Large tissue defect recruiting device

Abstract

An actuation assembly for a tissue recruiting device for recruiting tissue and closing a defect. The actuation assembly includes one or more control actuators operable to control the position and rotation of an actuation element coupled to a grasping device. The grasping device is configured to grasp tissue. The actuation assembly is operable by a user to deploy the grasping device via the actuation element to grasp tissue. The actuation assembly may independently deploy multiple grasping devices, such as on opposite sides of a defect. The actuation assembly may also deploy a closure mechanism configured to circumferentially surround the deployed grasping devices to close the defect.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An actuation assembly of a tissue recruiting device operable to independently control first and second grasping devices to grasp tissue:
 a body defining a first channel and a second channel;   a first actuation element extending through the first channel and coupled with the first grasping device;   a second actuation element extending through the second channel and coupled with the second grasping device;   at least one first control actuator operable to control the translation and rotation of the first grasping device to grasp tissue via the first actuation element;   at least one second control actuator operable to control the translation and rotation of the second grasping device to grasp tissue via the second actuation element;   wherein the at least one first control actuator is operable to control the translation and rotation of the first grasping device independently from the second grasping device.   
     
     
         2 . The actuation assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuation sheath disposed around the proximal ends of each of the actuation elements. 
     
     
         3 . The actuation assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element configured to maintain the translation and rotation of the actuation elements. 
     
     
         4 . The actuation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is configured to produce detectable feedback at rotational intervals of the actuation elements. 
     
     
         5 . The actuation assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the second actuation element is operable to control the translation and rotation of the second grasping device when the first control actuator controls the translation and rotation of the first grasping device. 
     
     
         6 . The actuation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first control actuator comprises a rotational control actuator operable to control the rotation of the first actuation element and a translational control actuator operable to control the translation of the first actuation element. 
     
     
         7 . The actuation assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the rotational control actuator is disposed perpendicularly to the first actuation element. 
     
     
         8 . The actuation assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one first control actuator is operable to control the translation and rotation of the second grasping device to grasp tissue via second first actuation element. 
     
     
         9 . A tissue recruiting device comprising:
 a first grasping device and a second grasping device, each grasping device operable to grasp tissue;   a first actuation element extending through a first channel of a body, a proximal end of the first actuation element being coupled to a first control actuator and a distal end of the first actuation element being coupled to the first grasping device;   a second actuation element extending through a second channel of the body, a proximal end of the second actuation element being coupled to a second control actuator and a distal end of the second actuation element being coupled to the second grasping device;   wherein the first control actuator is independently operable to translate and rotate the first gasping device to grasp tissue via the first actuation element;   wherein the second control actuator is independently operable to translate and rotate the second grasping device to grasp tissue via the second actuation element.   
     
     
         10 . The tissue recruiting device of  claim 9 , wherein the first grasping device may grasp tissue at a first location and the second grasping device may be moved to grasp tissue at a second location different from the first location. 
     
     
         11 . The tissue recruiting device of  claim 9 , wherein each grasping device includes a plurality of helical coils configured to grasp tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The tissue recruiting device of  claim 9 , wherein the control actuators are operable to retract the grasping devices when the grasping devices grasp tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The tissue recruiting device of  claim 9 , wherein the grasping devices and actuation elements are extended through a catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The tissue recruiting device of  claim 9 , wherein the control actuators are elongated hexagons. 
     
     
         15 . The tissue recruiting device of  claim 9 , further comprising a clamp configured to frictionally maintain the translation and rotation of the actuation elements. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating a defect with a tissue recruiting device, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a first grasping device above a first side of the defect;   moving a first control actuator to control the translation and rotation of the first grasping device via a first actuation element;   grasping the first side of the defect with the first grasping device;   positioning a second grasping device above a second side of the defect;   moving a second control actuator to control the translation and rotation of the second grasping device via a second actuation element;   grasping the second side of the defect with the second grasping device; and   retracting the actuation elements to recruit the grasped tissue.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each grasping device includes helical coils configured to grasp tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second control actuator may control the translation and rotation of the second grasping device independently from the first grasping device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tissue recruiting device includes a biasing element configured to maintain the translation and rotation of the actuation elements. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of deploying a clip around the recruited tissue.