Super elastic loop extraluminal materials delivery instrument

Abstract

A materials delivery instrument is provided and includes an outer sheath and an instrument movably mounted within the outer sheath. The instrument includes a treatment lumen extending substantially the length of the instrument for receipt of treatment material. A super elastic wire is positioned in at least a distal end of the instrument. The super elastic wire forms a loop in an unstressed state to allow the instrument to encircle an anastomosis formed between a pair of tubular tissue sections. The super elastic wire is in a stressed state when the instrument is retracted within the outer sheath and in the unstressed state when the instrument is extended from the outer sheath to enclose the anastomosis. A proximal end of the super elastic wire is oriented substantially perpendicular to a plane formed by the loop to allow the instrument to lie parallel to the tubular tissue sections during the spraying of the anastomosis. A source of air pressure may be provided through the instrument to facilitate spraying the treatment material onto the anastomosis.

1 . A materials delivery instrument comprising:
 an elongate tube having a treatment lumen, the treatment lumen extending from a proximal end of the instrument and terminating short of the distal end of the instrument;   at least one port extending between the treatment lumen and an exterior of the distal end of the instrument; and   a super elastic wire positioned within a distal end of the instrument, wherein the super elastic wire has a straight configuration in a stressed condition and a loop configuration in the unstressed condition such that the distal end of the instrument assumes the shape of the super elastic member for encircling a tubular tissue section.   
   
   
       2 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an outer sheath movably positioned over the instrument such that the super elastic member is in the stressed condition when retracted into the sheath and in the unstressed condition when the super elastic member is extended beyond a distal end of the sheath. 
   
   
       3 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a source of treatment material provided at a proximal end of the treatment lumen for delivery to the at least one port. 
   
   
       4 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the treatment material is an adhesive. 
   
   
       5 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the adhesive is a fibrin glue. 
   
   
       6 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the treatment material is a sealant. 
   
   
       7 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the treatment material is a medicament. 
   
   
       8 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the super elastic wire is embedded in the distal end of the instrument. 
   
   
       9 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the instrument includes a shaping lumen located within the distal end of the instrument and the super elastic member is positioned within the shaping lumen. 
   
   
       10 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the super elastic member has a proximal portion oriented perpendicular to a plane defined by the loop when the super elastic member is in the unstressed condition. 
   
   
       11 . A materials delivery instrument comprising:
 an elongate tube having a treatment lumen for receipt of treatment material therethrough, the treatment lumen extending from a proximal end of the instrument to the distal end of the instrument;   an auxiliary lumen for receipt of air pressure and extending from a proximal end of the instrument to the distal end of the instrument; and   a super elastic wire positioned within a distal end of the instrument, wherein the super elastic wire has a straight configuration in a stressed condition and a loop configuration in the unstressed condition such that the distal end of the instrument assumes the shape of the super elastic wire for extending around a tubular tissue section.   
   
   
       12 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising an outer sheath movably positioned over the elongate delivery instrument such that the super elastic wire is in the stressed condition when retracted into the sheath and in the unstressed condition when the super elastic wire is extended beyond a distal end of the sheath. 
   
   
       13 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a deflector positioned adjacent a distal end of the auxiliary lumen for directing airflow towards treatment material ejected from a distal end of the treatment lumen. 
   
   
       14 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a shaping lumen formed within a distal end of the instrument such that the super elastic member it is positioned within the shaping lumen. 
   
   
       15 . The materials delivery instrument as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the super elastic wire has a proximal portion oriented perpendicular to a plane defined by the loop when the super elastic wire is in the unstressed condition. 
   
   
       16 . A method of delivering treatment material to an anastomosis formed between a pair of tubular tissue sections comprising:
 providing a materials delivery instrument including:
 an elongate tube having a treatment lumen, the treatment lumen extending from a proximal end of the instrument and toward a distal end of the instrument; 
 a port extending between the treatment lumen and an exterior of the distal end of the instrument; 
 a super elastic wire positioned within a distal end of the instrument, the super elastic wire having a straight configuration in a stressed condition and a loop configuration in an unstressed condition such that the distal end of the instrument assumes the shape of the super elastic wire for encircling a tubular tissue section; and 
 an outer sheath movably positioned over the instrument such that the super elastic wire is in the stressed condition when the instrument is retracted into the sheath and in the unstressed condition when the instrument is extended beyond a distal end of the sheath; 
   positioning a distal end of the materials delivery instrument adjacent an anastomosis formed between a pair of tubular tissue sections;   extending the instrument beyond the distal end of the sheath to release the super elastic wire from the stressed condition to the unstressed condition such that the instrument encircles the anastomosis; and   spraying treatment material out of the port and onto the anastomosis.   
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the port extends through a side wall in the instrument and the treatment material is sprayed through the port and onto the anastomosis. 
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the treatment material is sprayed onto the anastomosis as the instrument is extended from the sheath and around the anastomosis. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the treatment material is sprayed onto the anastomosis as the instrument is retracted back into the sheath. 
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of positioning the distal end of the materials delivery instrument substantially perpendicular to the tubular tissue sections and reorienting the materials delivery instrument substantially parallel to the tubular tissue sections prior to spraying the treatment material onto the anastomosis.