Systems, devices and methods for suturing patient tissue

[0001] This application is related to commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/824,031 filed on Mar. 26, 1997, patent application Ser. No. 08/883,246 filed on Jun. 26, 1997, patent application Ser. No. 08/638,076 filed on Apr. 26, 1996, and patent application Ser. No. 09/395,901 entitled “Device and Method for Performing End-to-Site Anastomosis,” filed on Sep. 14, 1999. Furthermore, this application is related to patent application Ser. No. 09/610,564 filed on Jun. 30, 2000, patent application Ser. No. 09/610,099 filed on Jun. 30, 2000 and patent application Ser. No. 09/608,832 filed on Jun. 30, 2000. The full disclosure of each of the above applications is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This invention relates to suturing patient tissue together. In particular, the invention relates to a method of suturing patient tissue together, to a suture placement device and to a suture placement system.

[0003] The invention can be used advantageously to suture vessels, ducts, and the like, in a patient body. The invention can be used particularly advantageously in suturing blood vessels together during cardiac surgery, for example. Accordingly, the invention can be used during coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and the like. However, it is to be appreciated that the field of the invention is not to be limited to such uses only, but extends to suturing patient tissue together in general. For example, the invention can be used also to form sutures in bowel connections, femoral-popliteal artery anastomoses, and the like. It can also be used in the field of trauma closure, and the like.

[0004] It is often required to connect a vessel, duct, or the like, such as a hollow organ, or blood vessel, or the like, to a target piece of tissue, such as another vessel, duct, or the like. This is especially true in the case of certain types of cardiac surgery, such as CABG surgery. Often during such CABG surgery it is required to connect, or join, one blood vessel to another so that the vessels are joined together to be in fluid flow communication with each other. A joint formed between blood vessels in this fashion is often referred to as an anastomosis.

[0005] As is well known, the heart pumps blood through the body. The heart comprises a plurality of muscles which cooperate with one another to cause contractions of the heart thereby to provide a pumping action. The heart requires blood flow to its muscles to provide its muscles with the necessary oxygen, nutrients, and the like, necessary for muscular contraction. It often happens that one or more of the blood vessels which feed the heart muscles becomes diseased and develops a blockage, or becomes occluded, or the like. When this happens, a region of the heart normally fed by that diseased blood vessel can experience a depletion, or interruption, of blood supply. If such a condition is not treated in a timely fashion, the patient may suffer a heart attack with often fatal results.

[0006] CABG procedures are often performed to circumvent such a blockage, or occlusion, in a diseased blood vessel, thereby to provide the region of the heart normally fed by the diseased vessel with blood. This procedure normally involves tapping blood from an appropriate blood source, such as a donor blood vessel such as, for example, the aorta, saphenous vein, mammary artery, or the like, and routing the tapped blood to the diseased vessel downstream of the occlusion or blockage. A variety of procedures are currently employed to provide tapped blood downstream of an occlusion, or blockage, in a diseased blood vessel. One procedure involves making use of a graft. In such a case, an end of the graft is typically sutured to an appropriate blood source to be in fluid flow communication therewith and an opposed end of the graft is typically sutured to a side of the diseased vessel to be in fluid flow communication therewith downstream of the occlusion, or blockage. Another procedure involves suturing a side of a healthy vessel to a side of a diseased vessel downstream of the blockage, or occlusion, so that blood can flow from the healthy vessel to the diseased vessel. A joint between an end of a vessel, or graft, and a side of another vessel, or graft, is often referred to as an end-to-side anastomosis. A joint between a side of a graft, or vessel, and a side of another graft, or vessel, is often referred to as a side-to-side anastomosis.

[0007] During CABG surgery, a patient is often connected to a cardiopulmonary bypass machine so that the heart can be stopped temporarily, thereby to ease the task of suturing the various grafts, and/or vessels, together. Furthermore, blood vessels, such as the aorta, for example, are often closed, or clamped, so as to interrupt blood flow through that vessel when that vessel is to be used as a donor vessel or blood source.

[0008] When CABG procedures are performed on a patient, the patient normally suffers a great deal of trauma. Accordingly, it would be beneficial if such CABG procedures could be improved so as to decrease patient trauma. In conventional CABG surgery, there are at least three factors that affect the degree of trauma suffered by a patient. These factors include: (1) the time the patient spends on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, (2) the time the patient spends with a clamped blood vessel, such as the aorta, or the like, and (3) the quality of the anastomoses formed between the blood vessels and/or grafts. It is generally recognized that the risk of patient morbidity rises significantly after the patient has been placed on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine for a period of about one hour. Passage of blood through a cardiopulmonary bypass machine tends to damage blood cells consequently causing degradation in blood quality. Accordingly, the longer a patient is subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass, the more the blood cells become damaged and the higher the degradation in the quality of the blood. A complication often associated with prolonged placement on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, is distal thrombosis. Distal thrombosis can give rise to embolization in the neurovasculature and can lead to the patient suffering a stroke. Accordingly, it would be beneficial if the period a patient spends on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine during CABG surgery could be reduced.

[0009] A factor by which the amount of time a patient spends on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine can be reduced is by reducing the time taken suturing the vessels and/or grafts together to form anastomoses. The average time taken to suture two vessels together to form an anastomosis in accordance with traditional suturing methods, is typically about seven to ten minutes. An average CABG procedure can involve the formation of about five anastomoses. Accordingly, the time spent on suturing during an average CABG procedure can be between about thirty-five to fifty minutes. Therefore, since the task of suturing can constitute a major portion of the one hour period, it would be advantageous if the time spent on such suturing could be reduced. By doing so, the time a patient is subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass would also be reduced, thereby reducing patient trauma and the risks of morbidity.

[0010] In so-called “off-pump” procedures, patients are not placed on cardiopulmonary bypass machines. Accordingly, the negative effects associated with cardiopulmonary bypass mentioned above are inhibited. However, the task of suturing is made more difficult since the task of suturing is normally then performed while the heart is beating. This can lead to the formation of anastomoses with reduced integrity. Improperly suturing blood vessels and/or grafts together may lead to post operative complications. Incorrect suturing during surgery requiring correction during the surgery, may unnecessarily extend the time taken to complete the surgery.

[0011] Suture placement devices have been proposed which enable a surgeon, or the like, to place suture elements in patient tissue without manually holding and manipulating a suture needle, as has traditionally been the case. It has been found that the management of opposed ends of suture elements after having been placed in patient tissue with such a device can be rather tedious. This is especially true where the device is arranged to place a plurality of suture elements in patient tissue simultaneously. In such a case, opposed portions of each individual suture element are typically secured together to form a suture. It has been found that the opposed portions can become mixed up, or entangled, with one another, thereby unnecessarily complicating the suturing procedure and delaying its completion.

