DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERCUTANEOUSLY ACCESSING AND SECURING INTERNAL ORGANS OR OTHER TARGET TISSUE WITHIN A PATIENT
BACKGROUND
The small intestine (small bowel), which connects the stomach to the large intestine, is the longest part of the digestive system, with an average adult length of about 7 meters (23 feet). It is also the most important absorptive organ in the human body, and its main functions include the systematic breakdown of food, absorption of nutrients, and extraction of water. Small intestine diseases are very common and can be detrimental to overall health and potentially fatal in addition to causing discomfort and digestive problems. For the diagnosis and therapy of small intestine disorders, minimally invasive surgery such as endoscopic surgery and laparoscopic surgery shows the advantages of less invasiveness, having fewer adverse events, and shorter hospital stays as compared with open surgery, but the length of small intestine is a substantial challenge for minimally invasive surgery.
In the 1970s, initial attempts using endoscopic techniques to examine the small intestine from the natural orifice were reported. Conventional push enteroscopy (PE) did not extend 80- 90 cm beyond the upper or lower end of the small intestine. The introduction of capsule endoscopy (Pillcam) enabled visualization of the entire small intestine. However, biopsy and treatment cannot be performed using this method. Although double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) system and single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) system increased the depth of the small intestine access to 240 cm, they only reached approximately one-third of the entire small intestine length. It follows that despite numerous attempts and the emergence of novel endoscopic techniques such as capsule endoscopy (Pillcam), DBE and SBE, only a small portion of small intestine can be reached endoscopically or colonoscopically, which limits the application of minimally invasive surgeries in the diagnosis and treatment of small intestine diseases. Thus, small intestine has been considered inaccessible due to the limited depth of access using current techniques.
Another minimally invasive option is percutaneous endoluminal bowel surgery (PEBS), which has been shown to be successfully used for enteral nutrition in patients with the advantages of being less invasive, less costly, and faster recovery than the open surgery approach. PEBS is also currently used for procedures on the stomach and lower gastrointestinal tract, but it is difficult to perform complex procedures on the small intestine, such as placement of interventional tools. All PEBS still require endoscopic assistance, which is of little value for percutaneous endoscopic small bowel surgery (PESBS) due to the limited depth of access to small intestine with existing endoscopic techniques.
Advanced abdominal imaging methods, such as CT and 3D reconstruction, enable “direct path” access to abdominal organs for interventions by developing 20-30 cm long tools instead of 100 cm long tools passing through body orifices. Preliminary clinical data have shown that this novel image-guided PESBS is superior to conventional therapy in several aspects including the success rate in the treatment of small bowel obstruction (SBO). It is very likely that a new field of minimally invasive treatment of small intestine disorders will be presented before us. However, this new approach has not been fully explored due to the lack of suitable instruments. One of the main issues is the lack of an anchoring/stabilizing device that can safely and reliably fix specific small intestine loops for instrumentation or wound closure. For example, during advancement of a conventional catheter set commonly used in clinics for this procedure, T-fasteners are used as anchoring devices. The T-fasteners are made up of a short (e.g., no more than a centimeter long) piece of a wire or cannula with a suture (either resorbable or permanent) attached in its middle. Upon introduction, using a needle, the T-fastener is deployed inside the bowel, and the suture is pulled back, thereby pulling the T- fastener against the bowel wall, which in turn pulls the bowel wall to stabilize it against the abdominal wall. The benefit of the T-fastener is its small profile for placement. However, once the bowel is stabilized with the T-fastener, a second site of access is required, usually near the location of the T-fastener, to allow entry of devices/treatments needed to treat the diseased portion of the bowel. Furthermore, the T-fastener only provides limited support and stabilization of the bowel wall against the abdominal wall. Another main issue is the lack of a secure closing device for the access opening in the intestinal wall. Percutaneous access opening must currently be enlarged through the incision to allow surgical closure. Therefore, an innovative percutaneous access platform that provides access to internal organs, including the small intestine, is urgently needed to help overcome the major obstacles mentioned above, which is crucial for the progress of minimally invasive interventions for small intestine diseases.
