Elastic tissue closure with elastic staple

Abstract

The staple legs with tissue gripping elements are elastically curved. Curvatures of the legs are resiliently straightened and spearheaded by a pair of trocars for puncturing into tissue. While the staple is held stationary by a sleeve, the trocars are withdrawn to allow the legs to resume curvatures, elastically fastening the tissue.

1 . An elastic staple deployable with a first trocar and a second trocar, comprising:
 a first leg formed of an elastic material and having a curved position and a resiliently straightened position, when said first leg is in said curved position, said first leg having a convex side and a concave side,   and wherein said first leg comprising a first tunnel adhered and extending from a distal portion of said first leg, and a first plurality of tissue gripping elements located outside said concave side of said first leg,   a second leg formed of an elastic material and having a curved position and a resiliently straightened position, when said second leg is in said curved position, said second leg having a convex side and a concave side,   and wherein said second leg comprising a second tunnel adhered and extending from a distal portion of said second leg, and a second plurality of tissue gripping elements located outside said concave side of said second leg,   wherein said elastic staple further comprising a bridge connecting a proximal end of said first leg and a proximal end of said second legs, and wherein said first and second tunnels extend through said bridge,   wherein said first tunnel is sized and configured to retain said first trocar, and said second tunnel is sized and configured to retain said second trocar,   and when said first trocar is in said first tunnel, said first leg is in said resiliently straightened position, and when said second trocar is in said second tunnel, said second leg is in said resiliently straightened position,   and when said first trocar is withdrawn from said first tunnel, said first leg is in said curved position, and when said second trocar is withdrawn from said second tunnel, said second leg is in said curved position.   
     
     
         2 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , further comprises a base surface connecting to a proximal end of said first trocar and a proximal end of said second trocar,
 and wherein said base surface is sized and configured to engage, press or hold said bridge.   
     
     
         3 . The elastic staple of  claim 2 , wherein said base surface keeps said first and second trocars generally parallel. 
     
     
         4 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , further comprises a sleeve, wherein said first and second trocars are sized and configured to slide within said sleeve,
 and wherein a distal end of said sleeve is sized and configured to engage, press or hold said bridge.   
     
     
         5 . The elastic staple of  claim 4 , wherein said first and second trocars are curved with similar direction and curvature,
 and wherein said sleeve is flexible.   
     
     
         6 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , wherein said first trocar extends through said distal portion of said first leg,
 and wherein said second trocar extends through said distal portion of said second leg.   
     
     
         7 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , wherein said distal portion of said first leg is tapered,
 and wherein said distal portion of said second leg is tapered.   
     
     
         8 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second tunnels have D-shaped cross-sections,
 and wherein said first and second trocars have D-shaped cross-sections,   and wherein each of said D-shaped cross-sections has a generally semi-circular side and a generally flat side.   
     
     
         9 . The elastic staple of  claim 8 , wherein said first plurality of tissue gripping elements are on said generally flat side of said D-shaped cross-section of said first tunnel,
 and wherein said second plurality of tissue gripping elements are on said generally flat side of said D-shaped cross-section of said second tunnel.   
     
     
         10 . The elastic staple of  claim 8 , further comprises a first sharp tip at a distal end of said generally flat side of said D-shaped cross-section of said first trocar,
 and further comprises a second sharp tip at a distal end of said generally flat side of said D-shaped cross-section of said second trocar.   
     
     
         11 . The elastic staple of  claim 8 , further comprises a first beveled, indented or rounded portion at a distal end of said generally semi-circular side of said D-shaped cross-section of said first trocar,
 and further comprises a second beveled, indented or rounded portion at a distal end of said generally semi-circular side of said D-shaped cross-section of said second trocar, thereby said first and second trocars can slide through and straighten said first and second tunnels of said first and second legs.   
     
     
         12 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , further comprises at least one tissue ingrowth opening located at said bridge. 
     
     
         13 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a first distance is between said proximal end of said first leg and said proximal end of said second leg, when said first and second legs are in said curved positions,   a second distance is between said distal portion of said first leg and said distal portion of said second leg, when said first and second legs are in said curved positions,   and wherein said second distance is larger than said first distance.   
     
     
         14 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a first distance is between said proximal end of said first leg and said proximal end of said second leg, when said first and second legs are in said curved positions,   a second distance is between said distal portion of said first leg and said distal portion of said second leg, when said first and second legs are in said curved positions,   and wherein said first distance is larger than said second distance.   
     
     
         15 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , wherein said elastic staple links with at least one other elastic staple. 
     
     
         16 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , wherein said elastic staple is formed of a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         17 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , wherein said elastic staple is formed of a non-degradable material. 
     
     
         18 . The elastic staple of  claim 1 , further comprises a coating on said elastic staple. 
     
     
         19 . The elastic staple of  claim 18 , wherein said coating is chosen from the group of coatings consisting of biocompatible polymers, polyurethane, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicon, polyethylene, lubricant, growth factor, nutrient, buffering agent, collagen, hydroxyapatite, analgesic agent, sealant, blood clotting agent, antibiotic agent, water repellent agent, radiopaque agent and echogenic agent. 
     
     
         20 . A method of fastening tissue with an elastic staple, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) inserting two trocars into two elastically curved legs of an elastic staple;   b) straightening said two elastically curved legs, and forming two resiliently straightened legs;   c) puncturing a tissue with said two resiliently straightened legs;   d) holding said elastic staple; and   e) withdrawing said two trocars from the tissue, thereby reversing from said two resiliently straightened legs to said two elastically curved legs to elastically fasten the tissue.