Anchors for use in attachment of bladder tissues to pelvic floor tissues following a prostatectomy

Abstract

Embodiments for an anchor for use in effecting the anastomosis of a patient's bladder and urethra following a prostatectomy are disclosed. The anchor may comprise a shaft with a lodging structure. Alternative embodiments may include a penetration limiting structure, a driver interface proximate to a rearward end, a forward end with a penetration facilitating shape that may comprise a point defined by three flat intersecting faces, a bioabsorbable portion of one or more bioabsorbable materials, and a metal portion of one alloy, or a plurality of alloys which may have differing expansion properties.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date(s) of one or more of U.S. provisional applications: METHODS AND DEVICE FOR ANASTOMOSIS, Ser. No. 60 / 569,195, filed May 7, 2004; METHODS AND DEVICE FOR ANASTOMOSIS, Ser. No. 60 / 582,302, filed Jun. 23, 2004, and METHOD AND INSTRUMENT FOR EFFECTING ANASTOMOSIS OF RESPECTIVE TISSUES DEFINING TWO BODY LUMENS, Ser. No. 60 / 639,836, filed Dec. 28, 2004. [0002] This application relates to and incorporates by reference in their entirety, for any and all purposes, the following non-provisional applications, filed substantially contemporaneously herewith and having one or more inventors in common with the instant application: [0003] INSTRUMENT FOR EFFECTING ANASTOMOSIS OF RESPECTIVE TISSUES DEFINING TWO BODY LUMENS, Ser. No. (to be issued), filed Mar. 30, 2005; [0004] METHOD AND INSTRUMENT FOR EFFECTING ANASTOMOSIS OF RESPECTIVE TISSUES DEFINING TWO BODY LUMENS, Ser. No. (to be issued), filed Mar. 30, 2005; [0005...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Providing this connection is particularly difficult due to the limited working space and the small size of the urethra.

The size of the urethra makes it difficult to accurately place the suture thread through the wall of the urethra.

It has been found that the use of sutures for this purpose has caused certain problems in recovery.

These problems include necrosis of the sutured tissues, stricture of the urethra that impedes the flow of fluid through it, and a urethra-bladder connection that is not fluid-tight.

In addition, when suturing the urethra to the bladder the surgeon can possibly inadvertently pierce the nearby neurovascular bundle, which can cause incontinence or impotence.

The suturing process itself has also been found to be cumbersome, requiring the surgeon to grasp and stretch the bladder and urethra together before making the fine sutures.

Sutures may also tear the urethra, resulting in further complications.

While some of these structures are large, and more easily manipulated by the surgeon, tissue structures defining other body lumens are smaller and more difficult to manipulate and hold in position while joining ends thereof after, for example, a transactional operation.

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