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: 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 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.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical stapler may include a staple holder including an upper surface, where the upper surface includes two substantially-planar angled surfaces positioned lateral to and angled relative to each other; staple bays within the staple holder, each opening to a corresponding angled surface; and staples, where at least one staple is held within at least one staple bay. Another exemplary surgical stapler may include a staple holder; a first group of staple bays defined within the staple holder, the first group of staple bays lying substantially in a first plane; and a second group of staple bays defined within the staple holder, the second plurality of staple bays lying substantially in a second plane; where the first plane intersects the second plane.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus may include a knife, a staple holder along which the knife is slidable, a plurality of feeder belts located on each side of the knife, and a plurality of staples separably connected to each feeder belt, where the staple holder is configured to fire at least two separate sizes of staples. A 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, a plurality of feeder belts located on each side of the knife, and a plurality of staples separably connected to each feeder belt, wherein the staple holder is configured to fire at least two separate sizes of staples; engaging tissue of the patient with the staple holder; deploying a plurality of staples having a first size; disengaging tissue of the patient from the staple holder; once again engaging tissue of the patient with the staple holder; and deploying a plurality of staples having a second size.

Abstract: An exemplary method for surgically stapling tissue may include providing a surgical stapler that includes at least one staple, a pusher configured to hold at least one staple, a splay arm movable relative to the pusher, where that splay arm includes two spaced-apart splay tips, and a driver movable relative to the pusher; splaying at least one staple by plastically deforming the distalmost staple against the splay tips; and after splaying, closing at least one staple by plastically deforming the distalmost staple against the splay tips.

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. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a staple holder, an anvil movably connected to the staple holder, a feeder belt, where at least part of the feeder belt extends into the staple holder, and staples fixed to and frangibly separable from the feeder belt; where the staples are organized into at least two groups spaced apart from one another; and where at least one staple is deployable to a different closed shape than at least one other staple.

Abstract: An auger is axially fixed to and positioned within a cutter. The auger and cutter advance at the same time relative to a contact structure placed against a vessel, penetrating the wall of the vessel and cutting a tissue plug. When the auger and the cutter are retracted from the vessel wall, the tissue plug is retained by the auger and cutter and removed from the vessel wall. The auger and the cutter thus create an opening in the vessel wall, without the need for a prior incision in that wall.

Abstract: A surgical endocutter may include an end effector, at least one feeder belt that extends at least partially into the end effector; and two or more staples, where each staple has a first end frangibly connected to a corresponding feeder belt and a second, free end, and where the staples form at least one row. The endocutter may be used to treat a patient by inserting the end effector into the body of a patient through an opening such as a trocar port, engaging tissue with the end effector, stapling tissue along two staple lines with the end effector; cutting tissue between the staple lines with the end effector, releasing the tissue from the end effector, and repeating the holding, stapling and engaging on tissue at a different location within the body of the patient without removing the end effector from within the body of the patient.

Abstract: An exemplary driverless surgical stapler may include a staple holder; staples positioned within that staple holder; and at least one wedge, where each wedge is slidable to directly contact at least one staple, where that contact causes deployment of each contacted staple. An exemplary surgical method may include providing a driverless surgical stapler that has a staple holder, staples positioned within the 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 feeder belt having two lateral edges, and a number of staples, where each staple includes a first end frangibly connected to the feeder belt and a second free end, where at least one staple is oriented relative to the feeder belt in a direction angled relative to the transverse direction, and where the staples form at least one row, each row including at least two staples. The feeder belt may be held by a surgical stapler. The surgical stapler may be utilized by placing that surgical stapler adjacent to tissue, deforming at least one staple into tissue, separating at least one deformed staple from the feeder belt, advancing the feeder belt, and repeating the placing, deploying and separating.

Abstract: One example of a surgical instrument may include a handle, an end effector, and a shaft that connects the handle to the end effector, where the shaft includes an articulated region. At least one feeder belt may extend through the lumen of the shaft into the end effector, where at least one feeder belt may include at least one staple frangibly connected thereto.

Abstract: A length of suture is provided, and a knot is partially tied in that suture around a tube. The partially-tied knot includes a noose portion connected to a loosely-tied barrel portion. The knot is tied by holding a standing end of the suture substantially stationary and pulling the running end of the suture through the noose. The knot locks upon tightening, making it suitable for surgical applications.

Abstract: A method for closing a patent foramen ovale in the heart tissue of a patient may include percutaneously advancing a connector applicator to the patent foramen ovale, registering the connector applicator with the patent foramen ovale, deploying connectors into heart tissue to close the patent foramen ovale; and percutaneously removing the connector applicator from the heart. One or more anchors may be used to register the connector applicator with the patent foramen ovale. The connector applicator may include a driver having a longitudinal passage therein, where at least part of at least one connector is positioned within the passage.