[0012] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide systems, devices and methods for enabling suturing operations to be conducted with greater accuracy and in a shorter period of time. This is especially true if several vessels and/or grafts are to be sutured together during a CABG procedure.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of suturing patient tissue together. The method comprises positioning a suture placement device adjacent patient tissue, the suture placement device having a body and a suture holder releasably attached on the body. The method further comprises actuating the suture placement device and causing the suture placement device to pass an end portion of at least one suture element through the patient tissue in response to actuating the suture placement device. The method further comprises causing the end portion of the at least one suture element to be held on the suture holder of the device after the end portion has been passed through the patient tissue and detaching the suture holder from the body of the device while the end portion of the at least one suture element is held thereon.

[0014] By holding the suture element on such a suture holder, and detaching the holder from the device while the end portion of the at least one suture element is held thereon, management of the suture portion is made relatively easy since the holder can be formed to be readily manipulatable by a user's hand, as opposed to manipulating the end portion of the suture element directly.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a suture placement device. The suture placement device comprises a body, a support on the body, the support being arranged releasably to hold an end of at least one suture element and at least one engaging element displaceably mounted on the body. The engaging element is arranged to pass through patient tissue so as to engage the end of the at least one suture element when held on the support and to withdraw from the tissue while the end of the suture element is engaged therewith, thereby to pass the end of the suture element through the tissue. The device further comprises a suture holder on the body. The suture holder is arranged to hold the end of the at least one suture element after it has been passed through the tissue. The suture holder is releasably attached to the body so that the end of the at least one suture element can be removed from the body by detaching the suture holder from the body while the end of the at least one suture element is held thereon.

[0016] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a suture placement system. The system comprises at least two suture placement devices. Each device comprises a body, a support on the body, the support being arranged releasably to hold an end of at least one suture element and at least one engaging element displaceably mounted on the body. The engaging element is arranged to pass through patient tissue so as to engage the end of the at least one suture element when held on the support and to withdraw from the tissue while the end of the suture element is engaged therewith, thereby to pass the end of the suture element through the tissue. The device further comprises a suture holder on the body. The suture holder is arranged to hold the end of the at least one suture element after it has been passed through the tissue. The suture holder is releasably attached to the body so that the end of the at least one suture element can be removed from the body by detaching the suture holder from the body while the end of the at least one suture element is held thereon.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 1A of the drawings, a patient's heart is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The heart 10 is shown after a CABG procedure has been performed thereon. The CABG procedure involved suturing an end 12.1 of a graft 12 to the aorta 14 and an opposed end 12.2 of the graft 12 to a target vessel 16 downstream of a blockage, or occlusion 18, in the target vessel 16. After completion of the CABG procedure, blood is supplied to a region of the heart downstream of the occlusion 18, which region was subjected to a depletion, or starvation, of blood, because of the occlusion 18 in the vessel 16.

[0055] During the CABG procedure, an incision was made in the aorta 14 and the vessel 16 respectively. The graft 12 was sutured to the aorta 14 and the vessel 16 such that open mouths at the ends 12.1, 12.2 of the graft 12 are connected to the aorta 14 and vessel 16 respectively so that blood can flow through the incision in the aorta 14, through the mouth of the graft 12 at its end 12.1, internally along the graft 12, through its mouth at its end 12.2 and through the incision in the target vessel 16, and then along the vessel 16 downstream of the occlusion 18. In this way, blood is tapped from the aorta 14 and supplied to the region of the heart normally supplied by the vessel 16, if not for the occlusion 18. When the ends 12.1, 12.2 were joined to the aorta 14 and vessel 16 respectively, anastomoses were thus formed at 22, 24 respectively. The graft 12 was joined to the aorta 14 and vessel 16 by means of sutures 26 to form the anastomoses 22, 24.

[0056] The anastomoses at 22, 24 are examples of what is often termed end-to-side anastomoses. The end-to-side anastomosis at 22 is shown schematically, and in greater detail, in FIG. 1B of the drawings, in which like reference numerals have been used to designate similar parts or features, unless otherwise stated. A CABG procedure can involve forming one or more side-to-side anastomoses. An example of such a side-to-side anastomosis is indicated generally by reference numeral 20 in FIG. 1C of the drawings. The side-to-side anastomosis 20 extends between a side 21.1 of a vessel 21 and an opposed side 23.1 of another vessel 23. By means of such a side-to-side anastomosis 20, blood can flow from one of the vessels 21, 23 to the other of the vessels 21, 23. In this way, blood can be tapped from one of the vessels 21, 23 to the other of the vessels 21, 23 at a position downstream of a blockage, or occlusion, in the other of the vessels 21, 23.

[0057] A suture placement system, in accordance with the invention, which can be used advantageously to form a side-to-side anastomosis as indicated in FIG. 1C, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B of the drawings.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 2A, the suture placement system for forming a side-to-side anastomosis is generally indicated by reference numeral 110. The system 110 includes two suture placement devices generally indicated by reference numerals 112, 114 respectively. Each device 112, 114 comprises a body 115 and a suture holder, generally indicated by reference numeral 116. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2A, each holder 116 comprises two parts 116.1, 116.2. Each of the bodies 115 further comprises a suture support, generally indicated by reference numeral 118.

[0059] The devices 112, 114 are connected together by an elongate flexible member 120. The member 120 can be formed of any appropriate flexible material, such as a synthetic plastics material, or the like. The material of which the member 120 is made is preferably bio-compatible. The member 120 defines two conduit portions 121.1, 121.2 extending longitudinally in series along one side 122 of the member 120. The member 120 further defines a suture container portion 121.3 for containing portions of a plurality of suture elements extending between the devices 112, 114, as will be described in greater detail below. The suture container portion 121.3 extends longitudinally along an opposed side 124 of the member 120. The member 120 further defines a longitudinally extending web 126 that connects the two conduit portions 121.1, 121.2 on the side 122 of the member 120 to the suture container portion 121.3 on the opposed side 124 of the member 120.

[0060] The system 110 comprises another elongate flexible member generally indicated at 130. The member 130 can typically be formed of a material which is the same as the material of which the member 120 is made. Accordingly, it can be formed from a synthetic plastics material and is preferably bio-compatible. The member 130 defines two conduit portions 131.1, 131.2 extending longitudinally along opposed sides 132, 134 thereof. The conduit portions 131.1, 131.2 are connected together by means of a longitudinally extending web 136 extending along and between the conduit portions 131.1, 131.2 for a portion of their lengths. The web 136 connecting the conduit portions 131.1, 131.2 together ends at 138. From the end of the web 136 at 138, the conduit portions 131.1, 131.2 are free of each other. Each conduit portion 131.1, 131.2 carries a female Luer-type connector 140 at a free end 142 thereof. The female Luer-type connectors 140, 140 are arranged to be releasably connectable to complementary male Luer-type connectors on syringes (not shown).

[0061] The member 130 is connected to the member 120 at 143 such that ends 144, 144 of the conduit portions 131.1, 131.2 are connected to the conduit portions 121.1, 121.2 respectively, to be in fluid flow communication therewith. To this end, the ends 144, 144 are provided with laterally outwardly protruding formations 128 which extend into the conduit portions 121.1, 121.2 respectively. Advantageously, the formations 128, 128 are received in the conduit portions 121.1, 121.2 to permit angular displacement of the member 130 relative to the member 120 as indicated by arrows A. A fluid flow passage indicated in dashed lines by reference numeral 146 extends from one of the female Luer-type connectors 140, along the conduit portions 131.1, 121.1, to the device 112. Another fluid flow passage indicated in dashed lines by reference numeral 148 extends from the other of the female Luer-type connector 140, along the conduit portions 131.2, 121.2, to the device 114.

