Abstract: A stapling device for a surgical endoscopic device provided with at least one flexible portion, comprising a staple-firing portion and an anvil portion, wherein one of the staple firing portions and one of the anvil portions are located longitudinally displaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the endoscopic device, with at least a part of said flexible portion between them. The parts of the stapling device are in correct working relationship when one or more alignment and/or locking pins or screws that are stored in one of the staple firing portions or one of the anvil portions are extended and engage and lock or screw into receptacles that have been provided on the other of the staple firing portion or of the anvil portion.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to surgical clips. A surgical clip comprises a first piece comprising a first base and a first projection extending from the first base, a second piece comprising a second base, a second projection extending from the second base wherein the second projection further comprises a top surface, at least one side surface and a bottom surface, the surfaces defining a reservoir therein, and the first and the second piece are detachably connectable. In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir is self-releasing to deliver therapeutic materials when the first piece and second piece are connected.

Abstract: A method for implementing vascular anastomosis in the attachment of a graft vessel to a target vessel such as a coronary artery, and subsequently creating a passageway between the vessels in order to establish fluid flow communication therebetween. Further is to the provision of novel devices which are utilized in implementing the steps of attaching a graft vessel to a target vessel such as a coronary artery through vascular anastomosis, and thereafter creating a fluid flow passageway therebetween.

Abstract: A clip detent spring forming part of a mechanism for inserting clips into the jaws of a clip applying instrument performs the tasks of engaging and separating a first in line clip from a line of clips carried by the mechanism, and the task of positioning the clip for insertion into the instrument jaws.

Abstract: An introducer for implanting a prosthesis in a junction of a main lumen and a branch lumen. The prosthesis comprises a trunk to be implanted within the main lumen and at least one arm to be implanted within the branch lumen. The introducer comprises an outer sheath, an axial guide wire and at least one peripheral guide wire slideable within the outer sheath, and a nose cone at a distal end of the sheath. The nose cone has an axial conduit for receiving the axial guide wire and at least one peripheral channel for guiding the peripheral guide wire and guiding it into the branch lumen. A unitary branched prosthesis having at least one radial arm may be deployed using this introducer. Methods for deploying a unitary or modular branched prosthesis at a junction in a lumen use the introducer of this invention.

Abstract: A clipping apparatus comprises a clip capable of being arbitrarily opened/closed, a stop tube for closing the clip, a link member capable of being inserted into the stop tube, and engaged with the clip, a sheath section capable of housing the clip and the stop tube therein, and a manipulating wire inserted into the sheath section. This clipping apparatus further comprises a hook section for, when the clip and the stop tube is protruded frontally of the sheath section, causing the sheath section and the stop tube to be engaged with each other, and disabling the stop tube from being housed in the sheath section again.

Abstract: A surgical instrument has a tool located at the distal instrument end, a stationary first grip part at the proximal instrument end, a second grip part adjustable in an axially guided manner in the form of a reel, and an actuation element for the tool. The actuation element in connection with the second grip part is axially adjustable on adjustment of the second grip part. For improving the handling of the instrument, it is envisaged that, by way of a lever system linked onto the second grip part and a stationary part of the instrument, the adjustment path of the second grip part is geared down and the force exerted onto the second grip part is transmittable, geared up, to the actuation element.

Abstract: The invention provides a device, assembly, and method for transoral endoscopic restoration of a gastroesophageal flap valve. The invention also provides a self-steering and self-closing tissue fixation device for tissue fixation, and an invaginator device for gripping and maneuvering tissue. The restoration device includes a longitudinal member arranged for transoral placement into a stomach, a tissue shaper carried on the longitudinal member that causes stomach tissue to assume a shape related to a gastroesophageal flap, and a tissue fixation device that maintains the shaped stomach tissue in a shape approximating a gastroesophageal flap. The tissue shaper may include a mold. The device may include the invaginator device for gripping and maneuvering esophageal tissue to aid restoration of the gastroesophageal flap, and may include the tissue fixation device.

Abstract: A bone anchor insertion device comprises a handle, a nosepiece connected to a distal end of the handle, a bone anchor connected to the nosepiece, and an actuator disposed on the handle for deploying the bone anchor, which suture is also fixed to a portion of soft tissue to be attached to a portion of bone. A suture ratchet or tensioning mechanism is disposed in the handle for tensioning suture which is associated with the bone anchor. This mechanism permits precise tensioning, while also permitting one-handed operation, thereby allowing the practitioner to use his or her other hand for other activities, such as camera operation or the like.

Abstract: A teat for a baby or a child, the teat comprising a plate on which the dental arches rest and defining a bite plane, said plate being terminated towards the front by a vestibular screen against which at least one of the dental arches comes into abutment in a desired position, said plate being secured to means projecting forwards out from the mouth, the teat having a nipple projecting from the rear of the plate, said nipple being in register with the back portion of the tongue when the teat is in operation in the mouth of the baby or child so as to co-operate with the tongue and the palate and stimulate movement analogous to that of suckling.

Abstract: A medical instrument for treating, in particular for removing tissue, bone cement or the like in the human or animal body, comprising a hand piece having a distal end; an application part arranged at said distal end said hand piece, said application part being axially movable to-and-fro relative to said hand piece; a drive mechanism for said application part, said drive mechanism being provided in said hand piece, said drive mechanism transferring a pressure being continuously present in said hand piece into said to-and-fro movement of said application part, wherein said application part has at least in a region of a distal end of said application part a conduit, which has, in a distal region of said conduit, at least a suction and/or irrigation aperture.

