Anastomosis staple

• US 7,267,682 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aesculap AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Cardica Incorporated
• Inventors: Bombard, David L., Knodel, Bryan D., Bender, Theodore M., Manoux, Philipe R., Vargas, Jaime S., Chang, Tenny
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Anhtuan T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erezo; Darwin P
• Application Number:
  US10/309,519
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 606/8, 606/151, 606/153, 606/213, 606/219, 606/220, 606/221, 411/458, 411/459, 411/470
• US Class Current: 606/219
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0684 having a forming anvil staying above the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1135 End-to-side connections, e.g. T- or Y-connections Y-shaped blood vessel prostheses A61F2002/065

Abstract

An anastomosis staple has a base from which multiple deformable tines extend. At least one tine may be offset from at least one other tine. The tines are moveable from a first configuration to a second configuration. The staple optionally includes at least one alignment guide.

Claims

1. A method of performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel, comprising:

providing at least one anastomosis staple in a first configuration, said anastomosis staple comprising a substantially rectangular base having a first edge and a second edge substantially parallel to one another, and a third edge substantially perpendicular to said first and said second edges; and

at least three deformable tines, said tines extending from said first and second edges of said base;

wherein no said tine that extends from said first edge is positioned at substantially the same distance from said third edge as any said tine that extends from said second edge;

placing an end of the graft vessel against a side of the target vessel;

deploying said anastomosis staple into the tissue of the graft vessel and the target vessel; and

deforming said tines to a second configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least part of at least one said tine is located within a lumen of the target vessel in said second configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the distal end of at least one said tine is located within the wall of the target vessel in said second configuration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said deforming comprises applying a force to said anastomosis staple.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising incising the end of the graft vessel to create at least two flaps, wherein said placing comprises placing said flaps against an outer surface of the target vessel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said deforming comprises deforming at least one said tine in a preferred bending direction.