Method and device for anastomoses

Abstract

Provided herein is a device for use in an anastomosis of tissue(s) comprising a biocompatible material and a means of applying radiofrequency energy or electrical energy to generate heat within said biocompatible material. The device also may be used to bond or fuse at two materials where at least one of the material is a tissue. Also provided are methods to anastomose tissue or to bond or to fuse these materials using these devices.

1 . A device for creating an anastomosis of tissue(s) comprising:
 a fusable biocompatible material;   at least one induction coil disposed in relation to the biocompatible material; and   means for controlling output of the heat generated within the biocompatible material conducted to the tissues via a radiofrequency-induced oscillating magnetic field around the induction coil(s)   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible material conforms to tissue geometry such that said material is effective to bond or to fuse at least two materials of which at least one material is a tissue. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said biocompatible material is a liquid, a solid or a semi-solid. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said biocompatible material comprises a protein, a biocompatible polymer, polymeric matrix substance, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said protein is elastin, albumin, fibrin, collagen, or glycoprotein. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said polymeric substance is hydrogel, agar or sol-gel. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said biocompatible material further comprises a pharmaceutical. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said pharmaceutical is an anti-coagulant, an antithrombotic, an antibiotic, a hormone, a steroidal antiinflammatory agent, a non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent, an anti-viral agent or an anti-fungal agent. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one induction coil is adapted to generate an oscillating magnetic field around the device. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a means of cooling said induction coil(s), said cooling means comprising:
 a cooling fluid; and   a containment means for said cooling fluid.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said cooling fluid is low viscosity mineral oil or water. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said containment means is a glass envelope containing said cooling fluid and said induction coil(s) or copper tubing containing said cooling fluid. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising a clamp-like instrument, said instrument comprising:
 a first arm and a second arm, said first and second arms pivotally connected at the center, said first and second arms having a first end attached to said induction coils and a second end for manipulating and placing said induction coils proximate to said biocompatible material.   
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said induction coils further comprise a coating of a smooth non-adhering material. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said non-adhering material comprises teflon, titanium or gold. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the means of controlling output of heat conducted to said tissues comprises a conductive material in contact with said biocompatible material, said conductive material having a thermal history such that application of radiofrequency energy to the conductive material generates an estimable amount of heat. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said conductive material is a metal wire, a metal particle, a ferromagnetic material, a paramagnetic material, a conducting polymer, an ionic molecule, a polar molecule or a conducting microsphere. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said conductive material is an energy-absorbing material, said energy-absorbing material comprising conducting polystyrene microbeads, a colloidal metal, a conducting polymer, a strongly ionic molecule or a strongly polar molecule. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device comprises an endoscope. 
   
   
       20 . A method for performing an anastomosis between at least two tissues comprising the steps of:
 positioning the device of  claim 1  around the tissues, said tissues simultaneously in contact with the biocompatible material of said device and with each other;   applying a radiofrequency-induced oscillating magnetic field to the biocompatible material to generate heat within said material and said tissues such that the heating adheres the biocompatible material to the tissue or adheres the tissues to each other, thereby anastomosing the tissues.   
   
   
       21 . The method of claim  22 , wherein adherence of the biocompatible material to said tissues or adherence of said tissues results from molecular changes in the biocompatible material and in the tissues.