straightest portion of deformable member 22 protrudes radially away from the center of the device, and reaching farther, thus maximizing the amount of tissue against which the projections are anchored.

[0038] Optionally, curved projections 22 A and 22 B may be formed of a shape memory material (such as Nitinol). As such, curved projections 22 A and 22 B may thus be formed to spring radially outwardly (i.e.: straighten out) when they are exposed to a temperature change. For example, curved projections 22 A and 22 B could be exposed to a temperature change as they exit windows 14 by being warmed by the fluid passing through the body lumen.

[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention having two pairs of curved projections. Specifically, a first pair comprising curved projections 22 A and 22 B, and a second pair comprising curved projections 24 A and 24 B. Thus, in this embodiment side openings 14 are also disposed longitudinally along the length of the sheath (as well as about the circumference of the shaft). As illustrated, curved projections 22 A and 22 B are opposite ends of a first deformable element 22 passing through hole 21 A while 24 A and 24 B are opposite ends of a second deformable element 24 passing through hole 21 B.

[0040] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate yet another embodiment of the invention in which four curved projections 22 A, 22 B, 22 C and 22 D each extend from central rotatable element 20 . In this embodiment, four curved projections are used. It is to be understood however that, in accordance with the present invention, any plurality of curved projections can be used. These curved projections protrude through openings which may be disposed equidistantly around the circumference of shaft 12 . For example, curved projections 22 A, 22 B, 22 C and 22 D are shown as disposed at 90 degrees to one another.

[0041] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate yet another embodiment of the invention in which a single curved projection 22 A is deployed through a single side opening 14 . In this embodiment, curved projection 22 A is one end of a wire (or other suitable deformable member) 22 which is wrapped around (and attached at one end to) central rotatable element 20 . In this embodiment, the length of wire 22 may optionally be as long, or longer than, deformable member 22 as shown in the other embodiments. Thus, wire 22 can be rotated such that its distal end (curved projection 22 A) is deployed much father through side opening 14 than is shown in the previous embodiments. This would have the effect of causing wire 22 , and its distal end (i.e. curved projection 22 A) to extend farther around the circumference of sheath 12 , thus firmly anchoring the present device in position. FIGS. 6A and 6B show wire 22 extending approximately half way around the circumference of the device. It is to be understood that the distal end of wire 22 (i.e. curved projection 22 A) may also- extend even further around the circumference of the device. For example, the distal end of wire 22 may be extended fully around the device, or even further (so that it wraps around the circumference of the device several times).

[0042] In various embodiments, the present invention is substantially enclosed within the body of the catheter, thus saving space and permitting easy access into the interior of body lumen L.

[0043] In various preferred embodiments, the present system is dimensioned to be around 5 to 10 mm in diameter, but may instead be dimensioned smaller so that it may fit into vessels less than 5 mm in diameter.

[0044] The various embodiments of the invention which are incorporated into a catheter system do not block fluid flow when anchoring a catheter in a body lumen. Thus, the present invention may conveniently be used in conjunctions with systems either for drug or therapeutic energy delivery, or with diagnostic systems.

[0045] In an alternate embodiment, shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B , the service is a suturing device 30 that is anchored on the interior side of a vessel wall through an arteriotomy. The device 30 may include suture-carrying or holding features located on extendable projections 32 in order to retrieve sutures S 1 and S 2 when device 30 provides an arteriotomy closure. In accordance with this embodiment, projections 32 are deployed radially outwardly in the same fashion that projections 22 were deployed in the previously described embodiments (eg: by rotating rotatable element 20 within device 30 ).

[0046] The suture-carrying features may be recesses formed in projections 32 . For example, the suture-carrying features may include cuffs 33 that may be attached to the ends SI and S 2 of a length of suture which runs through the center of device 30 . Cuffs 33 can be held within recesses in projections 32 . The present suture-carrying features may include cuffs, but the present invention is not so limited. For example, the ends of the suture can alternatively be formed into other features that are connectable to needles, such as loops. Suturing device 30 further comprises a pair of needles 34 that are initially disposed on an exterior of lumen L as shown in FIG. 7A . Thereafter, needles 34 are advanced so that they pass through the wall of the vessel, such that each needle 34 is received into a cuff 33 . Thereafter, needles 34 are retracted, as shown in FIG. 7 B, each pulling a cuff 33 with a length of suture (S 1 or S 2 ) attached thereto out of the proximal end of device 30 . Thereafter, extendable projections 32 can be retracted radially inwardly (by rotating element 20 in an opposite direction) so that the distal end of device 30 may be removed from the hole in the side of the artery, leaving behind suture passing therethrough, which can be used to close the hole. It is to be understood that although device 30 is illustrated as having two needles 34 , cuffs 33 and sutures S 1 and S 2 , other embodiments having more needles, cuffs and sutures are also possible. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B , the needles of such a device are would engage the cuffs and pull the suture through tissue.