Apparatus and methods for engaging tissue

Abstract

A system includes a tissue engaging device and a delivery device that cooperates with the tissue engaging device. The tissue engaging device includes a distal tissue penetrating tip and two locking portions at a proximal end. The two locking portions move radially outwardly to transition the tissue engaging device from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration. The delivery device includes a first elongate member being configured to selective extend distally past the two locking portions. A member, with a protruding portion disposed at a distal end of the delivery device, extends radially inwardly and is configured to selectively cooperate with the proximal end of the tissue engaging device to prevent rotational movement of the tissue engaging device relative to the delivery device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a tissue engaging device comprising:
 a distal tissue penetrating tip; and 
 two locking portions at a proximal end, wherein the two locking portions move radially outwardly to transition the tissue engaging device from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration; 
   a delivery device cooperating with the tissue engaging device, the delivery device comprising:
 a first elongate member extending from a second elongate member, the first elongate member being disposed within an opening of the tissue engaging device that extends from the distal end towards the proximal end, the first elongate member being configured to selectively extend distally past the two locking portions; and 
 a member with a protruding portion disposed at a distal end of the delivery device and extending radially inwardly, the protruding portion selectively cooperating with the proximal end of the tissue engaging device, the cooperation of the protruding portion and the tissue engaging device preventing rotational movement of the tissue engaging device relative to the delivery device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the two locking portions cooperate with two other locking portions to lock the tissue engaging device in the locked configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a locator extendable through the elongate member. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue engaging device comprises a first member and a second member that pivotally cooperate. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a concave portion formed in the second elongate member, the concave portion receiving a portion of the tissue engaging device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the protruding member selective cooperates with an opening formed in the proximal end of the tissue engaging device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue engaging device comprise a bioabsorbable material, a biodegradable material, or bioerodible material. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a tissue engaging device comprising:
 two distal tissue penetrating tips; and 
 two locking portions at a proximal end, wherein the two locking portions move radially outwardly to transition the tissue engaging device from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration, the two locking portions are disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the tissue engaging device; 
   a delivery device cooperating with the tissue engaging device, the delivery device comprising:
 a first elongate member extending from a second elongate member, the first elongate member being disposed within an opening of the tissue engaging device that extends from the distal end towards the proximal end, the first elongate member being configured to extend distally past the two locking portions with the two distal tissue penetrating tips being in a tissue-capture open configuration; and 
 a member with a protruding portion disposed at a distal end of the delivery device and extending radially inwardly, the protruding portion selectively cooperating with the proximal end of the tissue engaging device, the cooperation of the protruding portion and the tissue engaging device preventing rotational movement of the tissue engaging device relative to the delivery device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the two locking portions cooperate with two other locking portions to lock the tissue engaging device in the locked configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the tissue engaging device comprises a first member and a second member. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a distal end of each the first member and the second member is formed with one of the two distal tissue penetrating tips. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a concave portion formed in the second elongate member, the concave portion receiving a portion of the tissue engaging device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the protruding portion selectively cooperates with an opening formed in the tissue engaging device, the opening extending through the tissue engaging device in a proximal to distal direction. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the tissue engaging device comprise a bioabsorbable material, a biodegradable material, or bioerodible material. 
     
     
         15 . A method for capturing tissue, the method comprising:
 positioning a tissue engaging device to capture tissue, the tissue engaging device comprising:
 a distal tissue penetrating tip; and 
 two locking portions at a proximal end, wherein the two locking portions move radially outwardly to transition the tissue engaging device from an unlocked configuration to a locked configuration; 
   capturing tissue with the tissue engaging device and deploying the tissue engaging device from a delivery device, the delivery device comprising:
 a first elongate member extending from a second elongate member, the first elongate member being disposed within an opening of the tissue engaging device that extends from the distal end towards the proximal end, the first elongate member being configured to selective extends distally past the two locking portions; and 
 a member with a protruding portion disposed at a distal end of the delivery device and extending radially inwardly, the protruding portion selectively cooperating with the proximal end of the tissue engaging device, the cooperation of the protruding portion and the tissue engaging device preventing rotational movement of the tissue engaging device relative to the delivery device; and 
   removing the delivery device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising advancing a locator through the first elongate member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising moving a distal end of the second elongate member relative to the proximal end of the tissue engaging device to deploy the tissue engaging device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the distal end comprises a concave portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein capturing tissue with the tissue engaging device comprises pivoting the distal tissue penetrating tip about an intermediate portion of the tissue engaging device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein removing the delivery device comprises withdrawing the protruding portion from engaging with the tissue engaging device.