US 7,320,692 B1
Tissue closure system
Theodore M. Bender, San Francisco, Calif. (US); Zachary Warder-Gabaldon, Palo Alto, Calif. (US); Matthew B. Newell, Portola Valley, Calif. (US); Bernard A. Hausen, Menlo Park, Calif. (US); Brian R. DuBois, Redwood City, Calif. (US); and Bryan D. Knodel, Flagstaff, Ariz. (US)
Assigned to Cardica, Inc., Redwood City, Calif. (US)
Filed on Jun. 22, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/158,414.
Application 11/158414 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/093003, filed on Mar. 28, 2005.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/10 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 606—139  [606/153; 623/23.72] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for closing an opening in tissue, comprising:
providing a staple having a plurality of tines and a longitudinal centerline, and a housing within which at least part of said staple is held, said housing having a fixed diameter;
advancing the entirety of said housing into and then through the vasculature to a location in proximity to the opening;
plastically deforming said staple to a splayed configuration such that the distal ends of at least two said tines are spaced apart from one another a distance greater than the diameter of said housing;
penetrating at least one said tine into tissue in proximity to the opening; and
plastically deforming said staple to a closed configuration.