[0062] The body 115 of each device 112, 114 includes a cylinder 150 defining an internal chamber 152. The conduit portions 121.1, 121.2 are connected in fluid flow communication with the internal chambers 152, 152 through ports 153, 153. A piston 155 is received in the cylinders 150, 150 of each device 112, 114. The body 115 of each device 112, 114 comprises a shaft 154 on which its associated piston is mounted. The shafts 154, 154 are selectively extendable and retractable relative to the cylinders 150, 150 as indicated by arrows B, in response to pressurizing and de-pressurizing the chambers 152, 152. Pressure relief valves 151, 151 are provided in the conduit portions 131.1, 131.2 so as to inhibit the chambers 152, 152 from being pressurized beyond a predetermined pressure, as will be described in greater detail herein below.

[0063] The system 110 further comprises a plurality of suture elements. In FIG. 2A, one of the suture elements is indicated schematically in dashed lines by reference numeral 160. Each of the suture elements defines opposed ends at 160.1, 160.2 respectively. The end 160.1 of each of the suture elements 160 is supported on the suture support 118 of the device 112 and the opposed end 160.2 of each suture element 160 is supported on the suture support 118 of the other device 114. The suture elements 160 extend from the suture support 118 of the device 112, snugly adjacent an outer surface of the cylinder 150 of the device 112 and into a lumen 121.4 defined within the suture container portion 121.3 of the member 120. The suture elements then extend longitudinally along the lumen 121.4, out from the lumen 121.4 at the device 114, and then snugly adjacent an outer surface of the cylinder 150 of the other device 114 to the support 118 of the other device 114.

[0064] As can best be seen with reference to FIG. 2B of the drawings, in which like reference numerals have been used to designate similar parts and features unless otherwise stated, the portion 121.3 defines a longitudinally extending slit 121.5 through which the suture elements 160 can be drawn from the longitudinally extending lumen 121.4. The portion 121.3 defines opposed longitudinally extending flange portions 121.6, 121.7 between which the slit 121.5 is defined. Longitudinally extending free edges of the flange portions 121.6, 121.7 are resiliently urged toward each other thereby resiliently to keep the slit 121.5 in a closed condition so as to contain, or hold, the portions of the suture elements extending along the lumen 121.4 within the lumen 121.4. When the suture elements 160 are drawn from the portion 121.3, the free edges of the flange portions 121.6, 121.7 part readily to permit the suture elements to be drawn from the lumen 121.4 with little effort.

[0065] Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 7 of the drawings, certain parts of the devices 112, 114 will now be described in greater detail. The suture support 118 of each device 112, 114 comprises a foot portion 118.1 and a shaft portion 118.2. The foot portion 118.1 is attached to an end of the shaft portion 118.2. As can best be seen in FIG. 6, an opposed end of the shaft portion 118.2 has a hole 118.3 extending therethrough. The suture support 118 is secured relative to the cylinder 150 by means of a connecting pin (not shown) extending through the hole 118.3. The connecting pin is typically secured on the body 115. As can best be seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the shaft 154 has a longitudinally extending slot 154.1. When the shaft 154 is selectively extended and retracted relative to its associated cylinder 150 in response to pressurizing and de-pressurizing the associated chamber 152, the connecting pin securing the suture holder 118 on the body 115 rides in the slot 154.1 so as not to interfere with displacement of the shaft 154.

[0066] As mentioned, the suture holder 116 of each device 112, 114 has two parts 116.1, 116.2. Each part 116.1, 116.2 is releasably held on the shaft of its associated body 115. To this end, each part 116.1, 116.2 has a catch formation 116.3 for resiliently engaging in a complementary slot, or recess, 154.2 on the shaft 154. As can best be seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the parts 116.1, 116.2 are disengagable from the shaft 154 by causing them to bend resiliently so that the catch formations 116.3, 116.3 disengage from the recesses 154.2, as indicated by arrows C. The parts 116.1, 116.2 of the suture holders 116 can be formed from any appropriate material such as a resilient synthetic plastics material, or the like. Preferably, the parts 116.1, 116.2 are of a bio-compatible material. Typically, when the catch formations 116.3, 116.3 are caused to disengage from the shaft 154, the parts 116.1, 116.2 bend resiliently in the regions indicated at 116.5.

[0067] Conveniently, the parts 116.1, 116.2 have laterally outwardly protruding portions, generally indicated by reference numerals 116.6, 116.6, to enable the parts to be manipulated between a thumb and index finger, for example, of a user's hand. The parts 116.1, 116.2 further comprise inclined surfaces 116.4, 116.4. The surfaces 116.4, 116.4 are arranged to cooperate with the body 115 so that when the shaft 154 is retracted into its associated cylinder 150 by an amount exceeding a predetermined amount, the inclined surfaces 116.4 ride against the body 115 so as to urge the catch formations 116.3 from the recesses 154.2 thereby to cause the parts 116.1, 116.2 to disengage from the shaft 154 automatically, as will be described in greater detail herein below.

[0068] The parts 116.1, 116.2 of the suture support 116 further comprise a plurality of engaging elements for engaging the ends 160.1, 160.2 of the suture elements 160 on the suture supports 118, 118. The engaging elements can be of any appropriate form so as to cooperate with the ends 160.1, 160.2 of the suture elements 160 so as to enable the ends 160.1, 160.2 of the suture elements 160 to be engaged by the engaging elements. Conveniently, the engaging elements are in the form of needles 170 and are arranged to engage cuffs to which the ends of the suture elements are secured, as will be described in greater detail below. It will be appreciated that any appropriate engaging arrangement between the suture element ends and the engaging elements can be used instead of needles and cuffs. For example, use can be made of hook and loop arrangements, lasso-like arrangements, or the like.

[0069] As can best be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the needles 170 are secured in holes, or apertures, 172 extending through the parts 116.1, 116.2. The needles 170 are arranged to engage with the ends 160.1, 160.2 of the suture elements 160 held on the suture supports 118, 118. As can best be seen with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C of the drawings, the foot portion 118.1 of the suture holder 118 comprises a plurality of seats 118.4. Each seat 118.4 defines a cross-sectionally part circular hole 118.5 defining a laterally extending slit 118.7. A circumferentially intruding collar formation 118.6 is provided at the base of each hole 118.5. As can best be seen with reference to FIG. 7B, the end 160.1, 160.2 of each suture element 160 is secured to a cuff 117 whereby the end of the suture element is held on the support 118. Each cuff 117 comprises a cylindrical member 117.1 having an axially extending hole 117.2. Conveniently, the end 160.1, 160.2 of each suture element 160 is secured to an associated cuff 117 by inserting the end into the hole 117.2 at one end of the cuff 117 and securing the end 160.1, 160.2 of the suture element 160 to the cuff 117. Naturally, the end of the suture element 160 can be secured to the cuff 117 in any appropriate manner, such as, by using an appropriate adhesive, by means of soldering or welding, by means of an interference fit, by means of crimping, or the like. Instead, the cuffs can be formed integrally on the ends of the suture elements 160.

