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 cinching assembly, comprising:
 a body having a tapered or profiled interior lumen;   a suture extending through the interior lumen of the body;   an interference element movable within the interior lumen to resist movement of the body along the suture in a first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the interference element comprises a rolling element having a round shape. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 2  wherein the rolling element comprises a ball. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the interference element is configured to friction lock or interference fit the suture between the interference element and a wall of the interior lumen when the body is moved in the first direction relative to the suture. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 2  wherein the body is tubular with an end cap at a first end of the tubular body, and the suture passing through a hole in the end cap, with the hole having a diameter less than the diameter of the rolling element. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the body is tubular, the tapered or profiled interior lumen is at a second end of the body, and a tube segment at a first end of the body, with the suture extending through the tube segment. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the body is tubular and the tapered or profiled interior lumen is formed via a secondary insert in the body. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 1  wherein the body is tubular, and further comprising a hypotube attached to a tubular body, with the hypotube having at least one crimp providing the tapered or profiled interior lumen. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 3  with the ball in contact with the suture regardless of the position of the ball in the body. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 5  with the hole in the end cap concentric with the tubular body, and with the ball deflecting the suture to a non-concentric position within the body. 
     
     
         11 . A surgical cinching assembly comprising:
 a tubular body having a first end opening, a second end opening, and a tapered interior surface between the first end and the second end;   a suture extending through the body;   a ball movable within the body, the ball having a diameter greater than first end opening and less than the second end opening;   an end cap in the first end opening, the end cap having hole with a diameter greater than the suture and less than the ball.   the first end to resist movement of the suture in a first direction via the ball friction locking the suture against the conically tapered interior surface of the body.   
     
     
         12 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 11  with the ball in contact with the suture regardless of the position of the ball in the body. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 11  with the ball in contact with the suture regardless of the position of the ball in the body. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical cinching assembly of  claim 11  wherein the tapered interior surface is conical. 
     
     
         15 . A surgical cinching assembly, comprising:
 a proximal hypotube concentrically disposed within a proximal end of a body hypotube;   a distal hypotube disposed within a distal end of the body hypotube;   a ball in the body hypotube;   a suture extending freely through the proximal, body and distal hypotubes;   the body hypotube having a body lumen having a diameter greater than the ball;   the proximal hypotube having a proximal lumen;   the distal hypotube having a distal lumen, with the proximal lumen and the distal lumen each have a section having diameter greater than the suture and less than the ball.   a crimp in the body hypotube and the distal hypotube, the crimp locally reducing the diameters of body lumen and the distal lumen;   the ball and suture disposed within the body lumen in a manner that allows free proximal movement of suture, and with the ball friction locking suture between ball and crimp during distal movement of the suture.