Abstract: A closure device is provided for sealing a puncture in a body vessel. The closure device includes an energy delivery device for delivering energy to tissue adjacent the vessel puncture which enhances an adhesiveness of the tissue to a closure composition precursor.

Abstract: A surgical cutting system. The cutting system includes a cutter which has an inner sleeve that moves adjacent to an aspiration port of an outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is coupled to a source of vacuum that pulls tissue into the outer port when the inner sleeve is moved away from the port. The inner sleeve then moves across the outer port and severs the tissue in a guillotine fashion. The tip of the inner sleeve may exert a spring force that assist in the cutting action of the cutter. The cutter includes a motor which creates an oscillating translational movement of the sleeve. The motor can be controlled by a controller that is coupled a foot pedal. The foot pedal and controller can be configured so that the motor decreases speed as the pedal is depressed by the operator. The inner sleeve is coupled to an aspiration line that pulls the severed tissue out of the cutter. The level of the aspiration vacuum pressure can be controlled by a variable regulator valve.

Abstract: A transcatheter occluding implant (50) is used to seal off a vessel lumen such as for arterial and venous embolization, cutting off of supply to tumors, male and female sterilization. There is illustrated a plug member of an open foam plastics material having good hysteresis properties in the form of a shaft 51 carrying annular supports. The implant (50) can be compressed into a very small size and then will expand to contact the internal bore of the vessel to form a force fit within the vessel lumen for secure anchoring of the implant. The open cell foam construction encourages tissue growth and thus further contributes to the stabilization of the implant.

Abstract: A method for coupling a first vessel and a second vessel in an anastomosis. The method includes providing a first vessel with a fastener coupled thereto, inserting at least a portion of the device into the second vessel with an end portion of the fastener extending generally longitudinally through the second vessel, and radially expanding at least a portion of the fastener to sealingly secure the first vessel to an inner wall of the second vessel. An anastomosis fastener for use in coupling the first and second vessels together is also disclosed. The second vessel has an opening formed in a side wall thereof for insertion of the device. The device includes a tubular member at least a portion thereof being radially expandable.

Abstract: An occluder apparatus for obstructing the flow of blood in a blood vessel has an elongated hollow tubular body having a leading end sized for reception in the blood vessel and includes portion of the body fabricated from a material soluble in blood, and a piercing device for inserting the body through the wall of the blood vessel to extend the leading end into the interior of the blood vessel. An inflatable diaphragm is carried by the body in a collapsed, deflated condition, and the apparatus includes a passage for conducting an inflating fluid from an external source, which is into fluid communication with the interior of the diaphragm, to effect expansion the diaphragm. Elongated openings in the body enable the diaphragm to be released in an inflated state from the body into flexible occluding engagement with the interior wall of the blood vessel about the full circumference of a transverse section thereof.

Abstract: Herniation, including cystocele, rectocele and enterocystocele may be treated with prefabricated repair patches. The repair patches include a natural or synthetic biocompatible material having a shape adapted to support herniated tissue. The patch also contains a plurality of apertures positioned in the central plane of the patch which may permit ingrowth and may also be an attachment site for pexing sutures. The patch may be covered with coating to decrease the possibility of infection, and/or increase biocompatibility. The coating may also include one or more drugs, for example, an antibiotic, an immunosuppressant, and/or an anticoagulant.

Abstract: An anastomosis device for use in coupling an end of a graft vessel to a side of a target vessel. The target vessel has an opening formed in a side wall thereof for insertion of the device. The device comprises a tubular member, at least a portion thereof being radially compressible to a compressed state for insertion of the tubular member into the opening in the target vessel and expandable from the compressed state to an expanded state for engagement of an inner graft vessel surface with an inner surface of the target vessel after insertion of the tubular member into the opening in the side wall of the target vessel. The compressible portion of the tubular member has an inner surface and an outer surface defining a wall thickness therebetween. The wall thickness of the compressible portion in its compressed state is less than the wall thickness of the compressible portion in its expanded state.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a safe surgical needle apparatus, and a surgical needle and a needle holder used therein, which can prevent the medical participants from being erroneously punctured with a tip end of the surgical needle and can permit a smooth tissue penetration of the surgical needle only when performing a suturing work.

Abstract: An H-type fastener for surgical tissue. The fastener has a central biasing member. The biasing member has a first end and a second end. Anchor members are mounted to each end.

Abstract: An H-type fastener for tissue. The fastener has a central spring member. The spring member has a first end and a second end. Tissue anchor members are mounted to each end. When placed in tissue, the spring member provides a compressive spring force upon tissue between the anchor members of the fastener.

Abstract: An instrument for suturing anatomical tissue with a suture needle includes a barrel having at least one needle holding apparatus therein which can be manipulated from a proximal end of the barrel. Jaws of the needle holding apparatus are offset from a rotatable shaft by a connecting member. In an insertion position, the needle jaws are confined within the diametrical dimension of the barrel at a distal end thereof. After insertion, the jaws can be manipulated to extend beyond the diametrical dimension of the barrel to provide a large working span in which tissue can be sutured.

