Abstract: A method and device for efficiently and effectively stapling an opening in an anatomical structure such as veins, arteries, organs, and other body members within a living body is disclosed. The opening may be from a deliberately placed incision, as from an invasive surgical procedure, or caused by other damaging events. The device includes a stapling mechanism having a main body with a handle, a trigger for activating the staples, and a central passage through which a balloon catheter may pass. The balloon catheter supports the artery and helps position the stapling mechanism properly on the artery. Alternatively, the device may have a main body that has an inflatable member attached to it and extending from it. The main body provides a passage through which a pressurized media such as saline can be supplied to the inflatable member.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for occluding an aperture within a body surface, including an occlusion bag having a proximal sac and a distal sac, a delivery catheter, a guide catheter, a super-elastic wire, a release mechanism and a delivery sheath. The method of the invention includes affixing the delivery catheter to the proximal sac and then inserting the guide catheter into the delivery catheter. The super-elastic wire is attached to the release mechanism and the wire, release mechanism, occlusion bag, guide catheter and delivery catheter are inserted into a delivery sheath for transport to the aperture. After delivery, the occlusion bag is placed within the aperture and the wire is deployed within the bag. The bag and wire are repositioned if necessary, and the release mechanism is activated to release the wire. The guide catheter, delivery catheter, release mechanism and delivery sheath are then withdrawn.

Abstract: A ligature comprises a ligation loop located on the distal side of the ligature, a stopper through which the ligation loop is passed in a united state, a hooked loop located proximally of the stopper, and a restriction member formed so that a plasto-elastic wire forming the ligation loop can penetrate through the restriction member. The ligation loop and hooked loop are formed with plasto-elastic wires made of a synthetic resin. The cylindrical stopper is press-fitted on the part of the ligation loop folded in two, and the hooked loop is formed behind the stopper. The ligation loop is provided with the restriction member formed with a plasto-elastic tubular member with the wire of the ligation loop passed through the restriction member.

Abstract: A method and device for sealing an opening in an anatomical structure within a living body involves the positioning of the tissue adjacent to the opening within a gap between proximal and distal parts of a flexible tube formed by a curved central part. A needle coupled to a suture loop is drawn from a needle retention channel formed within the distal part through the tissue received in the gap and into a needle receiving channel formed within the proximal part. The needle may be drawn out by pulling on either the suture loop or a separate pull cord which extends through a lumen to an opening formed in the first end of the proximal part. After the device has been rotated and the procedure repeated, a second needle attached to the suture loop is drawn through the tissue in the same manner and the two ends are knotted together and tightened to seal the opening.

Abstract: A catheter delivered device to close a septal defect, the device comprising a cylindrical shaft of metal or polymeric material with concentric parallel cuts through the wall of the device which create flattened support struts. The center of the support struts move radially away from the axis in a hinge like fashion in response to the movement of the device's proximal and distal ends toward the center of the device. This movement is reversibly effected through mechanical means. The device can be coated with growth factors, mitogenic factors or other determinants which can improve tissue growth such that tissue ingrowth can occur over a period of time. The catheter itself may be an ultrasonic imaging catheter.

Abstract: An insertion guide wire with an anchor formed in the distal end for precisely locating a subcutaneous arterial wound and inserting a guide sheath adjacent to said arterial wound. The hemostatic material can then be placed outside the wound. When the guide sheath is properly placed, the anchor can be released and the guide wire removed. The hemostatic material can then be placed outside the wound, leaving no foreign object in the lumen of the artery.

Abstract: A surgical anchor useful in the repair or replacement of ligaments and/or tendons to associated human bone structure including an insert formed from a material that is biocompatible with human bone tissue and a series of fasteners carried by and which promote securement of the insert within the bone tissue. Each fastener carried by the insert is movable between retracted and extended positions. The surgical anchor furthermore includes a mechanism arranged in operable combination with and for positively moving the fasteners in either direction between their retracted and extended positions. The fasteners are preferably movable endwise relative to the insert.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for forming a fully tied knot to fasten bodily tissue is disclosed. The instrument has a handle assembly for actuating first and second actuators. The first actuator remotely effects movement of a grasping jaw from an open position to a closed position relative to a suture cartridge contained in a cartridge carrier at the distal end of the instrument. Accordingly, the first actuator is capable of causing the manipulation of bodily tissue or suture filament contained in the suture cartridge. The second actuator is operatively connected to the suture filament in the suture cartridge. A portion of the suture filament is configured into a partially tied knot, and when the second actuator is actuated, it causes the proximal end of the filament to be pulled for converting the partially tied knot into a fully formed knot.

Abstract: A surgical clip has a resilient pad in a recess in one face and a hinged tongue on the other face, which face preferably presents no acute edge. The provision of a pad on only one face is found to produce a surprising improvement in effectiveness of the clip. In addition, the pad may be thicker and may be placed in a recess in one jaw, which can simplify manufacture while reducing the overall size of the clip.

