Anastomosis system and method for controlling a tissue site
First Claim
1. An anastomosis system for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel, the graft vessel and the target vessel each having a lumen, the anastomosis system comprising:
- an elongated anvil having staple bending features defined thereon and an incising element connected thereto;
a plurality of staples, each staple configured to engage at least one of the staple bending features; and
a staple holder in which the staples are held, said staple holder moveable relative to the anvil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An anastomosis system and method uses an anvil to control and support a tissue site during an anastomosis procedure. The anvil is particularly useful for supporting a wall of a coronary artery during attachment of a graft vessel to the coronary artery because the wall of the coronary artery is very thin, difficult to grasp, and susceptible to tearing. In one method, the anvil is inserted into a pressurized or unpressurized target vessel and is pulled against an inner wall of the target vessel causing tenting of the thin tissue of the vessel wall. A graft vessel is then advanced to the anastomosis site and an end of the graft vessel is positioned adjacent and exterior of the target vessel. Staples are inserted through the tissue of the graft vessel and the target vessel by pivoting the arms of a staple holder towards the anvil. When the ends of the staples engage staple bending features on the anvil, the ends of the staples bend over securing the graft vessel and target vessel together. After stapling is complete, an incision is formed in the wall of the target vessel to allow blood flow between the target vessel and the graft vessel.
465 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An anastomosis system for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel, the graft vessel and the target vessel each having a lumen, the anastomosis system comprising:
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an elongated anvil having staple bending features defined thereon and an incising element connected thereto;
a plurality of staples, each staple configured to engage at least one of the staple bending features; and
a staple holder in which the staples are held, said staple holder moveable relative to the anvil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of performing anastomosis comprising:
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providing an elongated anvil having two substantially parallel rows of staple bending features bending the ends of staples;
inserting the elongated anvil through the wall of a target blood vessel and positioning the elongated anvil along an interior of the target vessel wall;
positioning an end of a graft vessel adjacent an exterior of the target blood vessel wall;
inserting the ends of at least one staple through the graft vessel and the target vessel;
bending the ends of the at least one staple to secure the graft vessel to the target vessel; and
making an opening in the target vessel to allow blood to flow between the target vessel and the graft vessel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A stapling system for use in performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel, the stapling system comprising:
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a plurality of staples having ends configured to be inserted through tissue and bent over to secure the tissue; and
an expandable backbone supporting the plurality of staples for insertion, said backbone comprising a plurality of elements interconnected by at least one expanding member, wherein spacing between the plurality of staples may be changed. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of performing anastomosis comprising:
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providing a plurality of interconnected staples;
selecting a graft vessel;
expanding a spacing between the interconnected staples to match a circumference of the selected graft vessel; and
connecting the graft vessel to a target vessel with the staples after said expanding.
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24. A method of performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel, comprising:
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splitting an end of the graft vessel;
inserting at least one elongated anvil through the wall of the target vessel;
positioning the split end of the graft vessel against the exterior of the target vessel;
inserting the ends of at least one staple through the split end of the graft vessel and through the target vessel;
bending the at least one staple to secure the graft vessel to the target vessel; and
making an opening in the target vessel to allow blood to flow between the target vessel and the graft vessel.
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25. An anastomosis system for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel, the anastomosis system comprising:
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an anvil having staple-bending features defined thereon; and
a staple holder moveable relative to said anvil, said staple holder comprising at least two arms, wherein at least a portion of each said arm is spaced apart from at least a portion of at least one other said arm. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel, comprising:
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placing the end of a graft vessel against the side of a target vessel at a first location;
inserting an elongated anvil through the wall of the target vessel at a second location, said second location upstream from said first location; and
deploying a plurality of connectors to secure the graft vessel to the target vessel.
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Specification