Abstract: An instrument and method for applying a suture of stiff but bendable material, such as wire, to broken bone for closing and holding the break. Also, the instrument and method are for pulling and holding two items together with a tie. The instrument has two parts movable relative to each other for pulling the items or bone together and for twisting the suture onto the bone to hold it together. The suture is strung onto the instrument on the exterior thereof without having the suture extend through the instrument interior, so the surgeon can guide the suture and accurately string it. A crank is applied to twist the suture after the suture has been initially secured to the bone to hold the bone together.

Abstract: Intra-gastric fastening devices are disclosed herein. Expandable devices that are inserted into the stomach of the patient are maintained within by anchoring or otherwise fixing the expandable devices to the stomach walls. Such expandable devices, like inflatable balloons, have tethering regions for attachment to the one or more fasteners which can be configured to extend at least partially through one or several folds of the patient's stomach wall. The fasteners are thus affixed to the stomach walls by deploying the fasteners and manipulating the tissue walls entirely from the inside of the organ. Such fasteners can be formed in a variety of configurations, e.g., helical, elongate, ring, clamp, and they can be configured to be non-piercing. Alternatively, sutures can be used to wrap around or through a tissue fold for tethering the expandable devices. Non-piercing biased clamps can also be used to tether the device within the stomach.

Abstract: A method of end-to-side anastomosis of blood vessels for connecting a side portion of a first blood vessel to an end portion of a second blood vessel involves holding a first site on the side portion of the first blood vessel using a holder, and partially elevating the side portion of the first blood vessel; superimposing a second site on the side portion of the first blood vessel on the end of the second blood vessel and fixing them with a ring-shaped fixing member to each other; and detaching the holder from the first blood vessel when they are fixed by the fixing member or after they are fixed. The end-to-side blood vessel anastomosis method can readily open the dissected portion on the side of the blood vessel upon end-to-side blood vessel anastomosis and retain it in that state. No foreign matter is present within the blood vessel after completion of the anastomosis.

Abstract: A vessel occluding clamp according to the invention provides a pair of opposing jaws connected through a hinge and one or more pieces of shape-memory material associated with the jaws. The shape-memory material exhibits a transition temperature such that when the clamp is exposed to said transition temperature, the jaws of the clamp may close partially or completely to occlude the vessel.

Abstract: A dual-use suturing device for suturing a wound induced from a celioscope surgery is formed by a needle positioning seat, an auxiliary positioning device, and an upper cover buckled to the needle positioning seat. The positioning pieces at the top of the auxiliary positioning device are buckled to the embedding groove at a lower end of the needle positioning seat. The guide holes of the needle positioning seat have a tapered inner surface. Hollowed portions of the guide trenches provide clamping spaces at two sides of the auxiliary positioning device. Then two clean auxiliary positioning devices are used to clamp the wire needle and hooked needle so that the hand of the doctor can pinch the needles. The non-hollowed portions at the upper side of the guide trenches of the auxiliary positioning device are exactly formed as resisting portions for resisting against the needles.

Abstract: A laparoscopic fascial closure device for fashioning a secure closure about a laparoscopic puncture site. The device comprises an elongate cannula having proximal and distal ends. A needle suture complex is selectively deployed from the distal end of the device that is operative to deploy a suture across the puncture site from within the body and draw the free ends of the suture outwardly from the body via the laparoscopic port site. The device is configured to be utilized through a ten millimeter or larger laparoscopic port, and is operative to position the suture at the puncture site such that the suture extends in a diametrically-opposed configuration at least 1.0 cm or greater across opposed sides of the puncture site.

Abstract: A surgical device for performing internal ligation of a fallopian tube or other tubular anatomical structure, by application of one or more ligating bands to a folded portion of the wall of the tubular structure. A method of using the device is also disclosed. The inventive method and device may be used for sterilization to prevent undesired pregnancies, or for other medical applications. One embodiment of the device includes an elongated tubular element that is inserted into the fallopian tube, a grasper that extends out of the tubular element, grasps the interior of the fallopian tube and retracts into the tubular element in a folded bundle of the fallopian tube tissue; and a pusher balloon for pushing a ligating band from the tip of the tubular element onto the tissue bundle. A fold assist mechanism may be included to help evert a section of a fallopian, or other, tube.

Abstract: A single lumen rapid-exchange catheter includes a distal sealing port and a proximal sealing port both dimensioned for receiving a guidewire to establish a fluid-tight seal therewith. Each tubular shaped sealing port has a length, and a diameter, and is made of a hydrophilic polymer. In operation, the guidewire is inserted through the distal sealing port and exits from the catheter tube at the shoulder of the catheter tube and through the proximal sealing port. When fluid is present, each sealing port will enlarge to establish a fluid-tight seal with the guidewire. A diverter can be disposed at the proximal sealing port to redirect the guidewire from the lumen and out of the catheter tube through the proximal sealing port.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for crimping a stent onto a balloon of a balloon catheter. The stent is arranged on the balloon so that an outside surface of the balloon and an inside surface of the stent contact each other to form a combination of balloon and stent. The combination is compressed to crimp the stent onto the balloon. The invention is distinguished in that the combination is compressed to varying degrees along the longitudinal axis of the combination.