Clip and deployment apparatus for tissue closure

Abstract

A tissue engaging device and a corresponding deployment apparatus. The tissue engaging device has a generally annular-shaped body disposed about a central axis. The body has a plurality of inwardly protruding members separated by corresponding intermember spaces. The body is movable between a first position where the body is substantially convex before engagement with the tissue and a second position where the body is substantially concave when the body is engaged with the tissue. The tissue engaging device may be bioabsorbable. The deployment apparatus has a sheath and a tissue eversion apparatus for everting the tissue and positioning the everted tissue within the tissue engaging device.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A tissue closure device for closing an opening in a tissue having an interior surface and opposing exterior surface, the tissue closure device comprising:
 a deployment apparatus comprising:
 a sheath having a central longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a spaced apart distal end, a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the lumen being bounded by a lumen surface; and 
 a balloon expandable tissue contacting apparatus configured to contact the interior surface of the tissue around the opening, the tissue contacting apparatus being positioned within the lumen of the sheath and deployable therefrom for engaging the interior surface of the tissue; and 
   a bioabsorbable tissue engaging member operatively cooperating with a portion of the tissue contacting.   
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 9 , wherein the tissue contacting apparatus includes one or more barbs for everting the tissue. 
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 9 , wherein the tissue contacting apparatus is movable between an unexpanded state in which the tissue contacting apparatus is configured to not contact the tissue and an expanded state in which the tissue contacting apparatus is configured to contact and evert the tissue. 
     
     
         16 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The tissue closure device according to  claim 15 , wherein the tissue contacting apparatus comprises an inflatable balloon having one or more barbs extending therefrom, the tissue contacting apparatus being configured such that the barbs contact and evert the tissue when the tissue contacting apparatus is in the expanded state. 
     
     
         23 . A method of closing an opening in a body tissue, the method comprising:
 positioning a tissue engaging member over the opening in the body tissue, the tissue engaging member being of a bioabsorbable material;   contacting a disk-shaped, balloon expandable, tissue contacting member against an inner surface of the body tissue to engage a plurality of tissue contacting barbs with the inner surface; and   passing the tissue contacting member through the tissue engaging member.   
     
     
         24 . A method of closing an opening extending between an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface of a body tissue, the method comprising:
 positioning a deployment apparatus adjacent the exterior surface and over the opening in the body tissue, a tissue contacting apparatus being disposed within the deployment apparatus;   deploying the tissue contacting apparatus from the deployment apparatus through the opening of the body tissue so that the tissue contacting apparatus engages the interior surface of the body tissue;   retracting the tissue contacting apparatus toward a distal end of the deployment apparatus to contact the interior surface of the body tissue;   engaging a tissue engaging member with the exterior surface of the body tissue, and   disengaging the tissue contacting apparatus from the interior surface of the body tissue and withdrawing the tissue contacting apparatus through the tissue engaging member.   
     
     
         25 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein deploying the tissue contacting apparatus comprises extending a deflated balloon having tissue engaging members through the opening of the body tissue and inflating the balloon to cause the tissue engaging members to engage the interior surface of the body tissue. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the tissue contacting apparatus comprises an inflatable balloon having one or more barbs extending therefrom, the tissue contacting apparatus being configured such that the barbs contact the tissue when the tissue contacting apparatus is in an expanded state.