103760 results about "Flange" patented technology

A surgical stapler comprises an elongate housing 10 and a surgical staple 14 slidable longitudinally within the housing towards the free forward end thereof. The back 18 of the staple has a rearward extension 22. An actuator 16 is slidable forwardly within the housing for driving the staple towards the free end of the housing. An upstanding flange 30 on the extension 22 engages a stop 32 within the housing to restrain the back of the staple against forward movement of the actuator bends the staple to bring the free ends of the legs towards one another to close the staple. Further movement of the actuator then ruptures the join between the extension and the back of the staple to release the closed staple.

A surgical stapler for securing a prosthetic heart valve within a patient generally includes a first cylindrical portion for carrying at least one staple assembly on a distal end thereof; a second cylindrical portion positioned concentrically about the first cylindrical portion and having a camming arm on a distal end thereof, the camming arm configured to cam the at least one staple assembly radially outward and drive the at least one staple assembly distally such that a first leg of the at least one staple assembly penetrates a cuff of the prosthetic heart valve and a second leg of the at least one staple assembly pierces a portion of heart tissue surrounding the prosthetic heart valve, as the second cylindrical portion is moved distally relative to the first cylindrical portion; and a third cylindrical portion positioned concentrically about the second cylindrical portion and having an anvil flange on a distal end thereof, the anvil flange configured to crimp the second leg of the at least one staple assembly toward the first leg of the at least one staple assembly to secure the prosthetic heart valve to the surrounding heart tissue as the third cylindrical portion is moved relative to the second cylindrical portion. A method of installing a heart valve within a patient which includes the steps of accessing a site within a heart from which a natural heart valve has been removed; lowering a prosthetic heart valve into position within the site in the heart; positioning a surgical stapler having at least one staple assembly removably held on a distal end thereof adjacent the prosthetic heart valve within the site in the heart; driving a first leg of the at least one staple assembly through a peripheral cuff of the prosthetic heart valve; and crimping a second leg of the at least one staple assembly in a direction toward the first leg such that the second leg pierces a portion of heart tissue surrounding the prosthetic heart valve, thereby securing the prosthetic heart valve to the surrounding heart tissue.

An integrally molded ventilation interface includes a hollow bellows-like structure and two nasal prongs extending from a top surface of the bellows. A pair of headgear strap flanges can also be molded integrally with the ventilation interface. The nasal prongs provide a first sealing interface between an outer surface of the nasal prongs and an inner surface of the patient's nares. The bellows provides a second sealing interface between a top surface of the bellows-like structure and a bottom surface of a patient's nose. The headgear strap flanges provide a third sealing interface between the ventilation interface and a mustache region of the patient's face as well as a bottom surface of the patient's nose.

The invention relates to an intervertebral implant including a wedge which is inserted between two spinous processes and has two opposite grooves in which said spinous processes engage, which grooves have substantially parallel axes, and each of which grooves is defined by two flanges. The wedge has at least one central opening between said two grooves and said central opening passes completely through said wedge along an axis Ac substantially parallel to the axes Ag1 and Ag2 of said grooves, which renders said wedge elastically deformable.

A delivery apparatus for a self-expanding stent allows for ease of repositioning. The apparatus includes an outer sheath made from an elongated tubular member having distal and proximal ends, and an inner shaft located coaxially within the outer sheath. The shaft has a distal end and a proximal end. The shaft includes a removable member on an exterior surface thereof adjacent to its proximal end. The removable member being sized such that it prevents the sheath from sliding along the shaft proximal to the member until it is removed therefrom. Preferably, the distal end of the shaft further including at least two grooves disposed thereon. Preferably the apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical self-expanding stent located within the sheath. The self-expanding member having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis extending therebetween and an interior. The self-expanding stent further including at least two spaced apart longitudinal legs having distal and proximal ends, the distal ends of the legs attached to the proximal end of the member. The legs extending proximally away from the member and each the leg including a flange adjacent its proximal end, wherein the flanges are set within the grooves of the inner shaft so as to releasably attach the stent to the inner shaft.

Implantable occlusion devices that include one or more flanges extending from a tubular body are disclosed. The flange or flanges may assist in retention of the device within a vessel, cavity, appendage, etc. At least one flange on the occlusion device may include a concave surface proximate one end of a body. Because of the shape of the flange, e.g., its concavity, the occlusion device may resist dislocation due to e.g., the forces generated within the left atrial appendage during atrial filbrillation.

A prosthetic heart valve having an anchoring sleeve that changes shape when the valve is implanted and contacts the surrounding annulus to prevent migration of the valve. The heart valve may be non-expandable and the anchoring sleeve may provide the primary anchoring structure of the valve. Alternatively, the valve may be expandable wherein the anchoring sleeve supplements the inherent anchoring capacity of the valve structure. The anchoring sleeve is at least partly made of a material that increases in size, i.e., swells, due to absorption of body fluids. For instance, the anchoring sleeve may be formed of an inner material that swells upon contact with body fluids enclosed by a cover. The anchoring sleeve desirably changes shape to provide spaced apart annular flanges for securing the valve around a fibrous annulus. An anchoring sleeve for a prosthetic heart valve having an expandable frame surrounds a majority of the frame and may define an external hourglass configuration.