Abstract: A method for using a surgical device for joining two blood vessels and creating a passageway therebetween is provided. The surgical device has an implement on the distal end which includes a first member and a second member. The first member is inserted into a first opening of a first blood vessel, such as a graft vessel. The second member is inserted into a second opening of a second blood vessel, such as the coronary artery. The surgical device is activated to draw together the first and second members, bringing together the first and second blood vessels. A work portion of the surgical device is actuated to perform a function, which comprises joining the blood vessels together with at least two joining lines and creating a longitudinal cut between the joining lines. The first and second members of the surgical device are then removed, and the first and second openings are closed.

Abstract: A surgical device and method is described for facilitating the anastomosis of two hollow organs. The surgical device has two arms for holding one of the hollow organs, each arm having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. Each arm also includes a holding surface. The surgical device also has a means for moving the two arms near to each other and away from each other, and a means for holding the two arms near to each other. The surgical device further includes a prong having a proximal end attached to the surgical device, and a distal end of the prong for entering a hole of a hollow organ. The prong is interposed between the two arms such that when the two arms are moved near to each other, the prong and hollow organ are held between the holding surfaces of the arms, with the longitudinal axis of the prong parallel to the longitudinal axes of the two arms.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent. The apparatus includes an outer sheath, which is an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends. The outer sheath is made from an outer polymeric layer, an inner polymeric layer, and a braided reinforcing layer between the inner and outer layers. The reinforcing layer is more rigid than the inner and outer layers. The apparatus further includes an inner shaft located coaxially within the outer sheath. The shaft has a distal end, extending distal to the distal end of the sheath, and a proximal end, extending proximal to the proximal end of the sheath. The shaft further includes a stop attached thereto. The stop is proximal to the distal end of the sheath. Lastly, the apparatus includes a self-expanding stent located within the sheath. The stent makes frictional contact with the inner layer of the sheath.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a surgical device for attaching a first hollow organ to a second hollow organ and creating a passageway therebetween. The device includes a first member comprising a first prong for entering a wall of the first hollow organ and a second prong for entering a wall of the second hollow organ. The prongs each have a proximal end which attaches to the first member and a distal end extending therefrom. The device further includes a second member having a plow for incising at least one of the hollow organs so as to create a passageway between the hollow organs. The second member further includes a plurality of needle paths on either side of the plow for guiding a needle through the walls of the hollow organ on either side of the passageway. The device further includes a means for driving a needle, having a suture attached thereto, so as to attach the hollow organs together.

Abstract: A method is described for stabilizing moving tissue within the body. The method comprises creating a first opening for primary surgical access into the body, and a second opening spaced apart from the first opening in the body. An elongated stem having a proximal end and a distal end is inserted into the second opening. A foot having an upper and a lower surface is inserted into the first opening. The lower surface of the foot is engaged with the moving tissue within the body. The distal end of the stem is releaseably attached to the foot. The proximal end of the stem may be held so as to stabilize the moving tissue within the body.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a device for stabilizing moving tissue, such as a beating heart, so as to facilitate surgical procedures on such tissue. The device includes a tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween. The tube has a flexible hose extending through the lumen of the tube between its distal and proximal ends. The hose having a proximal end connected to a suction source so as to draw air through the tube from its distal end to its proximal end. The tube is made up of a plurality of segments which are detachable from one another. The device further includes at least one foot connected to the distal end of the tube. The foot extends laterally from the tube. In a preferred embodiment the device includes a pair of feet which are spaced apart laterally from each other. Each foot has a proximal surface, and a distal surface for making contact with the tissue.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a guidewire for navigating through body vessels. The guidewire has a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The guidewire includes an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end of the tube is a flexible distal tip having a smooth closed distal end. The guidewire further includes a core wire having distal and proximal ends. The core wire distal end is elastic and will return to a preformed shape upon the removal of any stress applied thereto. The core wire can slide longitudinally within the tube between a retracted position, where the core wire distal end is proximal to the flexible distal tip. In the retracted position the tube applies sufficient stress to deform the core wire distal end. The core wire also slides to an extended position, wherein said core wire distal end is within and substantially surrounded by the flexible distal tip.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a surgical device for joining a first and a second vessel together and creating a passageway therebetween. The device includes an implement which has proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The implement has a bottom member and a top member which are substantially coextensive. The top and bottom members are pivoted together at the proximal end so that a wall of each of the first and second vessels can be held between the top and bottom portions. The device includes a mechanism for joining the first and second vessels together along two joining lines which are substantially parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the implement. The lines have distal and proximal ends. The device further includes a blade for severing the first and second vessels between the joining lines so as to create a passageway through the vessels.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a catheter for insertion within the human vasculature. The catheter is capable of being irreversibly expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter. The catheter has an elongated shaft with a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The shaft has a lumen extending therethrough. The lumen has a substantially circular cross section of a first diameter. The shaft has two or more stripes of a substantially rigid material and two or more stripes of a substantially expandable and non-resilient material. The rigid stripes disposed between the expandable stripes. The stripes extend between the distal and proximal ends of the shaft.