[0070] The ends 160.1, 160.2 of the suture elements 160 are releasably held on the foot 118.1 of the suture support 118 by means of the cuffs 117 being seated in the seats 118.4. When the needles 170 of the holders 116 are advanced relative to the body 115 in response to the shaft 154 being extended, the needles follow paths that are in register with the holes 117.2 in the cuffs 117 when the cuffs are seated in the seats 118.4. The needles 170 have pointed ends 170.1 arranged to pass into the holes 117.2 so as to engage with the cuffs 117. The lateral dimensions of the needles 170 at their pointed ends 170.1 and an internal diameter of the holes 117.2 are arranged to cooperate such that when the ends 170.1 of the needles 170 are advanced into the holes 117.2, the cuffs 117 are deformed radially outwardly so as to be frictionally engaged on the pointed ends 170.1 of the needles 170. After such engagement, the needles 170 can be withdrawn from the foot portion 118.1 in sympathy with retraction of the shaft 154 in response to retraction of the piston 155 in the cylinder 150. As the needles 170 are withdrawn in this fashion, the cuffs 117, and consequently also the ends 160.1, 160.2 of the suture elements 160 secured to the cuffs 117, are withdrawn from the seats 118.4.

[0071] Referring now to FIGS. 8A to 8E of the drawings, the operation of one of the devices 112, 114 will now be described in greater detail. In FIGS. 8A to 8E, the same reference numerals have been used to designate similar parts and features unless otherwise stated. For the sake of convenience, operation of the device 112 will be described. It will be appreciated that the device 114 operates in a manner similar to that of the operation of the device 112.

[0072] To operate the device 112, a syringe (not shown) is operatively connected to the female Luer-type connector 140 connected in fluid flow communication with the internal chamber 152 of the device 112, as can best be seen with reference to FIG. 2A. A plunger of the syringe is then depressed to cause an appropriate fluid, such as air, a saline solution, or the like, to flow along the fluid flow passage 146 in fluid flow communication with the chamber 152 of the device 112. In this way, the chamber 152 is pressurized so as to cause the piston 155 to advance within the cylinder 150, as indicated by arrow D in FIG. 8A. In consequence, the shaft 154 is caused to advance in sympathy with advancement of the piston 155. Since the suture holder 116 is engaged on the shaft 154, it is caused to advance also. As the suture holder 116 advances, the needles 170 of the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the holder 116, advance toward the cuffs 117 on the foot 118.1 of the suture support 118. Eventually, as can best be seen in FIG. 8B, the pointed ends 170.1 of the needles 170 are urged into the holes 117.2 of the cuffs 117 so as to cause the cuffs to be engaged on the ends 170.1 of the needles 170. Accordingly, since the ends 160.1 of the suture elements 160 are secured to the cuffs 117, the ends 160.1 are then also engaged with the needles 170.

[0073] With reference to FIG. 2A, the relief valve 151 operatively connected in the fluid flow passage 146 is provided to inhibit the needles 170 from being advanced too far. The pressure relief valve 151 is typically arranged so as to relieve pressure in the fluid flow passages 146 at a pre-determined pressure corresponding to when the needles 170 have engaged with the cuffs 117. It will be appreciated that resistance to advancement of the needles 170 into the holes 117.2 of the cuffs 117 increases after the cuffs 117 have been engaged. In consequence, when the cuffs 117 have been engaged, an increase in pressure is required in the chamber 152 to cause the needles 170 to advance further. By providing the pressure relief valve 151 in the fluid flow passage 146 so as to relieve pressure when the pressure increases beyond the pressure needed to cause the needles 170 to engage the cuffs, over extension of the needles 170 is inhibited. When the predetermined pressure in the fluid flow passage 146 is reached, the fluid in the fluid flow passage expels from the passage 146 through the valve 151. The valve 151 is conveniently placed so that the expulsion of the fluid from the passage 146 is readily detectable by a user of the system 110, thereby to serve as a signal to the user that the cuffs 117 have been engaged and that depression of the plunger of the syringe can now stop.

[0074] In FIG. 8B, the needles 170 are shown in a condition in which the cuffs 117 on the foot portion 118.1 have been engaged. The plunger of the syringe can then be withdrawn into its cylinder thereby to cause the chamber 152 of the device 112 to depressurize so as to cause the piston 155 to retract into the cylinder 150. As the piston 155 retracts in this fashion, the needles 170 are withdrawn from the foot portion 118.1 of the suture holder 118. As can best be seen with reference to FIG. 8C, as the needles 170 withdraw, the ends 160.1 of the suture elements 160, now engaged on the needles 170 by means of the cuffs 117, are withdrawn from the foot 118.1.

[0075] As can further be seen with reference to FIG. 8C, as the shaft 154 is caused to retract further, a stage is reached when the inclined surfaces 116.4, 116.4 of the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the holder 116 make contact with the body 115 of the device 112. The part of the body 115 with which the inclined surfaces 116.4 make contact, is indicated by reference numeral 115.1 in FIGS. 8A to 8E. As the shaft 154 is caused to retract further, the inclined surfaces 116.4 ride along an outer peripheral edge of the part 115.1. In consequence, the portion 116.6 of each part 116.1, 116.2 of the holder 116 are urged laterally away from the body 115 thereby causing the portions 116.5 to bend resiliently and the catch formations 116.3, 116.3 to disengage from the recesses 154.2 on the shaft 154. In this manner, the parts 116.1, 116.2 become disengaged from the shaft 154 and therefore also from the body 115 of the device 112, as can best be seen in FIG. 8D.

[0076] As can best be seen with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the holder 116 have channel formations 116.7. The channel formations 116.7 together define a passage through which the shaft portion 118.2 of the suture support 118 extends when the parts 116.1, 116.2 are mounted on the body 115 of the device 112. The channel formations 116.7 are arranged to embrace the shaft 118.2 so that when the catch formations 116.3, 116.3 of the parts 116.1, 116.2 are disengaged from the shaft 154 of the body 115 of the device 112, the parts 116.1, 116.2 are frictionally held on the shaft 118.2 by virtue of the shaft 118.2 being embraced by the parts 116.1, 116.2 in the channels 116.7, 116.7. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8D, the parts 116.1, 116.2 are retained on the shaft portion 118.2 after the catch formations 116.3 have disengaged from the recesses 154.2 of the shaft 154.

[0077] As can best be seen in FIG. 8E, after disengagement of the parts 116.1, 116.2 from the shaft 154, the portions 116.6, 116.6 of each part 116.1, 116.2 of the holder 116 can then be gripped between a thumb and finger of a user, for example, so that the parts 116.1, 116.2 can be removed manually from the body 115 of the device 112, as indicated by arrows G.

