Abiomed, Inc.

Abiomed Cardiovascular, Inc.

Jacob H Barak

Robert T Kung

Alan R Millner

A vascular connector has a rough surfaced skirt which is trimmed to a size for surgical attachment, and a smooth central tube centrally extending through the skirt to a point upstream of the rough surface. A collar centrally affixed to the skirt releasably engages the tube, which in turn may be fabricated as a permanently attached input conduit of a total artificial heart. For installing the connectors, a skeletal frame fixture secures the central tubes or collars of plural connectors in defined positions corresponding to the attachment ports of the intended pump device.

Surgical cuff

A stapler for the anastomosis of blood vessels includes a vessel gripping structure, and an outwardly directed anvil head structure, and a stapler head structure adjustably positioned opposite each other. A first vessel is everted to form a cuff over one head structure, and the cuff is inserted into the end of, or into a fenestration of, a second vessel. The stapler is then activated to staple the two vessels. In a tong-like embodiment with a pair of linear anvils, a pair of sutures at openings between ends of ranks of staples completes the anastomosis. In a cylindrical embodiment with an enlarged head portion, a circular staple cartridge within the head forms a complete closure ring. In both cases the staples do not communicate with the vessel interior. Methods of end-to-end and end-to-side anastomosis are described. In one stapler instrument the vessel gripping structure is a pair of tongs with opposed outwardly-directed anvils on its jaws. The tongs, stapler arms, staple cartridges and staple drivers may be assembled together during surgery allowing greater access to the blood vessel and ease of manipulation. The construction is adapted to suture different tubular tissue structures.

Growing community of inventors

Oranit, Israel

Jacob H Barak