BRIEF SUMMARY
Accordingly, a novel device and system for percutaneously accessing and securing target tissue/organs within a patient, including in the small intestine (and any part of the intestine), for interventional diagnosis or treatment followed by closure of the access site and methods for the same are disclosed herein. The present disclosure includes disclosure of a device, comprising an elongated shaft having a lumen defined therethrough terminating at an aperture at or near a distal end of the elongated shaft, the elongated shaft configured to engage a tissue via suction; and at least one anchor needle disposed in the lumen of the elongated body and configured to at least partially protrude from the aperture of the elongated body, the at least one anchor needle having a needle lumen defined therethrough terminating at a first needle aperture at or near a distal end of the anchor needle, and a securing member positioned within the needle lumen and configured to move between at least a first position and a second position, wherein when the at least one securing member is in the first position, the securing member is constrained within the needle lumen, and when the at least one securing member is in the second position, the securing member at least partially protrudes from the needle lumen.
The present disclosure includes a device, comprising an elongated shaft having a lumen defined therethrough terminating at an aperture at or near a distal end of the elongated shaft, the elongated shaft configured to engage a tissue via suction; and at least one anchor needle disposed in the lumen of the elongated body and configured to at least partially protrude from the aperture of the elongated body, the at least one anchor needle having a needle lumen defined therethrough terminating at a first needle aperture at or near a distal end of the anchor needle, and a second needle aperture in a side of the anchor needle, a securing member positioned within the needle lumen comprising a wire having a barb with a sharp tip protruding therefrom in a direction away from the distal end of the anchor needle and configured to move between at least a first position and a second position, wherein when the at least one securing member is in the first position, the securing member is constrained within the needle lumen, and when the at least one securing member is in the second position the barb at least partially protrudes from the second needle aperture.
The present disclosure includes a device, comprising an elongated shaft having a lumen defined therethrough terminating at an aperture at or near a distal end of the elongated shaft, the elongated shaft configured to engage a tissue via suction; and at least one anchor needle disposed in the lumen of the elongated body and configured to at least partially protrude from the aperture of the elongated body, the at least one anchor needle having a needle lumen defined therethrough terminating at a first needle aperture at or near a distal end of the anchor needle, and a securing member positioned within the needle lumen and configured to move between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the securing member comprises a T-fastener configured such that the T-fastener is deployed from the first needle aperture when the T- fastener is in the second position. The present disclosure includes a device, comprising an elongated shaft having a lumen defined therethrough terminating at an aperture at or near a distal end of the elongated shaft, the elongated shaft configured to engage a tissue via suction; and at least one anchor needle disposed in the lumen of the elongated body and configured to at least partially protrude from the aperture of the elongated body, the at least one anchor needle having a needle lumen defined therethrough terminating at a first needle aperture at or near a distal end of the anchor needle, and a securing member positioned within the needle lumen and configured to move between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the securing member comprises a barb suture, or harpoon suture configured such that the barb suture or harpoon suture is deployed from the first needle aperture when the barb suture or harpoon suture is in the second position.
The present disclosure includes a device, comprising an elongated shaft having a lumen defined therethrough terminating at an aperture at or near a distal end of the elongated shaft, the elongated shaft configured to engage a tissue via suction; at least one anchor needle disposed in the lumen of the elongated body and configured to at least partially protrude from the aperture of the elongated body, the at least one anchor needle having a needle lumen defined therethrough terminating at a first needle aperture at or near a distal end of the anchor needle, and a securing member positioned within the needle lumen and configured to move between at least a first position and a second position; and a handle having a trigger member, wherein the securing member is configured to be manually deployed using the handle.
The present disclosure includes a kit comprising a percutaneous access device as described herein, an access needle and a closure device. The access needle further comprises a stabilizer positioned in the lumen of the access needle and configured to be deployed from the access needle. The stabilizer may be a wire configured to be deployed in a helical direction such that it forms a stabilizing structure in its deployed state. The access needle is also configured to allow the injection of contrast therethrough.
