Patent ID: 7740646
Filing Date: 2010-06-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A device for use in appositioning of tissues, comprising in combination: a first suture having a hollow length, said first suture comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein said first suture comprises a single non-rigid tubular structure of unitary construction, the hollow length having a wall forming a lumen, wherein the wall provides an outer surface having at least one perforation therethrough, wherein the outer surface extends continuously along the hollow length of the first suture, wherein said outer surface is configured for direct contact with said tissues, wherein said perforations are configured to provide direct fluid communication between said tissues and said lumen; said first suture further comprising a suturing needle attached to the distal end of said first suture, wherein the needle is configured to penetrate tissue and create a passage therethrough; a curable fluid tissue adhesive deliverable directly to the tissues through said lumen via said perforation and in contact with said first suture, wherein, upon delivery to said tissues, said adhesive adheres to said tissues and said first suture such that the adhesive is configured to distribute a holding force to tissue adjacent to the first suture by adhering the tissue; an adhesive delivery apparatus in fluid communication with the first suture, wherein the adhesive delivery apparatus contains a first portion of the adhesive, wherein the first suture contains a second portion of the adhesive, wherein the adhesive delivery apparatus is operable to urge the second portion of the adhesive through the first suture and out of the at least one perforation of the first suture to dispense the second portion of the adhesive to adjacent tissue; wherein said first suture has sufficient flexibility to be drawn behind said needle through said passage in said tissue; and a second suture connected to the first suture by a flexible connecting member, wherein the connecting member comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the connecting member terminates at the first end at the first suture, wherein the connecting member terminates at the second end at the second suture, wherein the connecting member is configured to flex in response to application of an inward force urging the first suture and the second suture together, wherein the connecting member is configured to urge the first suture and the second suture toward a spaced-apart relationship upon cessation of the inward force.