[0078] The system 110 will now be described in use and with reference to FIGS. 9 to 18 of the drawings. The system 110 will be described, by way of example, with reference to forming a side-to-side anastomosis between two blood vessels during a CABG procedure.

[0079] Referring initially to FIG. 9 of the drawings, to form such a side-to-side anastomosis between two vessels, an incision, or cut, 180 is made in a target vessel 182. Typically, the target vessel 182 can have an occlusion, or the like, upstream of the incision 180, which occlusion interrupts, or reduces, blood flow to a region of the heart downstream of the occlusion. To form a side-to side anastomosis, a spacing pattern of the ends 116.1 on the support 118 of the device 112, generally indicated by reference numeral 184 in FIG. 9A of the drawings, is generally the same for both devices 112, 114. The spacing pattern 184 of the ends 116.1 of the suture elements on the foot portion 118.1 of the device 112 can best be seen with reference to FIG. 9A of the drawings. Accordingly, the devices 112, 114 can typically be used interchangeably to place suture in either the target vessel 182 or a donor vessel, from which blood is to be tapped to the target vessel, as will be described in greater detail herein below. In the discussion which follows, by way of example, the device 112 will be used to place suture in the target vessel 182 and the device 114 will be used to place suture in the donor vessel.

[0080] The incision 180 should preferably be of a length which corresponds to the spacing pattern 184 of the suture ends on the foot portion 118.1, so that when a side-to-side anastomosis has been formed between the vessels by the system 110, the anastomosis will have a high degree of integrity. It will be appreciated that, should the incision 180 be formed to have too great a length, leakage of blood could ensue after the anastomosis has been formed. Should the incision 180 have too short a length, blood flow through the anastomosis can be impeded unnecessarily. Therefore, it would be advantageous if the incision 180 could be formed to have a specific predetermined length, which corresponds to the spacing pattern of the suture ends 116.1 on the support 118 of the device 112. It would further be advantageous if such an incision 180 could be formed accurately, repeatedly, and with little effort. To form the incision 180 such that it has a length which corresponds to the spacing pattern of the suture ends 116.1 on the support 118, use can be made of a surgical scissors arranged to form a cut, or aperture, of predetermined length. Such a scissors is disclosed in Applicant's co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/610,564, filed Jun. 30, 2000, entitled “Scissors”, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0081] After the incision 180 has been made in the target vessel 182, the suture support 118 of the device 112 is passed through the incision 180 such that the foot portion 118.1 is positioned within a lumen 182.2 defined by the vessel 182. The foot portion 118.1 has a shape so as to enable it to be inserted through the incision 180 relatively easily, while inhibiting damage to a vessel wall 182.1 of the vessel 182 immediately adjacent the incision 180. To this end, and as can best be seen in FIG. 9A of the drawings, the foot portion 118.1 has a leading end portion 118.8 and a heel portion 118.9. The foot portion 118.1 is inserted through the incision 180 and into the lumen 182.2 in a manner similar to when a person inserts his or her foot into a shoe. Accordingly, the leading end portion 118.8 of the foot portion 118.1 is passed through the incision 180 first and at an inclined orientation relative to the vessel wall 182.1. Conveniently, the foot portion 118.1 defines tapering forward and rearward ends having rounded corners to ease the task of passing the foot portion 118.1 through the incision 180. As the leading end portion is passed through the incision 180, the foot portion 118.1 is urged in a forward direction and tilted so as to pass the heel portion 118.9 through the incision 180. The foot portion 118.1 is then urged in a rearward direction until the shaft portion 118.2 seats snugly against an operatively rear end 180.1 of the incision 180. The foot portion 118.1 is then lifted to lie against an interior surface 182.3 of the wall 182.1 adjacent the incision 180, so that the ends 160.1 of the suture elements 160 secured on the cuffs 117 lie immediately adjacent the interior surface 182.3. In this position, the cuffs 117 to which the ends 160.1 of the suture elements 160 are secured, are positioned such that peripheral portions of the vessel wall 182.2 immediately adjacent the incision 180 lie snugly over the cuffs 117. The foot portion is then in an operative position at which it is positioned relative to the vessel wall such that when the device 112 is actuated, the suture elements will be correctly placed through the vessel wall relative to the incision 180.

[0082] After the foot portion 118.1 has been so positioned, and as can best be seen with reference to FIG. 10 of the drawings, the device 112 is actuated to place the suture elements 160 in the vessel wall 182.2 adjacent the incision 180. As mentioned above, this is achieved by actuating the syringe connected in fluid flow communication with the chamber 152 of the device 112. In this manner the needles 170 of the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the suture holder 116 are advanced toward the foot portion 118.1. As the needles 170 are advanced, they pierce and pass through the vessel wall 182.1 adjacent the incision 180 and then engage the cuffs 117 on the foot portion 118.1. After the cuffs 117 have been engaged, and as the user depresses the plunger of the syringe further, fluid is caused to expel from the relief valve 151, as described above, indicating to the user that the cuffs have been engaged. The plunger of the syringe is then withdrawn to cause the needles 170 to withdraw from the foot portion 118.1 while the cuffs 117 are engaged on the ends 170.1 of the needles 170 thereby to pass the ends 160.1 of the suture elements through the vessel wall adjacent the incision 180. The plunger of the syringe is typically withdrawn until the parts 116.1, 116.2 are disengaged from the shaft 154 so that they are held frictionally on the shaft portion 118.2 as shown in FIG. 8E and as described above.

[0083] After the ends 160.1 of the suture elements 160 have been passed through the vessel wall 182.1 in this fashion, the foot portion 118.1 is removed from the target vessel 182 through the incision 180. To do this, and as can best be understood with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C and FIG. 11 of the drawings, the suture elements 160 are displaced laterally from the seats 118.4 of the foot portion 118.1 and through the slits 118.7, so as to be free of the foot portion 118.1. Typically, the suture elements 160 extend from the seats 118.4 operatively below the foot portion 118.1 and up along a side of the shaft portion 118.2 which is positioned adjacent the heel portion 118.9 of the foot portion 118.1. The suture elements are typically made from a material having a degree of resilience. Accordingly, the suture elements typically flex in a lateral direction so as to pass naturally from the seats 118.4 through the slits 118.7 when the cuffs 117 are withdrawn from the seats 118.4. Instead, or in addition, and as can best be seen in FIG. 11 of the drawings, the suture elements can be caused to pass through the slits 118.7 by gently rocking the foot portion 118.1 in a sideways direction as indicated by arrows H—H. When the foot portion 118.1 is rocked gently in this fashion, the suture elements 160 can be passed through the slits 118.7 so as to be free of the foot portion 118.1. After the suture elements have been freed from the foot portion 118.1, the foot portion 118.1 is removed from the vessel 182 through the incision 180, as can best be seen in FIG. 12 of the drawings.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 13, after the suture elements 160 have been placed through the target vessel 182 as described above, the device 112 can be removed from a surgical site 190, at which the anastomosis is to be formed, and held at a convenient location 192 remote from the surgical site 190 until the opposed ends 160.2 of the suture elements 160 supported on the suture support 118 of the device 114 have been placed through the donor vessel, as described in greater detail herein below. Conveniently, the device 112 can be held on an appropriate bracket, clamp, support, or the like, remote from the surgical site 190 and while the parts 116.1, 116.2 of its suture holder 116 are held thereon. In the case where a sternotomy 193 has been performed, for example, to provide access to the heart for performing the CABG procedure, the device 112 can be held on a support, or the like, mounted on a bracket 194 holding the sternotomy 193 in an open condition. An appropriate support for holding the device 112 at a position 192 remote from the surgical site 190, is disclosed in Applicant's co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/608,832, filed on Jun. 6, 2000, entitled “Support Clamp”, the full disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0085] As the device 112 is removed from the surgical site 190 after placement of the suture elements through the target vessel, portions of the suture elements 160 contained in the suture container portion 121.3 of the elongate flexible member 120 and adjacent the device 112 are drawn from the lumen 121.4 through the slit 121.5, as can best be understood with reference to FIGS. 2A and 13 of the drawings.

