Apparatus and methods for positioning and securing anchors

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for positioning and securing anchors are disclosed herein. The anchors are adapted to be delivered and implanted into or upon tissue, particularly tissue within the gastrointestinal system of a patient. The anchor is adapted to slide uni-directionally over suture such that a tissue plication may be cinched between anchors. A locking mechanism, either within the anchor itself or positioned proximally of the anchor, may allow for the uni-directional translation of the anchor while enabling the anchor to be locked onto the suture if the anchor is pulled, pushed, or otherwise urged in the opposite direction along the suture. This uni-directional anchor locking mechanism facilitates cinching of the tissue plication between the anchors, and it may be utilized in one or several anchors in cinching a tissue fold.

1 . A surgical anchor comprising:
 a suture;   an anchor body movable along the suture; and   a locking mechanism including a collar having a tapered channel, and two or more tapered pins in the tapered channel, with the suture extending through the tapered channel in between the tapered pins.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical anchor of  claim 1  with one or more of the tapered pins having roughened surface contacting the suture. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical anchor of  claim 1  with one or more of the tapered pins having a plurality of teeth or projections contacting the suture. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical anchor of  claim 1  comprising two tapered pins with at least one pin having a conically tapering outer surface. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical anchor of  claim 1  comprising two tapered pins with at least one pin having a curved tapering outer surface. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical anchor of  claim 4  with each of the tapered pins having a substantially flat inner surface contacting the suture. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical anchor of  claim 1  with the locking mechanism attached to or forming part of the anchor body. 
     
     
         8 . A surgical anchor comprising:
 an anchor body movable on a flexible element:   a locking mechanism for holding the anchor body against proximal movement, with the locking mechanism having a collar including a tapered internal channel and one or more tapered pins in the tapered channel, with the pins adapted to allow substantial relative movement of the anchor body on the flexible element in only one direction.   
     
     
         9 . The surgical anchor of  claim 8  wherein the flexible element comprises a length of suture. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical anchor of  claim 8  with the collar part of the anchor body. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical anchor of  claim 8  with the tapered internal channel having a conical shape. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical anchor of  claim 8  with one or more of the pins having an outer surface with a shape complementary to the tapered internal channel. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical anchor of  claim 8  wherein the locking mechanism is configured to friction lock the flexible member between one or more of the pins and a surface of the tapered internal channel when the anchor body is moved in a first direction relative to the flexible element. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical anchor of  claim 8  wherein one or more of the pins has a half-cone shape. 
     
     
         15 . A method for securing tissue during surgery, comprising:
 ejecting an anchor from a delivery device adjacent to the tissue;   moving the anchor along a suture into contact with the tissue; and   preventing the anchor from moving away from the tissue by wedging one or more pins within a tapered channel against the suture.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  with the anchor expanding from a compact configuration to an expanded configuration after the anchor is ejected from the delivery device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  with the anchor comprising a basket anchor. 
     
     
         18 . The met method of  claim 15  with the tapered channel within the anchor.