Surgical fastener

Claim 2

A fastener for use during a surgical procedure for securing a surgical component to a vessel wall, said fastener comprising: flexible fastening means for securing the surgical component to the vessel wall under a compressive force; wherein said fastening means has a first portion located on one side of the surgical component and the vessel wall, a second portion located on another side of the surgical component and the vessel wall, and an intermediate portion connecting said first portion and said second portion, said intermediate portion extending through the vessel wall and the surgical component, whereby said first portion, second portion and said intermediate portion act together to apply a compressive force to the surgical component and the vessel wall to secure the surgical component to the vessel wall; and wherein said fastening means further includes at least one supplemental fastening means for securing the surgical component to the vessel wall, said at least one supplemental fastening means being located on at least one of said first portion and said second portion.

Claim 3

The fastener according to claim 1, wherein said fastening means includes at least one spring assembly, and said supplemental fastening means includes at least one supplemental spring assembly.

Claim 4

The fastener according to claim 2, wherein each of said first portion, said second portion and said at least one supplemental spring assembly extends substantially parallel to the vessel wall.

Claim 5

The fastener according to claim 2, wherein said fastening means comprises a plurality of entwined coil springs.

Claim 6

The fastener according to claim 2, wherein said supplemental spring assembly includes a coil spring.

Claim 7

The fastener according to claim 2, wherein said supplemental fastening means includes a first supplemental spring assembly connected to said first portion of said fastening means.

Claim 8

The fastener according to claim 6, wherein said supplemental fastening means includes a second supplemental spring assembly connected to said second portion of said fastening means.

Claim 9

The fastener according to claim 2, further comprising: means for connecting at least a portion of said at least one supplemental spring assembly to said spring assembly.

Claim 10

The fastener according to claim 2, wherein said fastener has a first orientation for inserting said fastener through the vessel wall and the surgical component, and a second orientation when said fastener is in a secured position.

Claim 11

The fastener according to claim 9, wherein said spring assembly and said at least one supplemental spring assembly are aligned along a longitudinal axis when said fastener is in said first orientation.

Claim 12

The fastener according to claim 10, wherein said spring assembly and said at least one supplemental spring assembly are displaced with respect to each other and from said longitudinal axis when said fastener is in said second orientation.

Claim 13

The fastener according to claim 9, wherein said fastener is in tension when in said first orientation and a relaxed state when in said second orientation, said fastener further comprising: control means for controlling the compression of said fastener in said first orientation.

Claim 14

The fastener according to claim 12, wherein said spring assembly and said at least one supplemental spring assembly are coil springs, wherein each of said coil springs has a plurality of individual coils.

Claim 15

The fastener according to claim 13, wherein said control means is located between a plurality of said individual coils.

Claim 16

The fastener according to claim 14, wherein said control means includes a suture material disposed between said plurality of said individual coils.

Claim 17

The fastener according to claim 15, wherein said suture material is formed from a dissolvable material, such that said suture material dissolves after said fastener has been secured in said second orientation.

Claim 18

The fastener according to claim 12, wherein said control means includes a dissolvable material formed on said fastener means and said supplemental fastener means.

Claim 19

A fastener for use during a surgical procedure for securing a surgical component to a vessel wall, said fastener comprising: flexible fastening means for securing the surgical component to the vessel wall under a compressive force; wherein said fastening means has a first portion located on one side of the surgical component and the vessel wall, a second portion located on another side of the surgical component and the vessel wall, and an intermediate portion connecting to said first portion and said second portion, said intermediate portion extending through the vessel wall and the surgical component, whereby said first portion, second portion and said intermediate portion act together to apply a compressive force to the surgical component and the vessel wall to secure the surgical component to the vessel wall; wherein said fastening means has a first orientation for inserting said fastening means through the vessel wall and the surgical component, and a second orientation when said fastening means applies the compressive force to the surgical component and the vessel, said fastening means being in tension when in said first orientation; and control means for controlling the compression of said fastening means in said first orientation.

