Abstract: A device for maintaining an opening in a first blood vessel in open position during a surgical procedure for suturing the opening in the first blood vessel to an opening in a second blood vessel. The device comprises: an elongate slender barrel with a straight longitudinal axis from the handle end to the tip end, a groove extending the length of the barrel, the groove ending in a slanting open cavity at the tip end, and a leaf spring clampattached to the barrel to clamp the blood vessel to the posterior convex surface of the tip.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus (10) for applying a circumferential pressure to an extremity to control blood flow to a distal portion of the extremity. One embodiment (10) of the apparatus of the present invention includes an inflation device (12), an inflatable cuff (14) and a tube (16) interconnecting the inflation device (12) and the inflatable cuff (14). The inflation device (12) preferably includes a syringe pump (18) and a spring unit (20). The spring unit (20) includes a compression spring (36) which resiliently applies a force to the plunger (24) of the syringe pump (18), thereby applying a continuous pressure to the fluid within the syringe cylinder (22). The cuff (14) is thereby supplied with a controlled pressure to control the blood flow through the encircled portion of the extremity.

Abstract: A pliers-like device to facilitate certain surgical procedures, such as coaptation of the surgically split sternum, for thrusting a needle having a coaxial suture through tough tissue. The device has two elongate jaws, mechanically articulated at one end for opposable action by manual operation. The free end of the upper jaw is forked and the free end of the lower jaw has a socket to hold the needle in direction toward the fork. Features of the invention include a channel to accommodate the suture and a kerf to facilitate insertion of the suture into the socket. An optional improvement on the device provides a clamp to releasibly clamp the needle in the socket by the action of a spring-biased pin controlled by an accessory lever.