Body lumen closure

Abstract

Method and apparatus implementing and using techniques for body lumen closure, including use of an implantable medical closure device. The device includes a flexible strand defining an arcuate form. The strand is deformable upon implantation from a large cross-section condition to a small cross-section condition and has at least two anchoring portions disposed along the strand. The anchoring portions are configured to penetrate a wall of a body lumen such that when the strand is deformed to the small cross-section condition, the wall of the body lumen is disposed inwardly.

1 . An implantable medical closure device, comprising: 
 a flexible strand defining a continuous arcuate form having a first half with a first anchoring end and a second half with a second anchoring end, the first half and the second half being opposed relative a center line bisecting the flexible strand, where in a first state the flexible strand adjacent the first anchoring end and the second anchoring end provide for a tangential line that is parallel with the center line, and in a second state the flexible strand adjacent the first anchoring end and the second anchoring end provide for lines that are no longer parallel with the center line.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , where the flexible strand is formed of a material that can provide a force to move the first anchoring end and the second anchoring end toward the first state.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , where the material is a metal.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , where the metal is nitinol.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , where the strand is a filament-form.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , where the first anchoring end and the second anchoring end include a barb.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , where the flexible strand is a flexible polymer.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , where the flexible strand defines at least one loop for the continuous arcuate form.  
   
   
       9 . An implantable medical closure device, comprising: 
 a flexible member having a first half and a second half that extend from a center line in a continuous arcuate form, and having a first anchoring end and a second anchoring end opposed to the first anchoring end across the center line, where in a first state the flexible strand adjacent the first anchoring end and the second anchoring end provide for a tangential line that is parallel with the center line, and in a second state the flexible strand adjacent the first anchoring end and the second anchoring end provide for lines that are no longer parallel with the center line.    
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , where the flexible strand is formed of a material that can provide a force to move the first anchoring end and the second anchoring end toward the first state.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , where the material is nitinol.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , where the first anchoring end and the second anchoring end include a barb.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 9 , where the flexible strand defines at least one loop for the continuous arcuate form.  
   
   
       14 . A catheter system, comprising: 
 a catheter for delivery into a lumen, the catheter including an expander that can be operated between a small cross-section and a large cross-section; and    a closure device positioned about the expander, the closure device comprising a flexible strand defining a continuous arcuate form having a first half and a second half that extend from a center line, the first half having a first anchoring end and the second half having a second anchoring end, where when the closure device is positioned on the expander in the small cross-section the flexible strand adjacent the first anchoring end and the second anchoring end provide for a tangential line that is parallel with the center line, and when the closure device is positioned on the expanded in the large cross-section, relative the small cross-section, the flexible strand adjacent the first anchoring end and the second anchoring end provide for lines that are no longer parallel with the center line.    
   
   
       15 . The catheter system of  claim 14 , where the expander comprises an inflatable balloon.  
   
   
       16 . The catheter system of  claim 14 , where the expander comprises a mechanical expander.  
   
   
       17 . The catheter system of  claim 14 , where the expander comprises a leveraging device.  
   
   
       18 . The catheter system of  claim 17 , where the leveraging device comprises: 
 a two-part axial member including a first outer part and a second inner part;    a splayed cuff connected to the distal end of the first outer part of the two-part axial member; and    at least two flexible legs connected to the distal end of the second inner part of the two-part axial member and flared outwardly to contact the distal end of the splayed cuff.    
   
   
       19 . The catheter system of  claim 17 , where the closure device is positioned about the flexible legs; 
 the second inner part of the two-part axial member is moveable in a first direction such that the flexible legs are pressed against the splayed cuff causing the flexible legs and the splayed cuff to expand radially; and    expansion of the flexible legs expands the closure device from the first small cross-section condition to the larger cross-section condition.    
   
   
       20 . The catheter system of  claim 19 , where the second inner part of the two-part axial member is moveable in a second direction such that the flexible legs move away from the splayed cuff causing the flexible legs and the splayed cuff to retract.