Intravascular stapling tool
View Patent ↗An intravascular stapler may include a catheter connected to a stapler head and to a handle. The stapler head may be introduced into the vasculature of a patient through an opening in the femoral artery or other part of the vasculature, and advanced to a treatment site such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm via the catheter.
1. A method for stapling tissue in an animal body having a vasculature composed of tissue, comprising:
providing an intravascular stapling tool including a stapler head connected to a catheter, wherein said stapler head includes at least a first holder and a second holder, each said holder including two columns between which a staple is held, said staple including a plurality of tines, and wherein each column includes on an inner surface thereof a ramp element curved inward toward the bottom of said column, each said ramp element terminating in a foot, wherein said holders are oriented generally parallel to one another;
creating an incision in a peripheral vessel;
inserting the stapler head through said incision;
utilizing said catheter to advance said stapler head along the vasculature; and
urging one said staple to exit the corresponding said first holder, said first holder located in a deployment position, such that said tines of said staple deform inward as a result of contact between the distal ends of said tines against corresponding said ramp elements and feet;
indexing said holders substantially linearly such that said first holder moves out of said deployment position and said second holder moved into said deployment position; and
then urging one said staple out of said second holder, such that said tines of said staple deform inward as a result of contact between the distal ends of said tines against corresponding said ramp elements and feet.
2. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the limitations of that claim, wherein the peripheral vessel is a femoral artery.
3. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the limitations of that claim, wherein said intravascular stapling tool includes a handle connected to said catheter; wherein said urging is performed in response to a single user input to said handle.
4. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the limitations of that claim, further comprising providing an abdominal aortic aneurysm graft; wherein said urging attaches said abdominal aortic aneurysm graft to tissue.
5. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the limitations of that claim, wherein said stapler head includes a stabilizer; further comprising moving said stabilizer into contact with tissue, and wherein said moving pushes said stapler head against tissue.
6. The method of claim 5 , incorporating by reference all of the limitations of that claim, wherein said moving comprises rotating said stabilizer relative to a remainder of said stapler head.
7. The method of claim 5 , incorporating by reference all of the limitations of that claim, wherein said moving comprises expanding said stabilizer.
8. The method of claim 1 , incorporating by reference all of the limitations of that claim, wherein said urging maintains the entry point of each tine into tissue substantially constant for the duration of said urging.