Abstract: A welding apparatus that includes a first member having a first suture-contacting surface, a second member having a second suture-contacting surface, and a device for moving the first member relative to the second member to define a gap between the respective suture-contacting surfaces. The first member is capable of vibrating and delivering mechanical energy at ultrasonic frequencies. The second member is stationary relative to the first member. A fixture element is adapted to receive and maintain two or more segments of a material to be welded in a predetermined alignment in the gap between the first and second surfaces of the first and second members during a welding operation. According to another aspect of the invention, an ultrasonic welding apparatus includes first and second members with patterned first and second suture-contacting surfaces. The patterned surfaces can be complementary or non-complementary and the surface patterns on each member may vary in either a periodic or a non-periodic manner.

Abstract: A suture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone, including a body and a continuous suture loop. The body extends along a longitudinal axis between opposing first and second ends, and has an external threaded portion extending coaxial with the axis, and a bore extending from the second end towards the first end. The continuous suture loop is secured within the bore of the body so that at least a portion of the loop extends from the second end of the body to form an eyelet.

Abstract: The present invention features an ultrasonic surgical system including an ultrasonically vibrating blade, and retractable grasper. The grasper includes a grasping jaw or clamp that is movable, in a direction perpendicular to the primary vibratory mode of the ultrasonic blade element, from an open, extended position to a closed position in which tissue is grasped between the jaw and the vibrating blade, and to a retracted position for storage. The jaw is preferably hinge-actuated.

Abstract: A stapler for ejecting at least one staple of resilient thermoplastic material having a base member and two legs extending from the base member to sharp ends and wherein the legs include overlapping distal portions for engaging body tissue. The stapler includes a pair of jaws movable between open and closed positions, a handle and trigger assembly for controlling operation of the jaws, an elongated tubular structure connecting the handle and trigger assembly to the jaws, an ejector for ejecting at least one staple from one of the jaws against the other of the jaws, and posts for holding normally overlapping distal portions of legs of the staple generally parallel until after the staple is ejected from the stapler.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for welding sutures. The apparatus comprises a jaw assembly and a heater element. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw for receiving a first suture segment, and a second jaw for receiving a second suture segment such that the first and the second suture segments overlap. The heater element is positionable and retractable along an axis between the jaws, and is adapted to be positioned between and melt at least opposing surfaces of the overlapping first and second suture segments so that the suture segments can be pressed together and bonded. The method of welding suture segments includes positioning suture segments adjacent to and on opposite sides of a heater element, energizing the heater element such that portions of the suture segments in contact with the heater element melt, withdrawing the heater element, and clamping the suture segments together until the melted portions cool.

Abstract: A suture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone, including a body having opposing first and second ends, a longitudinal axis extending between the ends, an external threaded portion extending from the first end, and a bore extending from the second end towards the first end. The body also has a first pair of slots extending laterally outwardly from the bore and extending longitudinally to a predetermined first distance from the second end, and a second pair of slots extending laterally outwardly from the bore and extending longitudinally to a predetermined second distance from the second end. The anchor additionally includes an eyelet receivable within the first and the second pairs of slots of the body and having an opening for receiving a suture, and a spring biasing the eyelet into the bore.

Abstract: A suture anchor for securing soft tissue to bone including a body extending along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends, and at least one eyelet extending between lateral surfaces of the body for receiving a suture. The eyelet defines two entry/exit void regions and a central void region extending between the entry/exit void regions. Each entry/exit void region extends from one of the lateral surfaces of the body and has an axis forming an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the body. Each entry/exit void region also has a surface comprising a segment of a conic surface extending about the axis of the entry/exit void region and tapering inward towards the longitudinal axis of the body. The central void region extends along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body.

Abstract: A surgical stapler utilizing plastic staples and ultrasonic welding to secure the staples in body tissue. The stapler includes a pair of jaws movable between open and closed positions, a handle and trigger assembly for controlling operation of the jaws, and an elongated tubular structure connecting the handle and trigger assembly to the jaws. The stapler also includes an ejection assembly for ejecting at least one staple from one of the jaws against the other of the jaws. An anvil and a horn are positioned in the other of the jaws and are arranged to receive ends of the ejected staple such that the ends overlap between the anvil and the horn. The horn is for melting and bonding at least a portion of the overlapping ends of the staple upon being energized by a predetermined form of energy, and one of the anvil and the horn is movable from within the bonded staple to allow the jaws to be moved to an open position.

Abstract: A device for closure of a living tissue wound without requiring knots. The device is a resiliently flexible and fusible collar having a C-shaped side profile disposed about a central region extending along a central axis. The collar extends circumferentially between two end portions for containing at least a portion of two tissue edges forming a tissue wound. The collar is biasable into a nominally closed O-shape so that the end portions overlap and tissue edges therein are joined together to close the tissue wound. The overlapping end portions are adapted to be fused together upon application of sufficient energy to the overlapping end portions to maintain the tissue edges in a joined position. The collar has a width greater than a thickness of the collar to increase the area of fusion between the overlapping end portions. In addition, at least one of the end portions of the collar has a sharp edge for tissue penetration so that the collar can be used to close open tissue wounds.

Abstract: A fusible collar for securing sutures without knots and for securing living tissue structures together without sutures is provided. The fusible collar is made of a resilient compressible material and is formed generally in a C-shape which can be compressed into an O-shape, with portions of the collar overlapping around the structures to be secured. Energy is applied to the overlapping portions of the collar to cause localized heating and plastic flow so as to fuse the overlapped portions together. The collar can include one or more energy directors on a contact surface to direct and focus energy to particular regions so as to effect collar-to-suture welding. The invention further provides a kit for securing elongated structures without knots. The kit includes the fusible collar and a tool for compressing the collar around the elongated structures and fusing the collar to itself and/or the elongated structures.