[0086] Referring to FIG. 14, after the ends 160.1 of the suture elements 160 have been placed through the target vessel 182, and the device 112 has been positioned remote from the surgical site as described above, the opposed ends 116.2 of the suture elements 160 are placed through the donor vessel. The donor vessel is generally indicated by reference numeral 196 in FIG. 14. The ends 160.2 are placed through the donor vessel 196 in a fashion similar to that described above, but using the device 114. After the device 114 has been used to place the opposed ends 160.2 of the suture elements 160 through the donor vessel 196, it is removed from the surgical site 190. As it is removed, and as can best be understood with reference to FIGS. 2A and 13 of the drawings, portions of the suture elements 160 contained in the suture container portion 121.3 of the elongate flexible member 120 and adjacent the device 114 are drawn from the lumen 121.4 and through the slit 121.5. By having retained the portions of the suture elements 160 in the suture container portion 121.3 of the elongate flexible member 120 in this fashion, the portions were inhibited from becoming entangled during the placement of the suture elements in the target and donor vessels respectively. After the device 114 has been used to pass the opposed ends 160.2 of the suture elements 160 through the donor vessel 196, it too can be supported at a convenient location remote from the surgical site 190, in a fashion similar to that described above with reference to the device 112. Instead, the device 114 can be held in a user's hand, or otherwise positioned, remote from the surgical site 190.

[0087] In FIG. 14, only the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the suture holders 116, 116 of the respective devices 112, 114 are shown for the sake of clarity and after the opposed ends 116.2 of the suture elements 160 have been passed through the donor vessel 196 by the device 114. Typically, immediately after the suture elements 160 have been placed through the target and the donor vessels respectively, the suture holder 116 of each device 112, 114 is held on the shaft portions 118.2, 118.2 of their associated suture holders 118, 118 as described above.

[0088] The parts 116.1, 116.2 of the suture holder 116 of each device 112, 114 are then removed from the shaft portions 118.2, 118.2. It will be appreciated that each of the suture elements 160 extends between one of the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the suture holder 116 of the device 112 and one of the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the suture holder 116 of the device 114. As indicated in the drawings, five suture elements 160 extend between the part 116.1 of the suture holder 116 of the device 112 and the part 116.1 of the suture holder 116 of the device 114. Furthermore, five suture elements 160 extend between the part 116.2 of the suture holder 116 of the device 112 and the part 116.2 of the suture holder 116 of the device 114. In the present application, namely to form a side-to-side anastomosis during a CABG procedure, it has been found that a total of ten suture elements 160 is sufficient to form a typical side-to-side anastomosis. However, it will be appreciated that the system 110 can be provided with any appropriate number of suture elements depending on the intended application for which the system is to be used.

[0089] After the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the holders 116, 116 of the devices 112, 114 have been removed from the bodies 115, 115 of the devices 112, 114, the part 116.1 of the holder 116 of the device 112 is paired with the part 116.1 of the holder 116 of the device 114, so that the opposed ends 160.1, 160.2 of the five suture elements extending between the parts 116.1, 116.1 are paired up with each other. FIGS. 15 and 15A show the part 116.1 of the suture holder 116 of the device 112 paired with the part 116.1 of the suture holder 116 of the other device 114. In this fashion, the opposed ends of the same suture elements are paired with each other. In FIG. 15, each of the five suture elements extending between the parts 116.1, 116.1 are indicated by reference numerals 160A, 160B, 160C, 160D and 160E. The opposed ends of the suture elements are indicated by reference numerals 160.1A and 160.2A, 160.1B and 160.2B, 160.1C and 160.2C, 160.1D and 160.2D, and, 160.1E and 160.2E. The parts 116.2, 116.2 are not shown in FIG. 15 for the sake of clarity.

[0090] Conveniently, the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the suture holders 116, 116 can bear an appropriate form of identification to ease the task of determining which of the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the device 112 carries the opposed ends of the suture elements carried on which of the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the device 114. For example, the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the holders 116, 116 can be distinctively colored to enable a user to determine readily which part 116.1, 116.2 belongs with which other part 116.1, 116.2. For instance, presuming the part 116.1 of the device 112 carries an end of each of five of the suture elements and the part 116.1 of the device 114 carries the opposed ends of the same five suture elements, then the parts 116.1, 116.1 can typically be of the same color, such as black, for example. The other part 116.2 of the device 112 then carries an end of each of the five other suture elements and the part 116.2 of the device 114 then carries the opposed ends of the same five other suture elements. The parts 116.2, 116.2 can then be of the same color but a color different to the color of the parts 116.1, 116.1. For example, they can be colored white.

[0091] After the opposed ends 160.1, 160.2 of the suture elements 160 on the suture holder parts 116.1, 116.1 have been paired in this fashion, the opposed ends of each suture element can be disengaged from the needles 117 and tied together to form sutures joining the target vessel 182 and the donor vessel 196 together adjacent their apertures thereby to form a side-to-side anastomosis between them. Tying of the suture elements can be performed manually. Instead, appropriate suture tying devices can be used. Advantageously, use can be made of an appropriate suture-handling device to render the task of tying the opposed portions of the suture elements together more manageable. An example of such a suture-handling device is disclosed in Applicant's co-pending patent application Ser. No. 09/610,099, filed on Jun. 6, 2000, entitled “Suture Comb” the full disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0092] Such a suture-handling device is indicated by reference numeral 210 in FIGS. 16 and 17. As indicated, the device 210 has five slots 210.1, 210.2, 210.3, 210.4 and 210.5. The slots 210.1, 210.2, 210.3, 210.4, 210.5 diverge outwardly relative to one another in a direction away from a leading end 212 of the device 210. Each slot 210.1, 210.2, 210.3, 210.4, 210.5 has a mouth 210.1A, 210.2A, 210.3A, 210.4A, 210.5A at the end 212. The mouths are laterally spaced apart relative to one another by a distance corresponding to spacings between the paired up ends of the suture elements 160. As can best be seen with reference to FIG. 16, since the spacing between the mouths 210.1A, 210.2A, 210.3A, 210.4A, 210.5A corresponds with the spacing between the paired up ends of the suture elements on the parts 116.1, 116.1, the suture-handling device 210 can readily be passed laterally across paired portions of the suture elements 160 adjacent their ends, as indicated by arrow J. As the suture-handling device 210 is passed laterally across the paired portions of the suture elements 160 in this fashion, the paired end portions of the suture elements enter the mouths 210.1A, 210.2A, 210.3A, 210.4A, 210.5A and ride along the slots 210.1, 210.2, 210.3, 210.4, 210.5. As the paired end portions ride along the diverging portions of the slots 210.1, 210.2, 210.3, 210.4, 210.5 of the device 210, the paired portions become spaced laterally further apart relative to one another, as indicated by the arrows I in FIG. 17 of the drawings. By increasing the lateral spacing between the paired end portions of the suture elements 160 in this fashion, manual pick up of the opposed end portions of the individual suture elements is made easier and more manageable. Advantageously, the device 210 is arranged to retain the paired end portions thereon after the lateral spacing between the paired up end portions has been increased. In this way, the paired up end portions can be held in paired relationships so that each set of paired up end portions can be picked up from the device 210 separately of the others and tied together, while the end portions of the other suture elements are retained in paired relationships on the device 210.