Abstract: The drug delivery stent assembly includes a hollow tubular wire stent which extends in a path defining a generally cylindrical envelope and which has side walls facing outwardly of the cylindrical envelope with holes therein for delivery of liquid to a site in a vessel where the stent is placed.

Abstract: A guiding catheter introducer assembly that includes a catheter introducer sheath, with a hemostasis valve, attached or molded to a reinforced guiding catheter tubular body into a single assembly. The reinforced guiding catheter tubular body is made of braided wire construction. The catheter introducer sheath assembly includes a side port at which point a multiport stop cock is attached or molded, to facilitate the insertion and withdrawal of fluids.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method for suturing tissue using a needle holder device, The device includes a handle for holding it, the handle has distal and proximal ends. The device also has right and left arms extending distally from the handle. The arms of the device have proximal ends attached to the handle and distal ends having grippers attached thereto for gripping and releasing a needle. The device includes at least one mechanism for moving the distal ends of the arms closely adjacent to one another and for passing the needle from one gripper to the other and thereafter for moving the distal ends of the arms further apart from one another. The right gripper is holding a needle having a suture attached thereto. The method first involves moving the distal ends of the arms apart from one another and manually inserting the needle into the tissue and back out again.

Abstract: The drug delivery stent assembly includes a hollow tubular wire stent which extends in a path defining a generally cylindrical envelope and which has side walls facing outwardly of the cylindrical envelope with holes therein for delivery of liquid to a site in a vessel where the stent is placed and the stent being constructed in a manner which permits the stent to be placed in one of two states, one state being where the stent assumes the shape of an enlarged generally cylindrical envelope and the other state being where the stent assumes the shape of a contracted smaller cylindrical envelope.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a device for pivoting a surgical retractor with respect to a patient it is being used on. The device includes a bridge having distal and proximal ends wherein a distal coupling is attached to the distal end of the bridge and a proximal coupling is slidably attached to the bridge proximal to the distal coupling. The proximal and distal couplings include a means for releasably attaching itself to a surgical retractor. The device further includes a lifting assembly attached to the bridge proximal to the proximal coupling. The lifting assembly comprises a means for applying an upward force to the proximal coupling, whereby when the device is attached to a surgical retractor, the lifting assembly pivots the retractor upward about the distal coupling.

Abstract: A catheter having an elongated tubular body with a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween. The body is made from three layers of extruded plastic which adhere to each other. The body has an inner and outer layer made from a polymer, and a middle layer also made from a polymer. The middle layer is more flexible and has a lower melt temperature than the inner and outer layers. The catheter further includes an integral fuseless distal tip. The distal tip is made from the middle layer and no more than one of the inner and outer layers. The distal tip is softer than portions of the body proximal thereto. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making a fuseless soft tip tubular catheter, of the type described above. The method involves extruding the catheter so as to form the tubular body having the inner, outer and middle layers. Thereafter, at least the distal end of the catheter is heated so as to form a distal tip.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for pivoting a surgical retractor with respect to a patient it is being used on. The apparatus has a bridge for engaging at least one arm of a surgical retractor. The bridge has a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The bridge further includes a distal coupling attached to the distal end of the bridge for releasably attaching the bridge to the surgical retractor. The apparatus also has a lifting assembly comprising an elevator. The lifting assembly is for applying an upward force to the proximal end of the bridge, so that when the apparatus is attached to a surgical retractor the lifting assembly pivots the retractor upward about the distal coupling. The elevator includes a bridge coupling for attaching the lifting assembly to the proximal end of the bridge. The bridge coupling has a rotatable connection for allowing the bridge to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method of treating a component formed from a Ni--Ti based shape memory alloy, so that the component exhibits superelasticity, comprises cold working the component, annealing the alloy while the component is restrained in the configuration resulting from the cold working step, and exposing the component to a temperature that is less than the solvus temperature of the alloy and greater than the temperature to which it is exposed in the annealing step to cause the A.sub.f temperature to be reduced.

Abstract: The guidewire comprises: a tip section including a core wire including a first tapered portion, a reduced-in-diameter portion, a second tapered portion and a rod end portion, two or more highly radiopaque annular marker bands being received on the core wire between the first tapered portion and the rod end portion and precisely spaced apart on the core wire by one or more plastic tubing segments, and an outer sleeve covering said marker bands and tubing segments.

Abstract: The guidewire assembly includes a distal tip section comprising a core wire, a mushroom shaped head fixed to a distal end of the core wire, and a coiled radiopaque wire having a distal end portion fused to the head and a proximal necked down portion which necks down to proximal end coils forming a proximal end of the coiled radiopaque wire. The proximal end coils are received on a portion of the core wire and fixed thereto by a flexible material.

Abstract: A catheter or catheter sheath introducer, for insertion into a vessel of a patient. The catheter has a rigid housing at its proximal end. The housing has an annular valve for access to the lumen of catheter. The catheter further includes a flexible tube for insertion into the patient. Lastly, the catheter has a resilient transition member intermediate and separating the housing and the tube. The member has a greater flexibility than the tube such that if the catheter is bent, after it is inserted into the patient, it will bend along the transition member where there is no substantial reduction of the cross-sectional area of the lumen adjacent the bend.