Abstract: This invention is a fused loop (10) of an elongated material such as a surgical suture, and apparatus for making the loop. Portions of one or more segments (12) to be joined together are fused in a welding process to form a welded joint (14). The shear area of the fused portion (20) of the joint (14) determines the strength of the joint (14), and is thus preferably relatively large. Various configurations for the welding apparatus facilitate the creation of relatively large fused portions (20) of the joint (14) by maximizing contact between at least one of the welding members of the apparatus, and at least one of the segments (12) to be joined.

Abstract: A fused loop of an elongated material, such as a surgical suture, and apparatus for making the loop. Portions of one or more segments to be joined together are fused in a welding process to form a welded joint. The shear area of the fused portion of the joint determines the strength of the joint and is thus preferably relatively large. Various configurations for the welding apparatus facilitate the creation of relatively large fused portions of the joint by maximizing contact between at least one of the welding members of the apparatus and at least one of the segments to be joined.

Abstract: A suture fastening device for forming a welded suture joint in situ includes a horn 8 and an anvil 16 movable relative to each other in a tubular shaft 3, and a source of energy 6 for actuating the horn and anvil within the shaft and relative to each other. Segments 20a, 20b of a suture to be joined are captured within the anvil and contacted by the horn for transfer of energy thereto during welding. A predetermined condition of the welded joint or of the horn and anvil is detected so as to control the delivery of energy to the segments during welding.

Abstract: A suture guide and fastener includes a suture retaining device which orients and secures one or more suture strands therein and receives energy applied to the strands to bond them within the suture retaining device. The fastener becomes integral with the bonded sutures and may be made of a material similar to the suture material, which melts upon the application of energy thereto. Alternatively, the fastener may be made of a different material which remains intact upon application of bonding energy to the sutures. When ultrasonic energy is applied, the fastener may function as a stationary ultrasonic weld anvil. Other types of energy, such as laser, thermal or chemical, may be applied to the suture strands to effect bonding.

Abstract: A suture tensioning and fixation device comprises a suture thread and a suture retaining element. The retaining element has a first suture thread engaging portion on the first end, a second suture thread engaging portion opposite the first suture thread engaging portion, and a third, substantially centrally located suture thread engaging portion. The retaining element is adapted such that segments of the suture thread can be interwoven between the suture thread engaging portions of the retaining element. The suture thread engaging portions of the retaining element are adapted to frictionally hold the interwoven segments of suture thread. Localized melting of the retaining element where it contacts the suture thread segments establishes a weld and bonds the suture thread to the retaining element in a knotless joint.

Abstract: A prosthetic cardiac valve assembly for sutureless implantation in a patient. The assembly includes a generally disk-shaped valve annulus element and one or more generally disk-shaped retainer elements. The elements are adapted for mutual engagement and for engagement with a host tissue region so as to fix a portion of the host tissue between them in a sutureless bond. Ultrasonic or thermal energy is applied to one or more of the elements to bond them together. Either the valve annulus element or the retainer element includes a plurality of projections, and the corresponding element includes a corresponding plurality of apertures for receiving the projections, thus providing for mutual physical engagement. The valve annulus element can include a plurality of valve leaflets which open and close in response to fluid pressure differentials across them. Various insertion devices for the assembly are designed to facilitate insertion of the elements in the heart through a relatively small incision.

Abstract: A soft tissue fixation assembly comprises an anchor element which is installed in a bone or other tissue, and a joiner element which mates with the anchor element to define a tissue capture region between them. A section of soft tissue is held within the tissue capture region, and energy is transmitted into the joiner element to cause relative vibratory motion between the respective components and localized melting of the contacting portions of the respective components to establish a welded joint. The soft tissue segment is thus fixed to the bone without sutures or other fasteners.

Abstract: A single-piece soft tissue fixation device includes an elongated element terminating in a tip at one end and a receptacle at the other end which bond with each other in a welded joint. The device is made of a heat-bondable, biocompatible material that can be ultrasonically or thermally welded. The tip and receptacle of the device can be textured or contoured or otherwise complementarily configured to promote mutual engagement prior to and during bonding. The tip can include a needle or needle-like extension for penetrating tissue. The device may be at least partially resorbable in living tissue.

Abstract: An expandable soft tissue fixation assembly for use in anchoring soft tissue to bone. The assembly includes a tab connected to an anchor, a sleeve adapted to surround the anchor, and a flange adapted to hold a soft tissue segment next to a bone. The sleeve is inserted into a blind hole in a bone, and a section of soft tissue is placed over the hole next to the bone. Energy is applied to the flange while a predetermined axial tension is applied to the tab to compress a flared portion of the anchor against the sleeve. An upper tube portion of the anchor and the flange are bonded together, and the applied axial force on the tab separates it from the anchor, leaving the assembly anchored in the bone and the soft tissue section anchored in place between the flange and the bone.

Abstract: A fused loop of an elongated material, such as a surgical suture, and apparatus for making the loop. Portions of one or more segments to be joined together are fused in a welding process to form a welded joint. The shear area of the fused portion of the joint determines the strength of the joint and is thus preferably relatively large. Various configurations for the welding apparatus facilitate the creation of relatively large fused portions of the joint by maximizing contact between at least one of the welding members of the apparatus and at least one of the segments to be joined.