Claim 20

A fastener for use during a surgical procedure for securing a surgical component to a vessel wall, said fastener comprising: flexible fastening means for securing the surgical component to the vessel wall under a compressive force; wherein said fastening means has a first portion located on one side of the surgical component and the vessel wall, a second portion located on another side of the surgical component and the vessel wall, and an intermediate portion connecting to said first portion and said second portion, said intermediate portion extending through the vessel wall and the surgical component, whereby said first portion, second portion and said intermediate portion act together to apply a compressive force to the surgical component and the vessel wall to secure the surgical component to the vessel wall; wherein said fastening means has a first orientation for inserting said fastening means through the vessel wall and the surgical component, and a second orientation when said fastening means applies the compressive force to the surgical component and the vessel, said fastening means being in tension when in said first orientation; and control means for controlling the compression of said fastening means in said first orientation.

Claim 21

The fastener according to claim 18, wherein said control means includes a dissolvable material formed on said fastening means.

Claim 22

The fastener according to claim 19, wherein said fastener further includes at least one supplemental fastening means for securing the surgical component to the vessel wall, said at least one supplemental fastening means being located on at least one of said first portion and said second portion.

Claim 23

The fastener according to claim 18, wherein said fastening means includes at least one coil spring assembly.

Claim 24

The fastener according to claim 21, wherein said at least spring assembly has a plurality of individual coils, wherein said control means is located between a plurality of said individual coils.

Claim 25

The fastener according to claim 22, wherein said control means includes a suture material disposed between said plurality of said individual coils.

Claim 26

The fastener according to claim 23, wherein said suture material is formed from a dissolvable material, such that said suture material dissolves after said fastener has been secured in said second orientation.

Claim 27

The fastener according to claim 23, wherein said fastener further includes at least one supplemental fastening means for securing the surgical component to the vessel wall, said at least one supplemental fastening means being located on at least one of said first portion and said second portion.

Claim 28

The fastener according to claim 25, wherein said supplemental fastening means includes at least one coil spring assembly having a plurality of individual coils.

Claim 29

The fastener according to claim 26, wherein said suture material is disposed between a plurality of said coils of said supplemental fastening means.

Claim 30

A fastener for use during a surgical procedure for securing a surgical component to a vessel wall, said fastener comprising: flexible fastening means for securing the surgical component to the vessel wall under a compressive force; wherein said fastening means has a first portion located on one side of the surgical component and the vessel wall, a second portion located on another side of the surgical component and the vessel wall, and an intermediate portion connecting to said first portion and said second portion, said intermediate portion extending through the vessel wall and the surgical component, whereby said first portion, second portion and said intermediate portion act to apply a compressive force to the surgical component and the vessel wall to secure the surgical component to the vessel wall; at least one supplemental fastening means for securing the surgical component to the vessel wall, said at least one supplemental fastening means being located on at least one of said first portion and said second portion; wherein said fastening means and supplemental fastening means have a first orientation for inserting said fastener through the vessel wall and the surgical component, and a second orientation when said fastener applies the compressive force to the surgical component and the vessel, said fastener being in tension when in said first orientation; and control means for controlling the compression of said fastener in said first orientation.

Claim 31

A fastener for use during a surgical procedure for securing a surgical component to a vessel wall, said fastener comprising: flexible fastening means for securing the surgical component to the vessel wall under a compressive force; wherein said fastening means has a first portion located on one side of the surgical component and the vessel wall, a second portion located on another side of the surgical component and the vessel wall, and an intermediate portion connecting to said first portion and said second portion, said intermediate portion extending through the vessel wall and the surgical component, whereby said first portion, second portion and said intermediate portion act to apply a compressive force to the surgical component and the vessel wall to secure the surgical component to the vessel wall; at least one supplemental fastening means for securing the surgical component to the vessel wall, said at least one supplemental fastening means being located on at least one of said first portion and said second portion; wherein said fastening means and supplemental fastening means have a first orientation for inserting said fastener through the vessel wall and the surgical component, and a second orientation when said fastener applies the compressive force to the surgical component and the vessel, said fastener being in tension when in said first orientation; and control means for controlling the compression of said fastener in said first orientation.