Intravascular Stapling Tool

Abstract

An intravascular stapler may include a handle; a catheter attached to the handle; a stapler head attached to the catheter; and a staples held by the stapler head, wherein the stapler head is configured to sequentially deploy staples. An intravascular stapler may include a reciprocating driver within the stapler head, wherein the driver reciprocates back and forth substantially along a first axis, and wherein the staples are advanceable substantially along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. An intravascular stapler may include internal anvils held by and movable within the stapler head, each internal anvil positioned in proximity to and movable in tandem with a corresponding staple.

Description

[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 022,551, filed on Dec. 23, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to medical devices, and more particularly to an intravascular stapler.BACKGROUND[0003]Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an abnormal ballooning of the abdominal portion of the aorta, which is the major artery routing blood from the heart to all organs. Abdominal aortic aneurysm involves a dilation, stretching, or ballooning of the abdominal aorta, which is the section of the aorta residing in the abdominal cavity. Causes of abdominal aortic aneurysm include infection, tissue disease (such as atherosclerosis) resulting in weakening of the connective tissue component of the arterial wall, trauma, and Marfan's syndrome. Abdominal aortic aneurysm can affect anyone, but it is most often seen in men aged 40 to 70. Most commonly, abdominal aortic aneurysms ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This is a medical emergency where the aneurysm breaks open, resulting in profuse bleeding.

Because surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm is risky, the surgeon may wait for the aneurysm to expand to a size at which the risk of complications exceeds the risk of surgery.

However, it is undesirable to wait for a known AAA to get worse in order to treat it.

However, not all patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms are candidates for grafts, however.

Further, some AAA grafts in the past have had difficulties that have resulted in their removal from the marketplace, such as breakage of the hooks that hold the AAA graft in place in the aorta, and difficulties with the tools for deploying the AAA grafts.

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