An anvil introduction system is operable to provide smooth insertion of an anvil of a surgical stapling device through a bodily lumen such as the esophagus. The anvil introduction system is coupled to the anvil and includes a dilation feature. The dilation feature has a collapsed position and an expanded position. The dilation feature may cover staple pockets and an outer edge of the anvil with the dilation feature is in the expanded position. The anvil may be inserted through the bodily lumen with the dilation feature in the expanded position. The dilation feature may then be collapsed in order to complete an end-to-end anastomosis of the bodily lumen.

A surgical tool for use with a surgical instrument including a handle assembly and an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis and a drive system is disclosed. The surgical tool comprises a carrier removably couplable to the elongated body, an anvil movably supported for selective movement relative to the carrier in response to drive motions from the drive system, a tissue thickness measuring member movably supported in the carrier and configured to move toward and away from an underside of the anvil in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a sensor arrangement supported between the tissue thickness measuring member and the carrier. The sensor arrangement is configured to interface with an indicator member to provide an indication of a thickness of tissue clamped between the anvil and the tissue thickness measuring member at a location that is proximal to the anvil when in use.

The present invention relates to a joining member for an anastomosis system for realizing anastomosis between first and second hollow structures, such as end-to-side anastomosis. The joining member is annular and is adapted for joining the first and second hollow structures. The joining member includes a plurality of interconnected loops forming the annular body and a plurality of joining elements for joining the hollow structures connected to the annular body at locations where adjacent loops are interconnected to each other, and wherein the loops are configured to permit radial expansion of said annular body to expand said joining member from a first position to a second position having a second, larger diameter than the first position.

A surgical stapler includes a proximal end and a distal end and an anvil at the distal end for providing resistance to staples during the stapling operation of the surgical stapler. The anvil may include a number of segments arranged end-to-end. The anvil is elongated in the collapsed state, the anvil being elongated generally in a first direction D1. The anvil is configured such that the segments rotate about a rotation axis along a perpendicular second direction D2 when the anvil is actuated between the deployed and the collapsed states. The anvil is configured such that adjacent segments pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis along a third direction D3 when the anvil is actuated between the deployed and collapsed states. The stapler also includes an actuator mechanism, wherein the actuator mechanism is configured to be controlled from a location on the surgical stapler towards the proximal end.

A vascular system includes a delivery apparatus and an endovascular device. The delivery apparatus including a catheter and a control lead. The control lead extends through a lumen of the catheter and is configured to be manipulated by a user. The endovascular device is releasably coupled to the delivery apparatus and includes an implant body, a seal extending radially outwardly from the implant body, and one or more tissue engaging elements. The seal is configured to contact native vascular tissue to reduce leakage between the native vascular tissue and the implant body. The tissue engaging elements are pivotable relative to the seal from a compressed state to an expanded state. In the compressed state, the tissue engaging elements are positioned so as to disengage the native vascular tissue. In the expanded state, the tissue engaging elements extend outwardly from the seal and are configured to engage the native vascular tissue.

The present invention relates to an anastomosis system for realizing anastomosis between first and second hollow structures, such as end-to-side anastomosis, by way of a joining member and an applicator. The anastomosis system comprises an annular joining member adapted for joining the first and second hollow structures, a tubular member adapted to position the joining member at or proximate to a distal end of the second hollow structure and to be at least partially inserted into the second hollow structure, a support member adapted to hold the second hollow structure and a mechanism, for actuating the joining member when positioned at or proximate to the distal end of the second hollow structure, which joining member is actuated substantially radially relative to a longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

A tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly, a shell, and an anvil assembly. The shell houses the cartridge assembly and defines a passage. The shell includes alignment splines that are disposed within the passage and define channels between adjacent alignment splines. The anvil assembly includes an anvil and a center rod that extends from the anvil. The center rod defines a longitudinal axis and includes a first spline and second splines. The first spline includes a first leading facet that is configured to engage the alignment splines to clock the anvil assembly relative to the cartridge assembly. The second splines are radially spaced apart about the longitudinal axis. Each of the second splines includes a leading end that defines a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The leading end is configured to crash with the alignments spines when the anvil assembly is misaligned with the cartridge assembly.

Devices and methods for implantation at a native mitral valve having a non-circular annulus and leaflets. One embodiment of the device includes a valve support having a first region configured to be attached to a prosthetic valve with a plurality of prosthetic leaflets and a second region. The device can further include an anchoring member having a longitudinal dimension and including a first portion configured to contact tissue at the non-circular annulus, a second portion configured to be attached to the valve support, and a lateral portion between the first portion and the second portion. The second portion of the anchoring member is attached to the second region of the valve support while in a low-profile configuration in which the anchoring member and the valve support are configured to pass through vasculature of a human. The lateral portion is transverse to the longitudinal dimension. The anchoring member and the valve support are configured to move from the low-profile configuration to an expanded configuration in which the first portion of the anchoring member at least partially adapts to the non-circular annulus of the native mitral valve and the first region of the valve support is spaced inwardly from the first portion of the anchoring member relative to the longitudinal dimension of the anchoring member such that a shape of the first region of the valve support is at least partially independent of a shape of the first portion of the anchoring member.

Surgical staplers and methods of their use are provided. In one embodiment, a surgical stapler includes a tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a handle extending from the proximal end of the tubular shaft, a head assembly extending from the distal end of the tubular shaft, and an insertion guide configured to extend through the head assembly. The insertion guide includes an expandable member configured to move between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly operatively associated with the staple cartridge assembly, and a surgical buttress releasably coupled to the staple cartridge assembly or the anvil assembly. The staple cartridge assembly includes a tissue facing surface having staple retaining slots defined therein, each staple retaining slot housing a staple therein, and a circular knife disposed radially inwardly of the tissue facing surface. The anvil assembly includes an anvil member including a tissue facing surface and an anvil shaft extending from the anvil member. The surgical buttress has a circular configuration defining a central aperture therethrough. The surgical buttress includes an inner concentric portion having a therapeutic coating disposed thereon and an outer concentric portion free of the therapeutic coating.