Medical device and methods for making and using same

Abstract

A medical device having an annular body configured to transition from a delivery configuration to a deployed configuration. The body having a plurality of openings each having a mid-portion with a width in a direction transverse to a long dimension of the opening that is greater than widths of a remainder of the opening in the deployed configuration. An end portion of the annular body extending towards a longitudinal axis of the medical device in the deployed configuration. The medical device tapers from a proximal end towards a distal end in the deployed configuration, when viewed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device comprising:
 an annular body configured to transition from a delivery configuration to a deployed configuration, the body comprising a plurality of openings each having a mid-portion with a width in a direction transverse to a long dimension of the opening that is greater than widths of a remainder of the opening in the deployed configuration;   an end portion of the annular body extending towards a longitudinal axis of the medical device in the deployed configuration,   wherein the medical device tapers from a proximal end towards a distal end in the deployed configuration, when viewed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein members forming the plurality of openings are biased toward an expanded, deployed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of struts forming the plurality of openings comprises a first strut adjacent to a second strut, the first strut and the second strut being coupled together at a hinged region. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the annular body is formed of a shape memory material. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tines extending from the annular body. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque marker. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a radiopaque coating. 
     
     
         8 . A medical device comprising:
 an annular body comprising a plurality of expandable cells each having a mid-portion with a width in a direction transverse to a long dimension of the opening that is greater than widths of a remainder of the opening in the deployed configuration, an end portion of the annular body extending towards a longitudinal axis of the medical device in a deployed configuration;   a radiopaque marker mounted to the annular body; and   an anchoring tine extending from the annular body,   wherein the medical device tapers from a proximal end towards a distal end in the deployed configuration, when viewed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein members forming the plurality of cells are biased toward an expanded, deployed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of struts forming the plurality of cells comprises a first strut adjacent to a second strut, the first strut and the second strut being coupled together at a hinged region. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the annular body is formed of a shape memory material. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the annular body is formed of a nickel-titanium alloy. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 8 , wherein a diameter of the annular body in the deployed configuration is greater than a diameter of the annular body in a pre-deployed configuration. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 locating an opening in tissue; and   following locating the opening, deploying a medical device near the opening so that a portion of the medical device engages tissue, the medical device comprising:
 an annular body configured to transition from a delivery configuration to a deployed configuration, the body comprising a plurality of openings each having a mid-portion with a width in a direction transverse to a long dimension of the opening that is greater than widths of a remainder of the opening in the deployed configuration; 
 an end portion of the annular body extending towards a longitudinal axis of the medical device in the deployed configuration, 
 wherein the medical device tapers from a proximal end towards a distal end in the deployed configuration, when viewed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein deploying the medical device further comprises advancing the medical device along another member until the medical device disengages from the another member. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising removing the another member from the opening in tissue. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein locating the tissue further comprises positioning a locator through the opening in tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising monitoring a position of the medical device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein monitoring the position of the medical device comprising monitoring one or more radiopaque markers using fluoroscopy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising monitoring a relative position of the medical device to a distal tip of a locator locating the opening in tissue.