[0093] It will be appreciated that the parts 116.2, 116.2 can be paired up in a similar fashion to that described above with reference to the parts 116.1, 116.1. Thereafter, another device, similar to the device 210, can be used to hold the paired up end portions of the other suture elements together, so that they too can be picked up separately and tied, while the paired up end portions of the other suture elements are held in paired up relationships on the other device 210.

[0094] Referring to FIG. 18, the target vessel 182 and the donor vessel 196 are shown in a position adjacent each other and ready for the opposed ends 160.1, 160.2 of the suture elements 160 to be tied together, thereby to form sutures extending between the walls of the vessels 182, 196. The vessels can be brought into a position adjacent each other manually, while pulling opposed portions of the suture elements 160. In this way the vessels can be caused to ride along the suture elements 160 until they are positioned as schematically shown in FIG. 18. Thereafter, the opposed ends of the suture elements can be tied together to form sutures joining the vessels together so as to form the side-to-side anastomosis between them. After the sutures have been tied, or secured, a side-to-side anastomosis similar to the side-to-side anastomosis shown in FIG. 1C is formed between the vessels 182, 196.

[0095] A suture placement system, in accordance with the invention, which can be used advantageously to form an end-to-side anastomosis, as indicated in FIG. 1B of the drawings, will now be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 28. In FIGS. 19 to 28 like reference numerals have been used to designate similar parts and features unless otherwise stated. Furthermore, the system 310 is used in a fashion similar to that of the system 110, unless otherwise stated.

[0096] As can best be seen with reference to FIG. 19 of the drawings, the suture placement system, which is generally indicated by reference numeral 310, is similar to the system 110, save that instead of the device 114, the system 310 has a different suture placement device. The different suture placement device is indicated generally by reference numeral 312 and is arranged for placing sutures through a vessel wall adjacent a mouth of a vessel, as will be described in greater detail herein below.

[0097] Referring to FIG. 20 of the drawings, the suture placement device 312 comprises a body 314 and two suture holder retainers 316, 318. Each retainer 316, 318 is mounted on the body 314 by means of a pivotal connection 320, 322 respectively. The device 312 further comprises a vessel support shaft 324 for receiving an end portion of a vessel, or graft, or the like, thereon. The shaft 324 is mounted on the body 314. The shaft 324 is arranged to be passed through the mouth of the vessel so that the vessel can be supported at an operative position on the shaft 324 at which position the device 312 can pass a plurality of suture elements through the wall of the vessel adjacent its mouth.

[0098] The body 314 comprises a piston and cylinder arrangement similar to that of the devices 112, 114 described above. The piston and cylinder arrangement is indicated schematically and generally by reference numeral 326. A socket for receiving an end of the conduit portion 121.2 of the flexible elongate member 120 is indicated at 327. When the conduit portion 121.2 is connected to the socket 327, a chamber within the body 314 is connected in fluid flow communication with a female Luer-type connector in a fashion similar to that of the device 114 in the system 110.

[0099] Referring now to FIGS. 21 to 23 of the drawings, the shaft 324 defines a plurality of longitudinally extending passages indicated schematically by reference numeral 328. The passages 328 have bends 330 leading to mouths 332 opening at an outer surface 334 of the shaft 324. As can best be seen with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23, a needle 335 is received in each of the passages 328. Each needle 335 defines a pointed end 335.1. An actuation member in the form of an elongate pin or rod formation 336 is received in each of the passages 328 immediately behind the needles 335. The pin formations 336 are operatively associated with the piston on the body 314 so that the formations 336 are caused to advance, as indicated by arrow K, in response to the piston being caused to advance within its associated cylinder. It will be appreciated that the piston of the device 312 is caused to advance within its associated cylinder in a manner similar to that of the piston and cylinder arrangement of the devices 112, 114 as described above, namely, by depressing a plunger of a syringe connected in fluid flow communication with the female Luer-type connector 140, as can best be seen with reference to FIG. 19.

[0100] With reference to FIG. 23, upon advancement of the pin formations 336 along the passages 328, the needles 335 are caused to advance along the passages 328 also. The needles 335 are caused to advance such that their pointed ends 335.1 are pushed out of the mouths 332 and laterally outwardly from the surface 334 of the shaft 324.

[0101] Referring now to FIG. 24 of the drawings, ends 338.1 of a plurality of suture elements 338 are operatively engaged to end portions of the needles 335 adjacent the ends 335.1 of the needles 335. The ends 338.1 of the suture elements 338 can be operatively engaged to the end portions of the needles 335 in any appropriate manner. For example, the end portions of the needles 335 can have laterally extending apertures through which end portions of the suture elements 338 can be threaded. The suture elements 338 typically extend along the outer surface 334 of the shaft 324, along an outer surface of the body 314 and into the suture container portion 120.3 of the elongate flexible member 120, as can best be seen with reference to FIG. 19 of the drawings, in a fashion similar to that described above with reference to the system 110. It will be appreciated that opposed ends of the suture elements 338 are held on the suture support 118 of the device 112 of the system 310 in a fashion similar to that of the ends 160.1 of the suture elements 160 of the system 110.

[0102] The operation of the device 312 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 27 of the drawings. It will be appreciated that opposed ends of the suture elements 338 are placed through a vessel wall by means of the device 112 and adjacent an incision in that vessel wall in a manner similar to that described above with reference to the system 110.

