Abstract: A medical anastomosis sling for use in the repair or regeneration of nerves. Nerve ends are placed in a breathable semiporous membrane having sets of elongate and wide tabs which are secured and sealed around the ends via circumferential fasteners and surgical clips for securing and sealing the sling in position without the necessity of suturing the device for optimal anastomosis.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue along an arcuate path. Each surgical fastener may be in the form of a two-part fastener having a pronged fastener portion for piercing body tissue, and an apertured retainer dimensioned and configured for engaged reception of the pronged fastener portion in interference fit therewith for gripping the body tissue therebetween. Alternatively, the fasteners may be in the form of deformable staples. The apparatus preferably includes an arcuately shaped member for holding a plurality of the fastener portions in generally aligned relation, a correspondingly arcuately shaped member spaced from the fastener portion holding member for gripping body tissue therebetween and for releasably holding a plurality of the retainers in generally aligned relation and positioned opposite the fasteners when the body tissue is positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A method for altering the curvature of the cornea of an eye includes the steps of making pairs of closely spaced, parallel incisions at predetermined sites on the surface of the cornea; removing the corneal tissue disposed between the incisions in each pair of incisions; and closing the incision at each site to exert a force on the cornea which increases its curvature. An instrument for altering the curvature of the cornea includes a shaft, a cutting tool mounted at one end of the shaft, the cutting tool having two parallel blades separated by a predetermined distance for making pairs of closely spaced, parallel incisions in a patient's cornea. The method and instrument enable correction for hyperopia and other types of refractive errors of the eye.