Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a staple holder and an anvil connected to the staple holder, where the anvil includes an anvil body and an anvil plate that floats relative to the anvil body. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a staple holder, an anvil connected to the staple holder, and at least one sensor fixed to at least one of the staple holder and the anvil, where at least one sensor is configured to measure stress and/or strain. An exemplary surgical method for treating tissue may include providing an end effector that includes a staple holder and an anvil connected to the staple holder, closing the end effector onto tissue, exerting force on that tissue during closing, and adjusting the gap between the anvil and staple holder during closing along at least a portion of the anvil.

Abstract: Surgical apparatus may include a staple holder and a buttress positioned on the upper surface of the staple holder, where the staple holder is configured to fire multiple sets of staples, and where the buttress is advanceable between firings such that the staple holder is configured to deploy multiple sets of staples through the buttress.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt configured as a continuous loop; staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; apertures defined in the continuous feeder belt; and a gear positioned at the distal end of the feeder belt within the continuous loop, where the gear engages at least one of the apertures to move the continuous feeder belt around the gear. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; a plurality of staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; and a plurality of teeth defined on the continuous feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a continuous belt assembly that has a flexible rack with two ends, and a feeder belt with two ends, each end of the feeder belt connected to a corresponding end of the flexible rack; and staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt.

Abstract: An exemplary method for treating an animal body may include receiving a driverless surgical stapler that includes a staple holder, staples positioned within that staple holder, and at least one wedge; and sliding at least one wedge relative to the staples to directly contact at least one staple.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus may include a cartridge, and surgical staples affixed to and frangibly separable from that cartridge. A method for surgical stapling utilizing that apparatus may include providing at least one wedge; and moving at least one wedge into the cartridge, where that moving deforms and then shears from the cartridge at least one staple. A method of manufacturing an apparatus for use with a surgical stapler may include fabricating a cartridge configured to be received by the surgical stapler; fabricating staples; and fixing the staples to the cartridge.

Abstract: One example of a surgical stapler may include a first staple holder, a second staple holder opposed to the first staple holder; a first feeder belt extending into the first staple holder, a second feeder belt extending into the second staple holder; and staples affixed to and frangibly separable from each feeder belt. Another example of a surgical stapler may include an anvilless end effector that in turn includes two opposed staple holders; at least one feeder belt extending into each staple holder, and staples frangibly affixed to each feeder belt.

Abstract: A surgical stapler may include a staple holder; an anvil movable relative to the staple holder; a feeder belt extending into the staple holder; staples frangibly affixed to the feeder belt; and a buttress belt extending onto a surface of the anvil that is oriented toward the staple holder. A surgical method for treating tissue within a patient may include providing a staple holder, an anvil movable relative to the staple holder, a feeder belt extending into the staple holder, staples frangibly affixed to the feeder belt, and a buttress belt extending onto a surface of the anvil that is oriented toward the staple holder; clamping tissue between the anvil and staple holder; deploying staples through the clamped tissue and into the buttress belt, where the staples are connected to said buttress belt as a result; breaking the deployed staples from the feeder belt; and leaving at least a portion of the buttress belt in position against tissue within the patient.

Abstract: A partial stent may include a backbone and arcuate ribs extending from that backbone; where the ribs have shapes and lengths, and are positioned relative to the backbone, such that when the partial stent is viewed from an end, the ribs collectively define an open arc. A partial stent may include at least one barb extending outward therefrom. The partial stent may be used for treating an aneurysm in a blood vessel, such as a cerebral aneurysm. The partial stent may be placed in the blood vessel adjacent the neck of the aneurysm such that the partial stent substantially covers the neck of the aneurysm.

Abstract: A minimally-invasive anastomosis system includes a base that is inserted through an incision is made in the chest of a patient between two adjacent ribs. An anastomosis tool and a sensor are attached to the base. The base is attached to the heart, such as by suction, while allowing substantially unrestricted motion of the heart. The sensor provides a view of a surgical field to a display, such that as the base moves along with the motion of the heart, the view of the surgical field remains substantially steady.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include an anvil including an outer surface, a channel defined therein, and an aperture defined in the outer surface, where the aperture opens to the channel; and a cutter slidable along and within the channel, where at least a portion of the cutter is flexible. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include an anvil including an open channel defined therein; and a one-piece cutter including a knife adjacent to a bending region, where the cutter is slidable in the channel; where the knife is initially held completely within the anvil, and where the knife flexes out of the channel and out of the anvil in response to proximal motion of the cutter.

Abstract: An exemplary method for treating an animal body may include receiving a driverless surgical stapler that includes a staple holder, staples positioned within that staple holder, and at least one wedge; and sliding at least one wedge relative to the staples to directly contact at least one staple.

Abstract: A medical device for treating a heart valve may include a master staple and a loop fixed to the master staple prior to deployment of the master staple. The heart valve may be treated with that master staple and loop, and a plurality of follower staples that are independent from the loop prior to deployment of the master staple, by closing the master staple into the valve annulus, such that the point of the loop that is fixed to the master staple is fixed relative to the valve annulus, and engaging the loop with a plurality of follower staples after that closing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include fabricating an anvil that includes an insert composed of a first material, the insert located within a cavity in a body composed of a second material, where the first material and the second material have different properties.

Abstract: One exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one carrier, staples fixed to a corresponding carrier, and a feeder belt to which at least one carrier is frangibly connected.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient, may include providing an endocutter having a knife, a staple holder along which the knife is slidable, feeder belts located on each side of the knife, staples having a first size, those staples integral with and breakable from at least one feeder belt, and staples having a second size different from the first size, those staples integral with and breakable from at least one feeder belt; engaging tissue of the patient with the staple holder; deploying at least two staples having a first size; disengaging tissue of the patient from the staple holder; once again engaging tissue of the patient with the same staple holder; and deploying at least two staples having a second size.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical staple may include a staple holder including an upper surface with two substantially-planar angled surfaces positioned lateral to and angled relative to each other; staple channels within the staple holder, each opening to a corresponding angled surface; at least one feeder belt extending into the staple holder; and staples frangibly affixed to at least one feeder belt, wherein at least one staple is held within a corresponding staple channel.

Abstract: One example of a surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient may include providing a surgical instrument that includes a handle; a shaft extending from the handle, an end effector connected to the shaft, where the shaft includes a lumen defined therethrough and an articulated region; and at least one feeder belt extending through the lumen of the shaft into the end effector, where the feeder belt includes at least one staple frangibly united therewith; inserting the end effector into the body of a patient; orienting the end effector relative to tissue to be treated within the body of the patient and relative to a remainder of the shaft; actuating the end effector to staple tissue; and removing the end effector from the body of the patient.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a flexible articulation insert separated into segments, where at least one segment is longitudinally slidable relative to at least one other segment, and where at least one passage is defined longitudinally through the insert; and at least one feeder belt extending through a corresponding passage in the insert, where staples are frangibly connected to the feeder belt.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include an anvil with a body having a cavity defined therein, and at least one insert fixed within the cavity. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include an anvil with an upper layer composed of a first material, and a lower layer composed of a second material different from the first material, where the lower layer is fixed to the upper layer. A method of manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include fabricating an anvil that includes a insert composed of a first material, the insert located within a cavity in a body composed of a second material, where the first material and the second material have different properties.