Systems and methods for applying a suture within a blood vessel lumen

Abstract

Systems and methods suture within a body organ region. The systems and methods advance into the body organ region a catheter tube having a distal region that carries a suture applicator. The systems and methods operate the suture applicator from a location external to the body to apply a suture to an interior wall in the body organ region.

1 . An endovascular suture assembly comprising an elongated endovascular device including a spiral suture applicator including a rotary head, the elongated endovascular device being sized and configured for advancement within a blood vessel lumen, 
 a tissue-piercing spiral suture carried by the rotary head for advancement into a vascular wall of the blood vessel lumen in response to operation of the rotary head, and    a component that is sized and configured to be moved into a stabilizing condition against a vascular wall within the blood vessel lumen to apply a stabilization force within the blood vessel during advancement of the tissue-piercing spiral suture into a vascular wall.    
     
     
         2 . An assembly according to  claim 1   wherein the segment comprises an expandable body.    
     
     
         3 . An assembly according to  claim 2   further including a mechanism coupled to the expandable body to selectively expand the expandable body toward an opened condition within a blood vessel lumen and to selectively collapse the expandable body toward a closed condition for advancement with the distal region within a blood vessel lumen.    
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to  claim 1   further including a mechanism coupled to the suture applicator to selectively move the rotary head relative to the segment.    
     
     
         5 . A method comprising 
 selecting a region within a blood vessel lumen for placement of a tissue-piercing spiral suture,    providing a spiral suture applicator sized and configured for endovascular advancement within a blood vessel lumen to the region, the spiral suture applicator including a component operable from a location external to a blood vessel lumen to advance a tissue-piercing spiral suture into tissue,    placing at least one tissue-piercing spiral suture in operative association with the component,    advancing the spiral suture applicator within a blood vessel lumen into the region, and    operating the component from a location external to the blood vessel lumen to advance the at least one tissue-piercing spiral suture into a vascular wall in the region.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5   further including stabilizing the component during operation.    
     
     
         7 . A method for suturing within a body organ region comprising the steps of 
 advancing into the body organ region a catheter tube having a distal region that carries a suture applicator, and    operating the suture applicator from a location external to the body to apply a suture to an interior wall in the body organ region.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7   further including a step of stabilizing the distal region of the catheter tube during operation of the suture applicator.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7   wherein the distal region of the catheter carries a component that is sized and configured to be moved into a stabilizing condition against the interior wall to apply a stabilization force within the body organ during advancement of the tissue-piercing spiral suture into the interior wall, and    further including moving the component into the stabilizing condition against the interior wall to apply a stabilization force within the body organ during advancement of the tissue-piercing spiral suture into the interior wall.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7   wherein, during operation, the suture applicator applies a spiral suture.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 7   wherein the body organ region comprises a blood vessel lumen.    
     
     
         12 . A method for suturing a prosthesis to a blood vessel wall comprising operating a suture applicator carried on a distal end of an endovascular catheter from a location external to a blood vessel lumen to apply a spiral suture to secure the prosthesis to a blood vessel wall.  
     
     
         13 . A method comprising 
 selecting a region within a blood vessel lumen for placement of a prosthesis,    advancing the prosthesis within a blood vessel lumen into contact with a vascular wall in the region,    advancing a spiral suture applicator within a blood vessel lumen into the region, the spiral suture applicator including a component operable from a location external to the blood vessel lumen to advance a tissue-piercing spiral suture into tissue, and    operating the component from a location external to a blood vessel lumen to advance at least one tissue-piercing spiral suture into the prosthesis and a vascular wall in the region.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13   further including stabilizing the component during operation.