VASCULAR STAPLER

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO DESIGN AND BUILD A STAPLER FOR PERFORMING END-TO-END AND END-TO-SIDE ANASTOMOSES ON MEDIUM TO LARGE VESSELS, AND FOR REPAIRING BLOOD VESSELS AND VASCULAR ANEURYSMS, AND TO DEVELOP A SURGICAL PROTOCOL FOR ITS USE. THE METHOD PROPOSED USES A SPECIAL STAPLER AND CONFIGURATION OF STAPLES WHICH MINIMIZESBLOOD CONTACT WITH THE STAPLES, DOES NOT RESTRICT THE FLOW OF BLOOD, AND PREVENTS LEAKAGE. DUE TO THE CONTROLLED METHOD OF APPLICATION, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE QUALITY OF THE ANASTOMOSIS AND ITS LIFE WILL BE COMPARABLE WITH CURRENTMANUAL METHODS. THE STAPLING PROCEDURE HAS THE POTENTIAL OFREDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TIME REQUIRED FOR THE ANASTOMOSIS, THUS SHORTENING THE DURATION OF CROSS CLAMPING OR BIPASS, RESULTING IN IMPROVED PATIENT RECOVERY, REDUCED MORBIDITY, AND LOWER COST OF THE PROCEDURE. CURRENTLY AVAILABLE STAPLERS ARE DESIGNED FOR USE IN THE GASTRONINTESTINAL TRACTAND ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR VASCULAR SURGERY. ONE DEVICE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO BE USEFUL FOR END-TO-END ANASTOMOSIS OF SMALL VESSELS IN THE 1 TO 4 MM CALIBER, BUD NO DEVICE IS AVAILABLE FOR USE ON LARGER VESSELS.