Abstract: A system and method for placing surgical implants and having particular application for pelvic floor repair. The system includes an assembly having a guide element with a tissue penetrating tip, a cannula, and a retrieval device having a capture element at its distal end. A channel in the cannula is dimensioned to allow passage therethrough of the guide element, and of the retrieval element when removably coupled with an extension of the surgical implant.

Abstract: A method for performing a coronary artery bypass graft procedure on a patient to connect a bypass vessel to a target vessel includes the steps of creating an opening in the patient that communicates with the thoracic cavity of the patient; providing a bypass vessel having a lumen and at least one free end; passing the free end of the bypass vessel from the thoracic cavity through the opening to a position outside the body of the patient; attaching a connector to the free end of bypass vessel while the free end of the bypass vessel is outside the body of the patient; passing the free end of the bypass vessel from the position outside the body of the patient through the opening and into the thoracic cavity; and connecting the free end of the bypass vessel to a target vessel with the connector.

Abstract: A system for holding surgical fasteners each having a first anchor, a second anchor and a connector extending therebetween upwardly from the first and second anchors, and a method for loading the same into an applicator. The system includes a shuttle having first and second channels dimensioned to slidably receive therein the first and second anchors, and having first and second grooves respectively forming openings into the channels along a portion of a length of the channels. When the first and second anchors are received within the first and second channels, the connector of the surgical fastener extends out of the shuttle through the first and second grooves. The system also includes a cartridge having at least a first channel dimensioned to slidably receive the shuttle therein, and having a first projection extending into the first channel.

Abstract: A method for providing at least partial bypass of the heart to supplement the pumping function of the heart to thereby enable the surgeon to perform various surgical procedures thereon includes providing a circulatory assist system having a portable extracorporeal axial flow pump with a pump housing, a rotating pumping member disposed in the pump housing and inlet and outlet cannulated tubes respectively connected to inlet and outlet ports of the pump housing, accessing the patient's left atrium of the heart with the inlet cannulated tube, accessing the aorta with the outlet cannulated tube, actuating the rotating pumping member to draw oxygenated blood from the left atrium of the heart through the lumen of the inlet cannulated tube and into the inlet port of the pump housing whereby the pumping member imparts mechanical energy to the oxygenated blood passing through the pump housing and directs the oxygenated blood through the outlet port and through the lumen of the outlet cannulated tube to be transferred

Abstract: A device for incising a hollow tissue structure includes at least one gripping portion, a stationary blade attached to the gripping portion, the stationary blade having a neck and a foot connected to the neck. The foot has a cutting edge along an upper surface. The device also includes a relatively blunt moving blade having a leading edge and being operatively movable with respect to the stationary blade between a first position and a second position to cut tissue disposed between the upper surface of the stationary blade and the leading edge of the moving blade.

Abstract: A device for incising a blood vessel includes a handle having a longitudinal axis, a stationary blade having an upper surface and extending from the distal end of the handle at an angle out of line with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a moving blade having a distal portion that includes a leading edge. The moving blade is slidable with respect to the stationary blade. The distal portion of the moving blade is substantially aligned with the stationary blade. The moving blade has a first position and is movable to a second position to cut tissue disposed between the upper surface of the stationary blade and the leading edge of the moving blade.

Abstract: A system and method for placing surgical implants and having particular application for pelvic floor repair. The system includes an assembly having a guide element with a tissue penetrating tip, a cannula, and a retrieval device having a capture element at its distal end. A channel in the cannula is dimensioned to allow passage therethrough of the guide element, and of the retrieval element when removably coupled with an extension of the surgical implant.

Abstract: A system for holding surgical fasteners each having a first anchor, a second anchor and a connector extending therebetween upwardly from the first and second anchors, and a method for loading the same into an applicator. The system includes a shuttle having first and second channels dimensioned to slidably receive therein the first and second anchors, and having first and second grooves respectively forming openings into the channels along a portion of a length of the channels. When the first and second anchors are received within the first and second channels, the connector of the surgical fastener extends out of the shuttle through the first and second grooves. The system also includes a cartridge having at least a first channel dimensioned to slidably receive the shuttle therein, and having a first projection extending into the first channel.

Abstract: An applicator for deploying a fastener having two legs into tissue. The applicator has two elongated hollow needle members, slotted portions at the distal ends of the hollow needle members for releasably retaining the legs of the fastener, two push rods adapted to move lengthwise in the two needle members, and an actuator for moving the two push rods in the needle members so as to eject the leg portions of the fastener from the slotted portion of the two needle members. A method for deploying the fastener in tissue is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device and method is provided for simulating a tubular body part having a mechanism for resisting fluid flow therethrough, such as the urethra. The device includes a housing having a having a first end, a second end, and a channel therethrough extending between an inlet at the first end of the housing and an outlet, and a plug member positioned within the channel and being sized and shaped to substantially occlude the channel at a predetermined location when a predetermined force is exerted on a first side thereof. The plug member is further movable within the channel so that, when a fluid force within the channel and exerted on a second opposite side of the plug member exceeds the predetermined force, the plug member no longer occludes the channel.

Abstract: A method for providing at least partial bypass of the heart to supplement the pumping function of the heart to thereby enable the surgeon to perform various surgical procedures thereon includes providing a circulatory assist system having a portable extracorporeal axial flow pump with a pump housing, a rotating pumping member disposed in the pump housing and inlet and outlet cannulated tubes respectively connected to inlet and outlet ports of the pump housing, accessing the patient's left atrium of the heart with the inlet cannulated tube, accessing the aorta with the outlet cannulated tube, actuating the rotating pumping member to draw oxygenated blood from the left atrium of the heart through the lumen of the inlet cannulated tube and into the inlet port of the pump housing whereby the pumping member imparts mechanical energy to the oxygenated blood passing through the pump housing and directs the oxygenated blood through the outlet port and through the lumen of the outlet cannulated tube to be transferred

Abstract: A method for providing at least partial bypass of the heart to supplement the pumping function of the heart to thereby enable the surgeon to perform various surgical procedures thereon includes providing a circulatory assist system having a portable extracorporeal axial flow pump with a pump housing, a rotating pumping member disposed in the pump housing and inlet and outlet cannulated tubes respectively connected to inlet and outlet ports of the pump housing, accessing the patient's left atrium of the heart with the inlet cannulated tube, accessing the aorta with the outlet cannulated tube, actuating the rotating pumping member to draw oxygenated blood from the left atrium of the heart through the lumen of the inlet cannulated tube and into the inlet port of the pump housing whereby the pumping member imparts mechanical energy to the oxygenated blood passing through the pump housing and directs the oxygenated blood through the outlet port and through the lumen of the outlet cannulated tube to be transfe

Abstract: A method for providing at least partial bypass of the heart to supplement the pumping function of the heart to thereby enable the surgeon to perform various surgical procedures thereon includes providing a circulatory assist system having a portable extracorporeal axial flow pump with a pump housing, a rotating pumping member disposed in the pump housing and inlet and outlet cannulated tubes respectively connected to inlet and outlet ports of the pump housing, accessing the patient's left atrium of the heart with the inlet cannulated tube, accessing the aorta with the outlet cannulated tube, actuating the rotating pumping member to draw oxygenated blood from the left atrium of the heart through the lumen of the inlet cannulated tube and into the inlet port of the pump housing whereby the pumping member imparts mechanical energy to the oxygenated blood passing through the pump housing and directs the oxygenated blood through the outlet port and through the lumen of the outlet cannulated tube to be transferred