Focal, Inc.

Other

The University of Texas System

Origin Medsystems, Inc.

Genzyme Corporation

Bradley C Poff

Amarpreet S Sawhney

Dean M Pichon

Jeffrey Alan Hubbell

David A Melanson

Stephen Jack Herman

Luis Z Avila

Arthur J Coury

Shikha P Barman

George E Selecman

Stephen D Goodrich

Ronald S Rudowsky

Mark T Kieras

David J Nedder

Donald L Elbert

Chandrashekar P Pathak

Marc A Levine

John Michael Barker

John C Spiridigliozzi

Thomas Bromander

Gerald L Metcalf

Douglas J Weaver

Thomas S Bromander

Douglas J K Weaver

Douglas JK Weaver

This invention describes novel methods and devices for stabilizing and retracting tissue during surgery, in particular internal tissue. Patches of material, preferably biodegradable, are adhered to tissue surfaces. By manipulation of the patches, for example directly with forceps, or via sutures attached to the patches, tissues can be retracted or otherwise manipulated with minimal trauma to the tissues. The method is especially useful in minimally-invasive surgery.

Biodegradable tissue retractor

An impoved barrier or drug delivery system which is highly adherent to the surface to which it is applied is disclosed, along with methods for making the barrier. In the preferred embodiment, tissue is stained with a photoinitiator, then the polymer solution or gel having added thereto a defined amount of the same or a different photoinitiator is applied to the tissue. On exposure to light, the resulting system polymerizes at the surface, giving excellent adherence, and also forms a gel in the rest of the applied volume. Thus a gel barrier of arbitrary thickness can be applied to a surface while maintaining high adherence at the interface. This process is referred to herein as &ldquo;priming&rdquo;. The polymerizable barrier materials are highly useful for sealing tissue surfaces and junctions against leaks of fluids. In another embodiment, &ldquo;priming&rdquo; can be used to reliably adhere preformed barriers to tissue or other surfaces, or to adhere tissue surfaces to each other. A first surface and a barrier, or another surface, are prestained with initiator, and a thin layer of gelable monomer containing initiator is placed between them. Strong adhesion is obtained between the two surfaces on gelation of the monomer. In a similar fashion, tissue surfaces can be adhered to each other in repair of wounds and formation of anastomoses. Methods for use of non-photochemical systems and combined chemical/photochemical systems are described.

Redox and photoinitiator systems for priming for improved adherence of gels to substrates

This invention describes methods and devices for stabilizing and retracting tissue during surgery, in particular internal tissue. Patches of material, preferably biodegradable, are adhered to tissue surfaces. By manipulation of the patches, for example directly with forceps, or via sutures attached to the patches, tissues can be retracted or otherwise manipulated with minimal trauma to the tissues. The method is especially useful in minimally-invasive surgery.

Retracting tissue using photoadhering adhesive

Redox and photoinitiator systems for priming and improved adherence of

A trocar for placement in the lumen of a cannula to facilitate inserting the cannula through tissue is disclosed. The trocar has an improved trigger/obturator assembly wherein the trigger comprises tissue cam parts each having (a) planar outer surfaces, and (b) an arcuate end portion at the distal end of the trigger including a distal edge surface that is arcuate about an axis normal to the outer surfaces. The arcuate end portions intersect at edge surfaces which are obscured by the arcuate end portions.

Trocar

Growing community of inventors

Chelmsford, MA, United States of America

Bradley C Poff