Abstract: Systems and methods for removing fluid and atherogenic, thrombotic and inflammatory (ATI) markers from blood are disclosed. A system for removing fluid and atherogenic, thrombotic and inflammatory markers from blood includes an ultrafiltration module for removing fluid from blood drawn from a patient; and an apheresis module for removing atherogenic, thrombotic, and inflammatory markers from the blood, wherein the ultrafiltration module and the apheresis module form a continuous closed-loop extracorporeal blood circuit.

Abstract: A surgical ligation instrument and method for ligating a fluid carrying structure are provided. In one aspect, there is provided a surgical ligation instrument and method for deploying a spring clip over the fluid carrying structure without pre-clamping the fluid carrying structure.

Abstract: A surgical suturing needle is disclosed for use in limited space applications as well as a method for its use. The needle has an arcuate body and a relatively straight shank extending therefrom. The shank and arcuate body form an abrupt angle therebetween. The surgical suturing needle has a pointed tip on one end of the arcuate body and suture attachment structure formed in the shank. The method of using the surgical needle to join a pair of vascular tissue sections together includes penetrating into a lumen of a first vascular tissue section, advancing the pointed tip into the lumen of a second vascular tissue section and out through a side wall thereof, grasping the pointed tip and drawing the needle substantially parallel to an outer surface of the second vascular tissue section to thereby move the surgical suturing needle and an attached length of suture material through the first and second vascular tissue sections.