Constriction device including reinforced suture holes

Abstract

A constriction device that constricts body tissue is configured to be safely sutured to constricted body tissue. The device includes a generally cylindrical elastic sleeve including opposed opened ends and having a wall of substantially uniform thickness that receives body tissue therein to be constricted. The sleeve includes a plurality of suture holes to receive a suture to maintain the sleeve the tissue constricted by the sleeve. The sleeve includes a suture hole reinforcement structure, as for example an increased wall thickness, about each suture hole to permit the device to be sutured to constricted body tissue without damaging the device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A constriction device that constricts body tissue, the device comprising: 
 an elongated sleeve including at least one opened end and being formed from elastic material to receive, when in an expanded condition, body tissue to be constricted and to constrict the body tissue when released from the expanded condition;    at least one suture hole that receives a suture to maintain the sleeve on the body tissue; and    a reinforcement structure about the at least one suture hole.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement structure is an increased thickness of the sleeve about the at least one suture hole.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the sleeve includes a plurality of suture holes and wherein the reinforcement structure is an increased thickness about each of the suture holes.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the suture holes are distributed about the sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the suture holes are distributed about the sleeve near to the at least one opened end.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the increased thickness of the sleeve forms a band circumscribing the sleeve and wherein the suture holes extend through the band.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the band is near to the at least one opened end.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement structure includes a tapered cross-section that guides a suture needle into the at least one suture hole.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the sleeve has an inner surface and wherein the increased thickness extends from the inner surface of the sleeve.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the sleeve has an outer surface and wherein the increased thickness extends from the outer surface.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement structure is a layer of elastic material having a higher tear strength than the elastic material of the sleeve.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  including a plurality of suture holes extending through the sleeve and wherein the reinforcement structure is a layer of elastic material having a higher tear strength than the elastic material of the sleeve and about each of the suture holes.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the layer of elastic material forms a continuous band about the sleeve.  
     
     
         14 . A constriction device that constricts body tissue, the device comprising: 
 a generally cylindrical elastic sleeve including opposed opened ends and having a wall of substantially uniform thickness that receives body tissue therein to constrict the body tissue; and    at least one suture hole that receives a suture to maintain the sleeve on tissue constricted by the sleeve,    the sleeve wall having an increased thickness, greater than the substantially uniform thickness, about the at least one suture hole.    
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the sleeve includes a plurality of suture holes and wherein the sleeve wall has an increased thickness, greater than the substantially uniform thickness, about each of the suture holes.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the suture holes are distributed about the sleeve.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  wherein the suture holes are distributed about the sleeve near one of the opposed opened ends.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the increased thickness of the sleeve forms a band circumscribing the sleeve and wherein the suture holes extend through the band.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the band is near to one of the opposed opened ends.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the at least one suture hole includes a tapered cross-section that guides a suture needle into the at least one suture hole.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the sleeve has an inner surface and wherein the increased thickness extends from the inner surface of the sleeve.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the sleeve has an outer surface and wherein the increased thickness extends from the outer surface.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the increased thickness is a layer of elastic material having a higher tear strength than the elastic material of the sleeve.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 14  including a plurality of suture holes extending through the sleeve and wherein the increased thickness is a layer of elastic material having a higher tear strength than the elastic material of the sleeve and about each of the suture holes.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24  wherein the layer of elastic material forms a continuous band about the sleeve.  
     
     
         26 . A constriction device that constricts body tissue, the device comprising: 
 sleeve means formed of elastic material including at least one opened end for constricting body tissue received therein;    suture hole means for receiving a suture to maintain the sleeve means on the body tissue; and    suture hole reinforcing means about the suture hole means for reinforcing the suture hole means.    
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the reinforcing means comprises an increased thickness of the elastic material about the suture hole means.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the device includes a plurality of suture holes and wherein the reinforcing means comprises an increased thickness of the elastic material about each of the suture holes.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the suture holes are distributed about the sleeve.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the suture holes are distributed about the sleeve near to the at least one opened end.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the increased thickness of the elastic material forms a band circumscribing the sleeve means and wherein the suture holes extend through the band.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31  wherein the band is near to the at least one opened end.  
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the suture holes include tapered cross-sections that guide a suture needle into the suture holes.  
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the sleeve means has an inner surface and wherein the increased thickness extends from the inner surface of the sleeve means.  
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the sleeve means has an outer surface and wherein the increased thickness extends from the outer surface of the sleeve means.  
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the reinforcing means is a layer of elastic material having a higher tear strength than the elastic material of the sleeve means.  
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 26  including a plurality of suture holes extending through the sleeve means and wherein the reinforcing means is a layer of elastic material having a higher tear strength than the elastic material of the sleeve and about each of the suture holes.  
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37  wherein the layer of elastic material forms a continuous band about the sleeve means.