A surgical stapler can comprise an anvil comprising a staple pocket formed in a tissue contacting surface. The staple pocket can comprise a midline or centerline, a first forming cup, and a second forming cup. The first forming cup can comprise a first interior sidewall comprising a first vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to the tissue contacting surface. The second forming cup can comprise a second interior sidewall comprising a second vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to the tissue contacting surface. The first vertical portion and the second vertical portion can extend through the centerline, wherein the first interior sidewall and the second interior sidewall can comprise a trap for deforming a first staple leg of a staple to a first side of the centerline and for deforming a second staple leg of the staple to a second side of the centerline.

Exemplary methods and systems can be provided for resurfacing of skin that include formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths greater than about 0.2 mm and less than about 0.7 mm or 0.5 mm, using a mechanical apparatus. Compressive and/or tensile forces can then be applied to the treated region of skin as the damage heals to facilitate hole closure, and provide enhanced and/or directional shrinkage of the treated skin area.

Exemplary methods and systems can be provided for resurfacing of skin that include formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths greater than about 0.2 mm and less than about 0.7 mm or 0.5 mm, using a mechanical apparatus. Compressive and/or tensile forces can then be applied to the treated region of skin as the damage heals to facilitate hole closure, and provide enhanced and/or directional shrinkage of the treated skin area.

An apparatus for the treatment of acid reflux disease comprising two or more movement restriction device segments adapted to be assembled movement restriction device of a controlled size. The assembled movement restriction device can at least partly be invaginated by a patient's stomach fundus wall. A substantial part of the outer surface of the movement restriction device is adapted to rest against the stomach wall without injuring the latter in a position between the patient's diaphragm and at least a portion of the lower part of the invaginated stomach fundus wall, such that movement of the cardiac notch of the patient's stomach towards the patient's diaphragm is restricted, to thereby prevent the cardia from sliding through the patient's diaphragm opening into the patient's thorax, so as to maintain the supporting pressure against the patient's cardia sphincter muscle exerted from the patient's abdomen.

Devices and methods for deploying self-cinching surgical clips. A device can access at least two layers of tissue or material from only one side of the tissue or material and puncture through the two layers of tissue or material. The various configurations of clips disclosed herein can be made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol, and have a constrained and a relaxed state, and no sharp edges or tips so as to reduce tissue irritation following deployment. The clip can be disposed within the housing of the delivery device and held in a constrained state until deployment wherein the clip assumes its relaxed state, where the ends of the clip can be brought into close approximation, thereby securing the layers of tissue or material together.

Devices and methods for deploying self-cinching surgical clips. A device can access at least two layers of tissue or material from only one side of the tissue or material and puncture through the two layers of tissue or material. The various configurations of clips disclosed herein can be made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol, and have a constrained and a relaxed state, and no sharp edges or tips so as to reduce tissue irritation following deployment. The clip can be disposed within the housing of the delivery device and held in a constrained state until deployment wherein the clip assumes its relaxed state, where the ends of the clip can be brought into close approximation, thereby securing the layers of tissue or material together.

Disclosed in an orthopedic implant that comprises a spacer portion having a superior portion and an inferior portion, and a staple portion. The staple portion is integral with the spacer portion and comprises a crown portion and first and second leg portions, the first and second leg portions having distal end that converge front the crown portion and that are composed of a material that has superelastic properties at body temperatures, whereby the first and second leg portions are configured to impart a compressive biasing force when the implant is installed with the legs under tension.

A method is provided that includes implanting a first tissue-engaging element in a first portion of tissue in a vicinity of a heart valve. A second tissue-engaging element, which is connected to a third tissue-engaging element by a longitudinal sub-member, is implanted in a second portion of tissue of an annulus, and the third tissue-engaging element is implanted in a third portion of tissue of the annulus. A fourth tissue-engaging element is implanted in a portion of a blood vessel that is in contact with an atrium. While the longitudinal sub-member engages the longitudinal member at a junction therebetween, at least a first leaflet of the heart valve is drawn toward at least a second leaflet of the heart valve by adjusting a distance between the portion of the blood vessel and the first portion of tissue in the vicinity of the heart valve. Other embodiments are also described.

A method is provided that includes implanting a first tissue-engaging element in a first portion of tissue in a vicinity of a heart valve. A second tissue-engaging element, which is connected to a third tissue-engaging element by a longitudinal sub-member, is implanted in a second portion of tissue of an annulus, and the third tissue-engaging element is implanted in a third portion of tissue of the annulus. A fourth tissue-engaging element is implanted in a portion of a blood vessel that is in contact with an atrium. While the longitudinal sub-member engages the longitudinal member at a junction therebetween, at least a first leaflet of the heart valve is drawn toward at least a second leaflet of the heart valve by adjusting a distance between the portion of the blood vessel and the first portion of tissue in the vicinity of the heart valve. Other embodiments are also described.

Suture passer systems for tissue suspension and tissue compression are described. The system can include a shaft and a needle, wherein the needle is freely rotatable with respect to the shaft. The suture may include an overmolded segment. Methods of placing one or more implants, sutures, fastener, bone anchors and other devices are also described. The methods include moving tissue, including the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, palatopharyngeal arch, and palatoglossal arch. The methods include hyoid bone suspension.