Abstract: A surgical instrument for performing procedures such as carpal tunnel release. The instrument consists of an elongated member having a spring or cam plate positioned therein. The spring or cam plate is movable from a retracted position within the elongated member to an extended position protruding through an aperture in the elongated member. Movement of the spring or cam plate to the extended position stretches a flexible membrane positioned over at least a portion of the elongated member to stretch the carpal tunnel ligament.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a tissue fastener for fastening soft tissue to bone includes elongated members, one of which holds a loading unit having a tissue fastener mounted therein, and another of which is moved to expel the tissue fastener from the loading unit and expand legs of the tissue fastener to secure it within a predrilled hole in bone. The tissue fastener is preferably a two piece fastener including a body portion with legs flexibly expandable by a setting pin. The loading unit engages both the body and the setting pin.

Abstract: A coated gut suture is prepared by applying a moisture-retaining substance to the gut suture, followed by coating the suture with a synthetic bioabsorbable polymer. A particularly useful moisture-retaining substance is glycerol. The synthetic bioabsorbable polymer contains a epsilon-caprolactone as the major constituent. The gut suture can be packed in the absence of conventional tubing fluid while retaining flexibility, pliability, and resistance to fray.

Abstract: Degradable polyesteramide suitable for use in biomedical applications is obtained by reacting diamino alkyl ester with alpha hydroxy acid to form diamide-diol which is reacted with acyl halide or dicarboxylic acid to yield polyesteramide.

Abstract: A self contained gas powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided for placing lateral lines of surgical fasteners into body tissue. The apparatus includes an anvil member and a surgical fastener cartridge member mounted to the distal end of an elongated endoscopic portion. A tubular collar of the endoscopic portion moves distally to engage the anvil member and bias the anvil member and the cartridge member into cooperative alignment thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and the cartridge member. A self contained pneumatic system is optionally disposed in the surgical apparatus and is actuable to eject and/or form the surgical fasteners in the clamped body tissue. The apparatus further comprises a locking mechanism for preventing firing of the instrument after it has been fired a predetermined number of times. A counter for displaying the number of times the apparatus has been fired may be provided.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for applying staples or fasteners to tissue to form a circular anastomosis having an adjustable closure mechanism to rapidly approximate the distance between the anvil member and the fastener assembly of the instrument. The adjustable closure mechanism provides for rapid approximation during an initial movement and for fine adjustment of the distance between the anvil member and the fastener assembly upon subsequent movement of the closure mechanism. The closure mechanism consists of an advancing mechanism which operates in a two stage advancement, such that initial movement of the advancing mechanism moves the anvil member a greater distance than a subsequent movement of the advancing mechanism.

Abstract: Polyesteramides having amino acid-derived groups alternating with hydroxy acid-derived groups are useful in making shaped articles, particularly, shaped articles suitable for use as surgical devices.

Abstract: A method for percutaneous dissection of a segment of vascular tissue from a patient is provided which includes providing an elongated tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, and blunt dissection structure positioned adjacent the distal end of the tubular member and remotely actuable from adjacent the proximal end of the tubular member. The method further provides for percutaneously accessing a first end portion of the vascular tissue segment, the blunt dissection structure is positioned adjacent the vascular tissue segment and is actuated to bluntly dissect the vascular tissue segment from surrounding body tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method apparatus for transmyocardial revascularization. The apparatus includes an incision needle for creating an incision within a patient's heart to define a channel, and an electrocautery assembly operatively associated with the incision needle for transferring thermal energy to an inner surface of the channel to reduce bleeding therefrom and to prevent the channel from closing. Preferably, thermal energy is not transferred to the epicardium to create a flap or channel cap after the cylindrical incision needle is removed from relevant tissue to reduce bleeding from the channel.

Abstract: A disposable loading unit is disclosed for use in conjunction with a surgical stapling apparatus configured to sequentially apply a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue. The apparatus includes an actuation assembly for effectuating a fastener applying operation, and a housing for receiving and releasably supporting the disposable loading unit.

Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus includes an anvil having a trunnion with outward facing protuberances. The anvil has planar lateral sides. A mounting bracket for attaching a handle to the anvil has planar lateral sides which are flush against the planar lateral sides of the anvil by and fixedly attached thereto by, for example, a plurality of spot welds.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating closure of an opening in a blood vessel, includes a closure instrument having an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis and proximal and distal ends. The elongated member has a vacuum lumen extending at least a portion of the length thereof for conveying a vacuum and terminating in a vacuum port adjacent the distal end of the elongated member. The distal end of the elongated member is dimensioned to be positioned proximal a vessel opening in a blood vessel whereby vessel edge portions defining the vessel opening are at least drawn toward the vacuum port in response to a vacuum conveyed through the vacuum lumen. At least one surgical clip is mounted adjacent the distal end of the elongated member and is adapted to be formed to an at least partially formed condition thereof.

Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus having tissue bolstering material releasably attached thereto for application of the material and staples to body tissue is disclosed. The tissue bolstering material is preferably releasably held to surfaces of the stapling apparatus through pins, clips or similar securing structures. The tissue bolstering material can be either planar or tubular in configuration. Preferably, both the anvil portion and the fastener ejecting portion of the stapler are at least partially covered with the tissue bolstering material. In use, tissue is disposed between the anvil portion and the stapling portion of the instrument and the instrument is fired. The tissue bolstering material is thereby secured to the tissue and releasably detaches from the stapler upon withdrawal of the stapler from the surgical site.

Abstract: There are provided surgical suturing apparatus or stitching devices particularly suited for use in suturing artificial heart valves to heart tissue during heart valve replacement surgery. The disclosed apparatus include a stationary jaw oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the apparatus to facilitate suturing through the artificial valve in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the valve. One embodiment of the stitching device utilizes a pair of surgical needles or incision members joined by a single length of suture material. There are also disclosed disposable loading units for providing suture - needle assemblies to the suturing apparatus. Also disclosed are methods of suturing an artificial heart valve to heart tissue using the disclosed apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for microsurgical needle suture attachment includes a clamp for holding a needle such that the needle aperture remains in a fixed position; at least one guide member defining an angled guide area having a relatively wide portion and a vertex portion, the vertex portion being aligned with the fixed position of the needle aperture; a transport mechanism for advancing a suture end portion into the relatively wide portion of the guide member(s); and a deflection spring for moving the suture end portion into the vertex portion of the angled guide area.

Abstract: A polyesteramide suitable for use in the fabrication of absorbable surgical devices such as monofilament and multifilament sutures, films, sheets, plates, clips, staples, pins, screws, and the like, is obtained by reacting a monoalkanolamine such as ethanolamine with a diacid halide such as succinic acidchloride to provide a diamidediol and thereafter reacting the diamidediol with the same or different diacid halide under polymerization conditions to form the polyesteramide.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue which includes a body having a proximal portion defining a central longitudinal axis and an articulating distal portion; a fastener cartridge containing at least one surgical fastener therein and positionable in the articulating distal portion; an anvil mounted adjacent the fastener cartridge and defining a fastener forming surface against which surgical fasteners are formed when ejected from the fastener cartridge; a fastener driving mechanism operatively associated with the fastener cartridge and actuatable from the handle to eject the at least one fastener from the fastener cartridge; a link member having a distal portion offset from the body central longitudinal axis and pivotably connected to the articulating distal portion at a point spaced from the body central longitudinal axis, the link member being movable between a proximal-most position to move the distal portion to an articulated condition away from the central longitudinal axis on a first

Abstract: Cyclic monomers prepared by novel methods are useful in making polyesteramides which can be made into shaped articles, particularly, shaped articles suitable for use as surgical devices.