A fixation device for securing together leaflets of a heart valve is provided. The fixation device may comprise two plates that are disposed on either side of the tricuspid valve. The plates may be secured to one another by a locking clip, thereby securing the valve leaflets between the plates.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for facilitating surgical anastomosis between bodily passages. In an illustrative embodiment, an eversion mechanism is configured to partially evert a distal portion of an opening of a receiving passage and further configured to leave a proximal portion of the opening of the receiving passage in a non-everted position. A donor support mechanism is configured to partially evert a distal portion of an opening at an end of a donor passage and further configured to leave a first proximal portion of the end of the donor passage in a non-everted position. The donor support mechanism is further configured to form a passage juncture at the end of the donor passage and the opening of the receiving passage. A suturing mechanism is configured to motivate a filament through a generally helical path around the passage juncture to suture the donor passage to the receiving passage.

An apparatus for protecting heart tissue from an implanted inlet element of a blood pump. The apparatus includes a flange member having a first radially constricted configuration and a second radially expanded configuration, the flange member being biased in its second radially expanded configuration. The flange member defines an opening there through sized to receiving the inlet element of the blood pump. A retaining element extending from the flange member is included, the retaining element being flexible and sized to be disposed about at least a portion of the inlet element.

A synchronous drive system for simultaneously driving more than two or more rotational tissue screws and a method for simultaneously affixing a medical device to tissue employing the synchronous drive system. The synchronous drive system is particularly configured to affix an apical cuff to cardiac muscle tissue by simultaneously driving a plurality of rotational tissue screws through the apical cuff and into cardiac muscle tissue thereby affixing the apical cuff to the cardiac muscle tissue.

Embodiments of the present invention encompass systems and methods for delivering ligatures to anatomical features of a patient. Exemplary ligature delivery systems for use in delivering a ligature to a left atrial appendage ligature include an elongate support mechanism having a proximal portion and a distal portion, a flexible hoop assembly, and a cinchable constriction member. The flexible hoop assembly can be coupled with the distal portion of the elongate support mechanism, and can include a support body coupled with a support frame. The support frame can be biased to hold the support body in a trailing configuration, whereby a free portion of the support body is disposed proximal to the distal portion of the elongate support mechanism. The support frame of the flexible hoop assembly can be coupled with the distal portion of the elongate support mechanism. The support body can be configured to support the cinchable constriction member and a loop of the left atrial appendage ligature.

A mounting adapter has a proximal end for interfacing with a surgical stabilizer arm and a distal end for interfacing with a tissue manipulator tool. The adapter includes a receiver body defining a bore having an opening at the distal end for receiving the shaft of a manipulator tool. The receiver body has a detent projecting radially into the bore. A ball stem projects at the proximal end and is configured for insertion into a collet of the stabilizer arm. The detent is radially displaceable between 1) a radially outward position when the adapter is in an unlocked state in which the shaft of the manipulator tool is slidable into or out of the bore and 2) a radially inward position when the adapter is in a locked state in which the detent captures the shaft of the manipulator tool.

An adsorption head includes a body. The body is a hollow housing, one side of the housing to which an adsorbed object is adsorbed is provided with an opening. The body comprises at least one adsorption chamber and at least one operation chamber therein, wherein the operation chamber and the adsorption chamber are spaced from each other and each have an opening orientated to the adsorbed object. The body has at least one adsorption passage and at least one operation passage thereon, wherein one end of the adsorption passage is communicated with the adsorption chamber, and one end of the operation passage is communicated with the operation chamber.

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for facilitating anastomosis between bodily passages. In an illustrative embodiment, an eversion mechanism is configured to engage a first external surface of a receiving passage adjacent a first opening in the receiving passage in order to create a receiving flange presenting a first interior face. A donor support mechanism is configured to support a donor passage with an opening in an end in an everted position that forms a donor flange presenting a second interior face. The donor support mechanism is further configured to present the second interior face of the donor flange against the first interior face of the receiving flange to present a passage juncture. A suturing mechanism is configured to motivate a filament through a helical path around the passage juncture to suture the second interior face of the donor passage to the first interior face of the receiving passage.

In order to easily and stably adhere an adhering body by suction to an easily deformable flexible object, the adhering body includes an elastically deformable body that moves back and forth between a closing position at which the elastically deformable body closes a communication port and an opening position at which the elastically deformable body opens the communication port, the elastically deformable body moving, in conjunction with movement of a movable contact part to a retreat position, so as to open the communication port.

A method for synchronously driving more than two or more rotational tissue screws and a method for simultaneously affixing a medical device to tissue employing the synchronous drive system. The method employs a synchronous drive system is particularly configured to affix an apical cuff to cardiac muscle tissue by simultaneously driving a plurality of rotational tissue screws through the apical cuff and into cardiac muscle tissue thereby affixing the apical cuff to the cardiac muscle tissue.