The present disclosure includes a method for using a percutaneous access device to access an internal organ the method comprising the steps of inserting an elongated shaft into a patient at or near the internal organ, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a distal end, a proximal end, and securing means at the distal end; attaching the distal end of the elongated shaft to the internal organ via suction; passing an access needle through the elongated shaft into the internal organ and deploying a stabilizer from the access needle tip; injecting contrast through the access needle lumen into the internal organ, which can be viewed to ensure proper placement and location of the percutaneous access device; and deploying the securing means to attach a wall of the internal organ to the percutaneous access device. The present disclosure includes a method for using a percutaneous access device to access an internal organ, the method comprising the steps of inserting an elongated shaft into a patient at or near the small intestine, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a distal end, a proximal end, and securing means at the distal end; attaching the distal end of the elongated shaft to the small intestine via suction; passing an access needle through the elongated shaft into the small intestine and deploying a stabilizer from the access needle tip; injecting contrast through the access needle lumen into the small intestine, which can be viewed to ensure proper placement and location of the percutaneous access device; and deploying the securing means to attach a wall of the small intestine to the percutaneous access device.
The present disclosure includes a method for using a device to provide access in the small intestine comprising the steps of attaching the device to the small intestine wall with suction to allow introduction of an access needle and a stabilizing wire for probing to verify the proper access location. The stabilizing wire also forms a loop with diameters ranging from 5- 10mm that provides an anchor/ support and ensures that the opposing wall of the small intestine is kept away from the perforating needle to avoid inadvertent piercing of both walls of the small intestine. A contrast injection is made to ensure the region of interest. Once the target location is confirmed, anchoring/fastening components of the device are deployed around the access site, which more securely attach the access site of the small intestine wall to the device. The small intestine wall can then be pulled to and held against the abdominal wall by securing the device to a collar on the surface of the patient’s abdomen. The access site of the small intestine wall is held securely and continuously to the device to provide a stabilized area with an opening through which instruments (such as introducer sheath, endoscope, dilation balloon, or closure device) can be inserted. After diagnosis or treatment, a closure device will be introduced through the access device, or alternatively, a closure device will be incorporated into the access device. The anchoring/fastening components of the device can be retrievable or non-retrievable. For example, the anchoring/fastening components may be configured as a deployable and retractable hook or barb, which can be deployed from and withdrawn back into the introducing needle and thus, released from the small intestine after the closure device has engaged the small intestine wall. Alternatively, the anchoring/fastening components may be configured as T-fasteners, barb sutures, harpoon sutures, or the like, that will be left in the bowel after the closure device has engaged the small intestine wall. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, and disclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a percutaneous access device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2A shows a distal end view of a percutaneous access device with multiple anchor needles forward and barbs constrained within the needles, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2B shows a distal end view of a percutaneous access device with multiple anchor needles forward and barbs deployed through side holes in the needle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIGS. 3-4 show views of components of an anchor needle of a percutaneous access device, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 shows portions of an anchor needle of a percutaneous access device with the securing member in retracted mode, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 shows portions of an anchor needle of a percutaneous access device with the securing member in deployed mode, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a percutaneous access device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8 shows a distal end view of a percutaneous access device with anchor needles retracted, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 9 shows a distal end view of a percutaneous access device with anchor needles forward and securing members constrained within the needles, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 10 shows a distal end view of a percutaneous access device with anchor needles forward and securing members partially deployed, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 shows a distal end view of a percutaneous access device with anchor needles forward and securing members deployed, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 12 shows a distal end view of a percutaneous access device with securing members deployed and anchor needles retracted, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 13 shows a distal end view of a percutaneous access device with anchor needles retracted and securing members deployed from needles but retracted towards the distal end of the percutaneous access device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 14 shows a side view of a percutaneous access device with handle and trigger element, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIGS. 15A-15B show an access needle of a percutaneous access device/system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 16 shows a distal end view of an access needle of a percutaneous access device/system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, piercing a tissue membrane with stabilizing member deployed;
FIGS. 17A-17D show a noose closure device of a percutaneous access device/system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIGS. 18-24 show various steps in the method of use of a percutaneous access device/system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
An overview of the features, functions and/or configurations of the components depicted in the various figures will now be presented. It should be appreciated that not all of the features of the components of the figures are necessarily described. Some of these nondiscussed features, as well as discussed features are inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed features may be inherent in component geometry and/or configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended. In the present disclosure, the term “distal” is used to refer to the part of the device farthest from an operator or closest to a patient. The term “proximal” is used to describe the part of the device closest to an operator or farthest from a patient. For example, the part of the device that is inserted into the patient first will be the distal part.
