Endovascular flexible stapling device

摘要

The present invention concerns a flexible stapling device (1). More particularly, this invention concerns a flexible endovascular stapling device (1) for an intravascular procedure such as patent foramen ovate closure, which is designed to avoid open heart surgery by permitting the closure of the defect utilizing a stapling means (26) which is positioned by using a flexible shaft/guidewire system.

主权项

1. A surgical method for correcting a cardiac defect, comprising the steps of:
making an incision in a patient's vein or artery to create an opening;inserting one or more successively larger diameter dilators into the opening to gradually increase the diameter of the patient's vein or artery;
inserting an introducer element into the vein or artery; inserting a guidewire into the vein or artery through the introducer element and advancing the guidewire through the vein or artery to a cardiac defect to be treated; inserting a flexible shaft stapling device comprising one or more staples into the vein or artery through the introducer element and advancing the flexible shaft stapling device over the guidewire to the cardiac defect;
wherein the stapling device includes a generally elongated tubular flexible shaft having proximal and distal ends, a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, and an outer surface;an actuator located at the proximal end of said tubular flexible shaft;a retractable housing having proximal and distal ends and being slidably located at and at least partially surrounding the distal end of the tubular flexible shaft;one or more staples releasably positioned within the retractable housing at the distal end of the tubular flexible shaft and selectively covered and uncovered by the retractable housing; anda stapler closer within the retractable housing and operatively connected to the actuator for closing the one or more staples,wherein activation of the actuator causes the one or more staples to close and release from the stapling device; and actuating the flexible shaft stapling device to insert one or more staples into tissue proximate the cardiac defect to correct the cardiac defect.