Abstract: In a surgical applicator for U-shaped clips comprising a handle, a tubular shaft adjoining the handle, a forceps-type applicator tool at the free end of the tubular shaft and a clip magazine in the tubular shaft, a closing mechanism arranged in the tubular shaft for the applicator tool, the closing mechanism being actuatable from the handle, and an advancing mechanism arranged in the tubular shaft for the clips, the advancing mechanism likewise being actuatable from the handle and pushing the clips forwards in a path of advance leading into the applicator tool, in order to prevent unintentional pushing-back of the clips in the applicator before the final application, it is proposed that a restraining nose project resiliently between the forceps-type legs of the applicator tool and into the path of advance of the clips, the restraining nose being resiliently displaced by the forwardmost clip out of the path of advance thereof when the forwardmost clip is pushed past into the applying position, and the restrain

Abstract: A medical suturing material which is loaded into an automatic suturing device having a staple line when used. The medical suturing material according to the present invention is formed into a bag shape having a closed leading end by sewing a sheet shape suturing material by using a suturing thread. The main material of the suturing material is unwoven fabric such as felt, woven fabric or a knit cloth having somewhat flexibility and stretchability. In particular, bioabsorbable polymer, such as polyglycolic acid or a portion of a tissue of an organism is employed. Since the suturing material according to the present invention is formed into the bag shape having a closed leading end by sewing, displacement taking place attributable to shrinkage in the insertion direction can be prevented when the automatic suturing device is inserted.

Abstract: A surgical needle includes an elongated needle shaft and a needle head having a sharp point. A frangible neck, with a reduced cross-section, joins the needle shaft and the needle head and permits the needle head to be broken away from the needle shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for closing cutaneous wounds without sutures, which comprises a pair of three-dimensionally flexible strips adopted to be positioned on each side of a wound and formed of a plurality of laterally spaced apart elongated anchoring members extending side-by-side in succession and transversely of the wound and being interconnected in a three-dimensionally flexible manner to follow the lips of an open wound.

Abstract: The single system ligature carrier and tissue clamp for sacrospinous colpopexy has an elongated body with a fixed handle on its proximal end. An additional movable handle is connected to a movable clamp jaw and a needle jaw on its distal end so that, at a distance, tissue can be engaged and pierced with a needle facilitated by clamp fingers passing a suture therethrough, as well as clamping and securing the embraced tissue. The positioning, clamping and suture penetration are accomplished by a single instrument.

Abstract: A shield is provided for a surgical scalpel having a handle and a blade secured thereto. In one embodiment, the shield is slidably engaged with the blade, and movable between a position covering the cutting edge of the blade and a position exposing the cutting edge of the blade. An actuation mechanism is coupled to the shield for moving the shield between the position covering the cutting edge and the position exposing the cutting edge. In another embodiment, the shield is pivotally and frictionally engaged to the blade while still allowing the shield to be moved between a position covering the cutting edge of the blade and a position exposing the cutting edge of the blade. An actuation mechanism is included to cause the travel of the shield between the two positions.

Abstract: There is provided a surgical coil fastener applier for use in applying helical coil fasteners in surgical procedures, such as hernia repair, to affix surgical mesh to tissue. The coil fastener applier includes a housing having a handle extending therefrom and a trigger pivotally mounted on the housing. An elongated tubular portion extends from the housing and includes a drive rod rotatably supported therein and slidably supporting a plurality of coil fasteners thereon. A drive assembly is provided within the housing to rotate the drive rod and coil fasteners. The drive assembly includes an anti-reverse mechanism to allow rotation of the drive rod in only one direction. An actuation assembly is provided within the housing to convert the motion of the trigger into rotary motion for supply to the drive assembly. The drive assembly includes structure to limit the amount of rotary motion supplied to the drive assembly.

Abstract: A set of medical instruments for placing and shifting knots produced with surgical sutures during surgery, wherein a further through bore is provided for pulling a suture through in the vicinity of the head end of the rod, said bore being located transversely with respect to the lengthwise axis of the cylindrical rod, with the head end of the cylindrical rod being designed as a knot shifter for shifting and tightening a knot produced by means of the sutures. Using the knot shifter and knot cutter proposed according to the invention, a reliable knotting and hence immobilization of the parts rejoined by surgical sutures, such as tendons, to their original fastening areas can be achieved.

Abstract: A surgical instrument, guide, and method capable of being used for closure of peritoneum fascia, occlusion of bleeding vessels such as inferior epigastric, and for all uses related to accurately passing suture material through a guide into tissue. A tip of a surgical instrument in a standard suture-/needle-driving position with a sharp tip that opens and closes with the surgeon grasping suture material with the sharp tip is provided. Insertion of the tip/suture through tissue until the tip is seen through the peritoneum by direct vision begins the wound-closing procedure. The suture is released by opening and withdrawing the tip from the guide. The suture is recovered by using the guide to redirect the tip and puncturing the tissue opposite the first point of insertion. The tip grasps the suture and pulls the suture through the guide. The suture is pulled outside the wound, providing for rapid closure of the surgical incision.

Abstract: A guide instrument for passing a medical needle with thread through or between body tissues has first and second shafts mounted to be pivotally movable to each other and is formed with, on the first shaft, a needle stand for making the needle with thread stand up and holding the needle with thread, a hole for guiding the thread, and a slit and with, on the second shaft, a needle receiver for receiving the needle when the shafts are made close while the needle with thread stands up at the needle stand. When the shafts 1, 2 are made close while the needle with thread stands up at the needle stand, the needle with thread passes through and between the body tissues and is engaged with the needle receiver. When the shafts are made open, the needle with thread while keeping the engagement with the needle receiver separates from the needle stand, and therefore, the needle with thread can be guided from the first shaft to the second shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for arthroscopic attachment of a suture to bone by drilling parallel holes in the bone with a cannula and drill guide and passing a suture down one hole through soft bone into the other hole and retrieving the suture through the second hole.