In one embodiment of the invention, a percutaneous access device 100 comprises an elongated shaft 105 having a proximal end 120, a distal end 122, and a central lumen 124. Both the proximal end 120 and the distal end 122 of the shaft 105 are open and in communication with the central lumen 124. The central lumen 124 of the shaft 105 extends throughout the length of the shaft 105 and provides a channel through which the distal end 122 of the shaft 105 may be accessed when positioned within a body to accommodate access site needles, dilators, and interventional devices.
The percutaneous access device 100 further comprises at least one anchor needle 130. The embodiment of the device 100 shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B comprises, for example, but not by way of limitation, four anchor needles 130 slidingly disposed within the shaft 105 and spaced symmetrically around the central lumen 124. Each anchor needle 130 comprises a proximal end 132, a distal end 134 comprising a sharp distal tip 136, a sidewall 138, and a needle lumen 140. The anchor needles 130 may be formed as open tip needles. Each anchor needle 130 is configured to move from a first retracted position, wherein the distal tip 136 of the anchor needle 130 is within the shaft 105, and a second advanced position wherein the distal tip 136 protrudes from the open distal end 122 of the shaft 105.
In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6, a needle aperture 141 is disposed in the sidewall 138 near the distal tip 136. The needle aperture 141 allows for communication between the needle lumen 140 and the exterior of the needle 130. The aperture 141, for example, but not by way of limitation can be 1-100 mm away from the tip 136 of the needle. In other embodiments, the aperture 141 can be 1-50 mm, 1-25 m, 1-10 mm, or 1-2 mm away from the distal tip 136.
In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-6, the percutaneous access device includes securing members 142 slidingly disposed within each needle lumen 140. Each securing member 142 includes a distal end 144, a proximal end 146 and a deployable barb 148. The barb 148 is configured such that it is at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the securing member 142, and the tip of barb 148 generally points away from the distal end 144 of the securing member 142 and towards the proximal end 146. As shown in FIG. 14, the device 100 may include a handle 250 with a trigger 255. The securing member 142 is operably connected at its proximal end 146 to the trigger 255. The trigger 255 can pull the securing member 142 back along the longitudinal axis of the needle 130 or push it forward within the needle lumen 140. When the trigger 255 pulls the securing member 142 back (towards the proximal end 132 of the needle 130), the barb 148 is deployed through the aperture 141 of the needle 130. When the trigger 255 pushes the securing member 142 forward (towards the distal end 134 of the needle 130), the barb 148 is substantially straightened and constrained within the needle lumen 140 of the needle 130. The trigger 255 is actuated manually.
The securing member 142 may be made from a material with relatively high elastic deformation, such as nitinol or similar materials, such that the barb 148 of the securing member 142 can recover its shape as it is being deployed from the aperture 141 of the needle 130 after being substantially straightened while retracted into the needle lumen 140. The length of the barb 148 depends upon the requirements of the specific application for which the device 100 is being used.