[0103] Referring to FIG. 25, an end portion 350.1 of a vessel, or graft, indicated generally by reference numeral 350, is shown in a received condition on the shaft 324. The end portion 350.1 of the vessel 350 was positioned on the shaft 324 by displacing the suture holder arrangements 316, 318 angularly about the pivotal connections 320, 322 into open positions and then passing the end portion 350.1 of the vessel 350 over the shaft 324. Conveniently, marks 352 are provided on the shaft 324 to indicate an appropriate position of an end 350.3 of the vessel 350 on the shaft 334 so as to enable the suture elements to be passed through a vessel wall 350.2 of the vessel 350 at an appropriate distance from the end 350.3. In FIG. 25, only the suture holder retainer 318 is shown in an open condition. Typically, both retainers 316, 318 are opened so as to pass the vessel portion 350.1 over the shaft 324. When the end portion 350.1 of the vessel 350 has been positioned such that its end 350.3 is in register with the marks 352 on the shaft 324, the retainers 316, 318 are displaced angularly about the pivotal connections 320, 322 into a closed condition in which the end portion 350.1 of the vessel 350 is embraced between the retainers 316, 318 and the shaft 324. FIG. 25 shows the retainer 316 having been displaced from an open condition into a closed condition after the portion 350.1 of the vessel 350 has been appropriately positioned on the shaft 324.

[0104] Conveniently, the vessel 350 is shaped to have an angled, or inclined, end 350.3 so as to permit an end-to-side anastomosis to be formed in which the one vessel extends from the other at an acute angle, as can best be seen with reference to FIG. 1B of the drawings. The marks 352 are formed on the shaft 324 to extend circumferentially around the shaft 324 so as to align with a vessel having such an inclined end 350.3.

[0105] FIG. 26 shows the portion 350.1 of the vessel 350 having been received on the shaft 324 and further shows both retainers 316, 318 in closed conditions. As can best be seen with reference to FIG. 25 of the drawings, the retainers 316, 318 are provided with cooperating engaging formations so as to lockingly engage with each other when in their closed conditions. Conveniently, the engaging formations comprise tongue members 354, 354 and slot arrangements 356, 356 for snap-lockingly receiving the tongue members 354, 354. After the end portion 350.1 of the vessel 350 has been received on the shaft 324 and the retainers 316, 318 have been closed so as to engage lockingly with each other, the needles 335 bearing the ends 338.1 of the suture elements 338 are caused to advance along the passages 328. This is achieved by means of the pin formations 336 being displaced along the passages 328 in response to actuating a syringe connected in fluid flow communication with the female Luer-type connector 140 operatively associated with the device 312. As the needles 335 are caused to advance in this fashion, the ends 335.1 of the needles 335 are driven through the wall 350.2 of the vessel 350 adjacent its mouth. The ends 338.1 of the suture elements 338 are passed through the vessel wall 350.2 together with the ends 335.1 of the needles 335, since the ends 338.1 of the suture elements 338 are appropriately attached to the ends of the needles. After the ends 335.1 of the needles 335 have passed through the vessel wall 350.2, the ends 335.1 are driven into suture holders 358, 360 releasably mounted on the suture holder arrangements 316, 318 to be held captive by the holders 358, 360. The retainers 316, 318 are then angularly displaced about the pivotal connections 320, 322 into their open conditions to enable the vessel 350 to be removed from the shaft 324. The suture holders 358, 360 are removed from the retainers 316, 318, while the needle ends 335.1, and consequently also the ends 338.1 of the suture elements 338, are held captive on the suture holders 358, 360. To remove the holders 358, 360 from the retainers 316, 318, hand grippable portions 358.1, 360.1 of the holders 358, 360 are typically manipulated to cause the holders 358, 360 to be slid along slots 362 defined by the retainers 316, 318. As can best be seen in FIG. 24 of the drawings, each retainer 316, 318 has apart annular shoulder formation 364 arranged to retain the holders 358, 360 in a mounted condition on the retainers 316, 318. When the holders 358, 360 are removed from their associated retainers 316, 318, the hand grippable portions 358.1, 360.1 are manipulated resiliently to urge the holders over the annular shoulder formations 364. FIG. 28 shows the end portion 350.1 of the vessel 350 having been removed from the shaft 324 and further shows the holders 358, 360 having been removed from the associated retainers 316, 318.

[0106] Referring now to FIGS. 28A and 28B of the drawings, the suture holder 358 is shown in greater detail, and after it has been removed from its associated retainer 316. In FIGS. 28A and 28B, the holder 358 is shown after the needles 335 have been passed through the portion of the vessel 350 and into engagement with the holder 358. In FIG. 28A, the suture holder is shown having a shape corresponding to the shape which it has when mounted on its associated retainer 316. When mounted on the retainer 316, opposed flange portions 358.2 of the suture holder 358 are held in a resiliently deformed condition such that an inner surface 358.3 defined by the flange portions 358.2 extends generally along a circular circumference so as to extend snugly around the vessel portion 350.1 when held between the retainers 316, 318 and the shaft 324. The suture holder 358 is typically made from a resilient material, such as silicone, or the like. In FIG. 28B, the suture holder 358 is shown after having been removed from its associated retainer 316. After having been removed, the flange portions 358.2 take up a relaxed condition in which they have a straighter profile than in the case when mounted on the retainer 316. In this relaxed condition, the spacing between the needle ends 335.1 on which the ends 338.1 of the suture elements 338 are carried is greater than in the case when the holder 358 was mounted on the retainer 316. The holder 358 is designed so that when in its relaxed condition, the spacing between adjacent suture element ends 338.1 on the needles 335 generally corresponds with the spacing between adjacent suture element ends when held on the parts 116.1, 116.2 of the suture holder of the device 112.

[0107] To form the end-to-side anastomosis, the device 112 is used to place the opposed ends of the suture elements 338 through another vessel wall adjacent an incision in the other vessel wall in a fashion similar to that described above with reference to the system 110.

[0108] After the suture elements 338 have been placed through the wall of the portion 350.1 of the vessel 350 adjacent its mouth, as described above, and after opposed ends of the suture elements 338 have been placed through a vessel wall adjacent an incision in the vessel wall by the device 112, in a manner similar to that described above, the suture holders 358, 360 are paired up with the suture holders 116.1, 116.2 of the device 112. Conveniently, the holders 116.1, 116.2 and 358, 360 are distinctively colored to indicate to the user which of the holders 116.1, 116.2 is to be matched up with which of the holders 358, 360. For example, the holders 358 and 116.1 can be of the same color e.g. white, or the like, and the holders 360 and 116.2 can be of the same color, but of a different color than the holders 358 and 116.1. For example, the holders 360 and 116.2 can be black, or the like, for example. Accordingly, in this fashion, opposed ends of the same suture elements are paired up with each other. The paired up end portions of the suture elements can then be passed into the slots of a suture handling device as described above, for example. After having been received in the slots of the suture handling device as described above, the suture elements can be removed from the suture handling device and can be tied, or otherwise secured together, so as to form sutures between the vessels thereby to form an end-to-side anastomosis between the vessels.

[0109] Although certain embodiments of the invention have been described above in detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated that the invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments by way of example only, and that modifications or changes can be made without detracting from the essence of the invention. For example an embodiment of the system of the invention can be provided having two devices similar to the device 312 for use in forming end-to-end anastomose. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims with due regard to equivalents of the claimed elements or features.