Abstract: The vasoocclusive coil has a primary coil configuration with a helical loop at at least one end. The terminal helical loop can have a J-shaped configuration, preferably with a loop diameter of about 2 mm. The coil is preferably provided with helical loops at both ends, with helical loop at the proximal and distal ends of the coil acting as an anchor to prevent the coil from coming free from the location being treated and escaping into the vasculature. In a presently preferred embodiment both ends of the coil have a J-shape. In another presently preferred aspect, the vasoocclusive coil includes one or more loops intermediate the ends of the coil. The device is formed from a multi-stranded micro-cable having a plurality of flexible strands of a shape memory material and at least one radiopaque strand.

Abstract: A ligating band dispenser has a first sleeve, to store one or more ligating bands, and a second member, which at least partially extends about and is movable relative to the first sleeve. The second sleeve is capable of engaging and moving a distal-most ligating band positioned on the first sleeve from an initial storage position to a dispensing position, irrespective of other ligating bands which may be stored thereon.

Abstract: A suture fastener includes male and female components being made of a bio dissolvable material. The male component has a flange extending transversely to its longitudinal axis at one end thereof. The female component has a hole defined therein for receiving the male component. The female component includes a surface extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the hole, behind which the flange of the male component is retained upon insertion of the male component into the female component. A suture is clamped between the male and female components upon insertion of the male component into the female component. An instrument for inserting the male component into the female component is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for sealing puncture wounds in blood vessels is open at one end and closed at the other end. The tube closure is generally flat and pivotable, and the tube region near the closed end is expandable. The device is initially contained in a sleeve, which is inserted through a cannula, so that the closed end is within the vessel to be sealed. After the cannula is removed, the closure is pivoted and the device withdrawn to a point where the closure abuts the puncture wound. After the sleeve is removed, the expandable region is expanded, so that the blood vessel wall around the puncture is sandwiched between the closure and the expanded region. The device prevents blood from seeping out of the punctured vessel during the healing process.

Abstract: A connector for use in providing an anastomotic connection between two tubular body fluid conduits in a patient. The connector is preferably a single, integral, plastically deformable structure that can be cut from a tube. The connector has axial spaced portions that include members that are radially outwardly deflectable from other portions of the connector. The connector is annularly enlargeable so that it can be initially delivered and installed in the patient in a relatively small annular size and then annularly enlarged to provide the completed anastomosis. The radially outwardly deflected members of the first and second portions respectively engage the two body fluid conduits connected at the anastomosis and hold those two conduits together in fluid-tight engagement. Apparatus for use in delivering and deploying a connector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for sealingly joining a graft vessel to a target vessel at an anastomosis site, the target vessel having an opening formed therein. The method includes positioning a fastener made from a deformable material radially adjacent to a free end portion of the graft vessel. The material is transformable between a non-fluent state and a fluent state, upon application of energy to the material. The method further includes inserting at least the free end portion of the graft vessel in the target vessel through the opening in the target vessel. Energy is then supplied to the deformable material at an intensity sufficient to transform the material into the fluent state. The free end portion of the graft is radially expanded to expand the graft vessel into intimate contact with an inner wall of the target vessel. The energy supply is discontinued so that the material returns to its non-fluent state to sealingly secure the graft vessel to the target vessel.

Abstract: A suture tensioning and fixation device comprises a suture thread and a suture retaining element. The retaining element has a first suture thread engaging portion on the first end, a second suture thread engaging portion opposite the first suture thread engaging portion, and a third, substantially centrally located suture thread engaging portion. The retaining element is adapted such that segments of the suture thread can be interwoven between the suture thread engaging portions of the retaining element. The suture thread engaging portions of the retaining element are adapted to frictionally hold the interwoven segments of suture thread. Localized melting of the retaining element where it contacts the suture thread segments establishes a weld and bonds the suture thread to the retaining element in a knotless joint.

Abstract: A surgical method for reducing the food intake of a patient includes the steps of dissecting the lower part of the Esophagus, applying a band to form a loop around the Esophagus, displacing an upper part of the stomach through the loop, so as to form a small pouch above said band in connection with the Esophagus, and suturing the upper part to the stomach portion situated below the band loop, thereby tunnelating said band. A device useful in performing this method includes an elongated band having a flexible substantially non-expansible outer wall and a flexible and expansible inner wall joined to the outer wall to form an expansible closed cavity. The band has a length such that, when its ends are joined to each other, it forms a loop around the Esophagus, while permitting an upper part of the stomach to be introduced through the opening of the loop. A conduit extends between the band's cavity and an injection port.

Abstract: The present invention is an anchor for securing a suture in the body. The anchor includes a tubular wall having a central axis. The tubular wall has a proximal end and a distal end each free of axially inwardly extending slots. The tubular wall has an inner surface extending for the entire length of the tube and defining in the anchor a central opening extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The anchor has a width less than its length. A suture may extend through the anchor within the central opening. First and second end portions of the suture extend out of opposite ends of the anchor and are sufficiently long to project out of the body when the suture is secured in the body by the anchor. The anchor has an anchoring orientation in the body achieved by manipulation of the distal end of the anchor by pulling on the second end portion of the suture.