The following description of use of a percutaneous access device 100 of the kind disclosed herein will be in the context of providing access to the small intestine, but it is understood that the percutaneous access device 100 can be used to provide access to any internal organ. In use, the distal end 122 of the shaft 105 of the percutaneous access device 100 is initially secured against the small intestine with suction. The anchor needles 130 are advanced out of the shaft 105 to pierce through the small intestine wall. Next, the securing members 142 are pulled back so that the curved sharpened barbs 144 of the securing members 142 slide out of apertures 141 in the needles 130, pierce, and hook the small intestine. The securing members 142 have been shaped for this purpose and are made of nitinol which allows shape recovery after they straighten while inside the needles 130 (FIGS. 2A, 5B and 5C). Suction can be turned off after the securing members 142 are set in the small intestine. The small intestine is then pulled to and held against the abdominal wall by securing the device 100 to a collar 105, which is on the surface of the patient’s abdomen (FIG. 1). After the percutaneous intervention, a closure device is introduced through the shaft 105 of the percutaneous access device 100. After the closure device has engaged the small intestine wall, the securing members 142 are pushed forward, forcing them to collapse into the needle 130, and release the small intestine. Access closure is then completed with the closure device.
In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS 7-13, a percutaneous access device 200 comprises an elongated shaft 205 having a proximal end 220, a distal end 222, and a central lumen 224. Both the proximal end 220 and the distal end 222 of the shaft 205 are open and in communication with the central lumen 224. The central lumen 224 of the shaft 205 extends throughout the length of the shaft 205 and provides a channel through which the distal end 222 of the shaft 205 may be accessed when positioned within a body to accommodate access site needles, dilators, and interventional devices.
The percutaneous access device 200 further comprises at least one anchor needle 230. The embodiment of the device 200 shown in FIGS. 7-13 comprises, for example, but not by way of limitation, three anchor needles 230 slidingly disposed within the shaft 205 and spaced symmetrically around the central lumen 224. The anchor needles 230 may be formed as open tip needles. Each anchor needle 230 is configured to move from a retracted position, wherein the tip of the anchor needle 230 is within the shaft 205 (FIG. 8), to at least one advanced position wherein the tip of the anchor needle 230 protrudes from the open distal end 222 of the shaft 205 (FIGS. 9-10).
In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7-13, the percutaneous access device includes securing members 242 in the form of a T-fasteners configured to be advanced through the needle lumen 240 of each anchor needle 230. T-fasteners 242 may be a short (e.g., no more than a centimeter long) piece of a wire or cannula with a suture 244 (either resorbable or permanent), attached in its middle, or other similar configuration known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The device 200 includes a handle 250 with a trigger 255, which is operably connected to anchor needles 230 and T-fasteners 242. For example, the trigger 255 can be actuated to drive a pusher 248 to a first position whereby the pusher 248 advances anchor needles 230 out from the distal end 222 of the shaft 205. The trigger 255 can then be actuated to drive the pusher 248 to a second position whereby the pusher 248 pushes the T-fasteners 242 forward along the longitudinal axis of the needle 230 to deploy the T-fastener 242 from the distal tip 236 of needle 230 (as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12). The T-fasteners 242 can be delivered in the elongate configuration through the lumen 240 of anchor needle 230 and moved to the deployed configuration by pulling the suture 244 proximally to rotate the T-fasteners 242 such that the T-fasteners 242 are non-parallel with respect to the pusher 248, the distal tip 236 of the anchor needle 230, and/or the suture 244. The trigger 255 can then be released thereby retracting the pusher 248, which then pulls the anchor needles 230 back within the shaft 205. The suture or sutures 244 can be pulled back thereby pulling the T-fasteners 242 back towards the distal end 222 of the shaft 205 (FIG. 13) thereby causing the T-fastener to lodge against tissue at the distal end 222 of the shaft 205 of the percutaneous access device 200 securing the tissue thereto. The securing members (or T-fasteners) 242 can also be deployed in any manner known in the art.
In use, the distal end 222 of the shaft 205 of the percutaneous access device 200 is initially secured against the small intestine with suction (FIG. 18), and the anchor needles 230 are advanced out of the shaft 205 as described above to pierce through the small intestine wall (FIG. 21). Next, the securing members 242 are deployed from the tips of the needles 230 as described above and as seen in FIG 22. The anchor needles 230 and securing members 242 are then pulled back causing the needles 230 to retract out of the small intestine and back into the shaft 205, and the securing members 242 to lodge against tissue at the distal end 222 of shaft 205 securing the tissue thereto, as shown in FIGS. 23-24.
