Cardica, Inc.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Dextera Surgical Inc.

David L Bombard

Bryan Dale Knodel

Jaime Salvador Vargas

Theodore M Bender

Bernard A Hausen

James T Nielsen

Brendan M Donohoe

Philipe Roget Manoux

Tenny Chang

Stephen A Yencho

Nathan H White

Michael J Hendricksen

Alan J Grodzinsky

Emerson Cheung Quan

Eliot H Frank

David Breslau

Steven Treppo

Luke W Clauson

Jamey Nielsen

Joshua M O Newth

Jeremy Frank

Ted Bender

Phillipe R Manoux

A surgical tool for performing anastomosis may include a handle and a tissue effector connected by a shaft, at least party of which may be flexible. The tissue effector may include a staple holder connected to an anvil.

Anastomosis system with flexible shaft

A system for connecting the end of a graft vessel to the side of a target vessel may include an anvil configured to enter the target vessel through an anvil entry hole in the wall of the target vessel; a holder movable relative to the anvil, where that holder may deploy at least one connector through the graft vessel and into the target vessel at a location spaced apart from the anvil entry hole; and at least one sealer that may be detachably connected to the anvil and/or said holder; where at least one sealer may be configured to substantially close the anvil entry hole in the target vessel. A method for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel may include inserting an anvil through the wall of the target vessel into the lumen of the target vessel from outside of the target vessel through an anvil entry hole; connecting an end of the graft vessel to the side of the target vessel with a plurality of connectors at a location spaced apart from the anvil entry hole; creating an opening in the side of the target vessel, where the opening is located within a perimeter defined by the connectors and spaced apart from the anvil entry hole; withdrawing the anvil through the anvil entry hole; and substantially sealing the anvil entry hole.

Anastomosis system with anvil entry hole sealer

A surgical staple for connecting two tubular tissue structures may include a substantially rectangular base having a first edge and a second edge substantially parallel to one another, and a third edge substantially perpendicular to the first and said second edges; and may also include at least three deformable tines extending from the first and second edges of said base; where no tine that extends from the first edge may be positioned at substantially the same distance from the third edge as any said tine that extends from the second edge; and where deformation of the tines secures the tubular tissue structures together.

Surgical staple for anastomosis

A method of performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel, each having a circumferential wall and a lumen therethrough, may include providing an anastomosis tool including a tissue effector and a fluid-driven actuator operationally connected to that tissue effector; connecting the fluid-driven actuator to an energy source; placing an end of the graft vessel in proximity to the side of the target vessel; and actuating the fluid-driven actuator to connect the end of the graft vessel to the side of the target vessel.

Anastomosis method utilizing tool with fluid-driven actuator

A surgical tool useful for connecting an abdominal aortic stent or the like to tissue may include a head holding at least one fastener, a shaft, and a joint connecting the head to the shaft, the joint allowing the head to rotate in at least one direction relative to the shaft. That surgical tool may be used to connect a graft assembly to tissue, where the graft assembly may include a graft connected to a stent. The graft, stent and surgical tool may be inserted into a body lumen; and the head of the surgical tool may be pivoted relative to the shaft such that the distal end of the head contacts the interior of the stent. At least one fastener is then deployed to connect the stent to the body lumen.

System for attaching an abdominal aortic stent or the like

An anastomosis system for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel includes spaced-apart arms, and an anvil connected to those arms, where that anvil has a blunt distal end. The anvil is insertable into the target vessel. One or more connectors, such as staples, may be deployed from each arm to connect the graft vessel to the target vessel.

System for performing anastomosis

An anastomosis tool includes a handle connected to a tissue effector that may be capable of being oriented in two or more positions relative to the handle. The tissue effector holds a graft vessel having at least one flap defined in at least one end thereof against the side of a target vessel. Actuation of a trigger or other mechanism on the handle causes the tissue effector to deploy one or more connectors into the flaps of the graft vessel and the side of the target vessel, thereby connecting the graft vessel to the target vessel.

A method for anastomosing a first vessel to a second vessel may include connecting an end of the first vessel to the side of the second vessel and creating an opening in the wall of the second vessel from within the lumen of the second vessel, where that opening allows fluid communication between the lumen of the first vessel and the lumen of the second vessel.

Method of performing anastomosis

An anastomosis tool may include a tissue effector having an anvil and a staple holder movable relative to one another, where that tissue effector may be movable from an open position to a closed position. A fluid-driven actuator may be utilized to move the tissue effector between those positions, and/or to deploy connectors from the staple holder when the tissue effector is in the closed position. The fluid-driven actuator may utilize pressurized gas stored in a cylinder or reservoir within the anastomosis tool. A separate clip applier may be used to close the entry hole made by the anvil in a target vessel.

Anastomosis tool actuated with stored energy

A system for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel includes a tissue effector having an anvil and a staple holder movable relative to one another, with a graft affixer connected to the staple holder. A single incision may be made in an end of the graft vessel, such that the graft vessel includes a single flap for connection to the target vessel.

Surgical apparatus and method for anastomosis

An anastomosis tool may include a connector holder connected to an anvil. The connector holder may be bifurcated and configured to straddle the graft vessel. The connector holder may be generally U-shaped. The connector holder may be shaped to extend around more than half of the circumference of the graft vessel.

Anastomosis tool having a connector holder

A system for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel includes a tissue effector that may be configured to deploy a user-selectable number of connectors. The system includes an anvil that enters the wall of the target vessel through an entry hole that is spaced apart from the anastomosis site, and at least one anvil entry hole sealer may be utilized to substantially seal the anvil entry hole upon withdrawal of the anvil. The system may include a shield and a cutter, both of which are movable relative to the anvil, where the shield is configured to protect the graft vessel from the cutter. The cutter may include an incising element movable from a stowed position to an active position.

Surgical system and method for connecting hollow tissue structures

A surgical tool for performing anastomosis may include a staple holder; a clip detachably connected to the staple holder; a length of suture, wherein a portion of the length of suture is held securely between the clip and the staple holder; and a needle connected to the suture. An incision may be made at one end of the graft vessel to form a flap. The needle may penetrate the wall of the graft vessel proximal to the incision, and the graft vessel may then be parachuted down the suture toward engagement with the clip. In this way, graft loading onto the clip is facilitated.

Anastomosis tool with improved graft loading

An anastomosis system for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel includes an elongated anvil arm for insertion into the target vessel. The anvil arm includes a contact surface that contacts the inner surface of the wall of the target vessel. The anvil arm includes a channel through which a cutting element translates, and a opening that extends between the channel and the contact surface of the anvil arm. The cutting element is translated along the channel, and is controlled to extend through the opening and make an incision in the wall of the target vessel at a selected location. The incision is made at a location spaced apart from the penetration site at which the anvil arm is inserted into the target vessel, resulting in a tissue bridge between the incision and the penetration site.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

David L Bombard