Large tissue defect recruiting device

Abstract

A tissue recruiting device for treating and closing a defect and methods of using the same. The grasping device includes a grasping portion and a coupling portion. The grasping portion includes a plurality of helical coils. The coupling portion is operably coupled with an actuation element. An actuation assembly is operable to translate and rotate the actuation element such that the grasping device pierces into and grasps target tissue.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A grasping device for use with a tissue recruiting device, the grasping device comprising:
 a grasping portion near a distal end of the grasping device, the grasping portion including a tip and a plurality of helical coils;   a coupling portion near a proximal end of the grasping device, the coupling portion being configured to couple with an actuation element of the tissue recruiting device; and   a flexible portion configured to permit the grasping device to flex;   wherein the grasping device is translatable and rotatable via the actuation element to insert the grasping portion into tissue; and   wherein the flexible portion is configured to allow the coupling portion to flex when the grasping portion is inserted into tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The grasping device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion comprises a plurality of flexible slots. 
     
     
         3 . The grasping device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is operably decoupled from the actuation element. 
     
     
         4 . The grasping device of  claim 1 , wherein the grasping portion includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the helical coils of the proximal portion are narrower than the helical coils of the distal portion. 
     
     
         5 . The grasping device of  claim 1 , wherein the grasping portion includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein a pitch of the helical coils of the proximal portion is lower than a pitch of the helical coils of the distal portion. 
     
     
         6 . The grasping device of  claim 1 , further comprising two flutes. 
     
     
         7 . The grasping device of  claim 1 , further detents in the coupling portion configured to operably couple with prongs of a coupler. 
     
     
         8 . A grasping device for use with a tissue recruiting device, the grasping device comprising:
 a grasping portion near a distal end of the grasping device, the grasping portion including a tip and a plurality of helical coils;   a coupling portion near a proximal end of the grasping device, the coupling portion being configured to couple with an actuation element of the tissue recruiting device;   wherein the grasping portion includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, the helical coils of the proximal portion having a pitch less than a pitch of the helical coils of the distal portion;   wherein the grasping device is translatable and rotatable via the actuation element to insert the distal portion of the grasping portion into tissue.   
     
     
         9 . The grasping device of  claim 8 , wherein the proximal portion is configured to prevent the grasping portion from being inserted into tissue past the distal portion. 
     
     
         10 . The grasping device of  claim 8 , further comprising flexible portion configured to permit the grasping device to flex when the distal portion is inserted into tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The grasping device of  claim 8 , wherein the grasping portion comprises a plurality of barbs. 
     
     
         12 . The grasping device of  claim 8 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a receiving portion configured to couple with the actuation element. 
     
     
         13 . The grasping device of  claim 8 , wherein a proximal end of the coupling portion is tapered. 
     
     
         14 . The grasping device of  claim 8 , further comprising two flutes. 
     
     
         15 . A tissue recruiting device comprising:
 a tissue recruiting assembly comprising a first grasping device and a second grasping device, each grasping device including a coupling portion and a grasping portion having a plurality of helical coils; and   an actuation assembly comprising a first control actuator coupled with the first grasping device by a first actuation element and a second control actuator coupled with the second grasping device by a second actuation element;   wherein the coupling portion of the first grasping device is coupled with a distal end of first actuation element and the coupling portion of the second grasping device is coupled with a distal end of the second actuation element;   wherein the first control actuator is operable to translate and rotate the first grasping device to grasp tissue on a first side of a defect and the second control actuator is operable to translate and rotate the second grasping device to grasp tissue on a second side of the defect.   
     
     
         16 . The tissue recruiting device of  claim 15 , wherein the coupling portion of each grasping device is coupled to the distal end of the actuation element with a coupler. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue recruiting device of  claim 15 , wherein the first grasping device may be rotated and translated independently from the second grasping device. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue recruiting device of  claim 15 , wherein the grasping portion of each grasping device includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the helical coils of the proximal portion have a lower pitch than the helical coils of the distal portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first control actuator is operable to retract the first grasping device and the second control actuator is operable to retract the second grasping device when the grasping devices grasp tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The tissue recruiting device of  claim 15 , wherein the tissue recruiting assembly extends through a catheter inserted through an endoscope.