The present disclosure also includes disclosure of a percutaneous access system or kit, which comprises a percutaneous access device 100 or 200 (such as referenced herein), an access needle 355, and a closure device, such as a closure noose (See FIGS. 17A-17D). One embodiment of the access needle 355 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 15 A, 15B and 16 comprises a distal end 360 comprising an open distal tip 365. The open distal tip 365 of needle 355 is sharp to aid in puncturing tissue. The open distal tip 365 may also be configured to be echogenic. The access needle 355 further comprises a stabilizing wire 385, and a hub 390. The hub 390 includes a needle port 392, an injection port 394 with extension set 396, a stabilizer port 398, and a seal 399. The proximal end 370 of needle 355 is connected to the needle port 392 of the hub 390. The needle 355 is configured to allow fluid communication between the injection port 394 and the needle port 392 and the access needle lumen 380 via the proximal end 370 of the needle 355 positioned within the needle port 392. For example, contrast media can be introduced into the injection port 394 via a syringe or other method connected to the extension set 396, and then travel to the needle port 392, into the open proximal end 370 of the needle 355, and then through the access needle lumen 380 to exit the needle 355 at the open distal tip 365.
The stabilizing wire 385 can have a generally curved shape and may be made from a material with relatively high elastic deformation, such as nitinol or similar materials, such that the stabilizing wire 385 can be substantially straightened while retracted into the access needle lumen 380 and can recover its curved shape as it is being deployed from the distal tip 365 of the needle 355. The stabilizing wire 385 has a proximal end 386 and a distal end 387. The stabilizing wire 385 is slidingly disposed within the access needle lumen 380, the proximal end 386 being positioned within the stabilizer port 398 of the needle hub 390. The stabilizing wire 385 is operably connected to a slider 391 on the hub 390. The slider 391 is configured such that it can be moved longitudinally in or on the hub 390, thereby causing the stabilizing wire 385 to slide longitudinally within the stabilizer port 398 of hub 390. The slider 391 is configured to slide a sufficient distance back and forth along a longitudinal axis of the hub 390 such that it causes the distal end 387 of the stabilizer wire 385 to slide between a retracted position and a deployed position. For example, when the slider 391 is moved to pull the stabilizing wire 385 to a proximal position within the stabilizer port 398 of the needle hub 390, the stabilizing wire 385 is pulled into a retracted position wherein the distal end 387 is pulled into the needle lumen 380 and whereby the stabilizing wire 385 is substantially straightened and constrained within the access needle lumen 380. When the slider 391 is moved to push the stabilizing wire 385 to a distal position within the stabilizer port 398 of the needle hub 390, the distal end 387 is pushed out through the open distal tip 365 of the needle 355 and recovers its curved shape thereby forming a circular or helical ring, as shown in FIG. 16.
In use, the access needle 355 is advanced through the central lumen 124 of the elongated shaft 105 until the distal end 365 of the access needle 355 pierces the small intestine, at which point the stabilizing wire 385 is advanced from the distal end 365 of the access needle 355 to form the circular or helical ring inside the small intestine and provide stabilization of the access needle 355 and support to the walls of the small intestine while contrast media is injected into the small intestine which can be viewed to determine if the device 100 or 200 is properly positioned at the small intestine. The stabilizing wire 385 also provides further additional securement of the shaft 105 or 205 at the target site of the small intestine to allow for accurate deployment of the anchor needles 130 or 230 in case suction is diminished or lost during a procedure.
While various embodiments of devices and systems for percutaneously accessing and securing target tissue/organs within a patient and methods for the same have been described in considerable detail herein, the embodiments are merely offered as non-limiting examples of the disclosure described herein. It will therefore be understood that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the content thereof.
Further, in describing representative embodiments, the present disclosure may have presented a method and/or a process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition, disclosure directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and remain within the scope of the present disclosure.