Composite staple for completing an anastomosis

A composite staple effective for use in an anastomosis, comprising:

• a plurality of vessel engaging members;
• and
• a bioabsorbable scaffold holding each of the plurality of vessel engaging members in a predefined spatial relationship with respect to each of the other vessel engaging members, the scaffold being configured such that at least one vessel engaging member is free to move with respect to at least one other vessel engaging member after the bioabsorbable scaffold has resorbed;
• wherein each of the vessel engaging members is at least partially embedded within the scaffold and has at least one arm extending out of the scaffold for effecting an anastomotic connection between a graft vessel and a target vessel.

A composite staple effective for use in an anastomosis, comprising:

• a plurality of vessel engaging members;
• and
• a radially expandable bioabsorbable scaffold holding each of the plurality of vessel engaging members in a predefined spatial relationship with respect to each of the other vessel engaging members, the scaffold being configured such that at least one vessel engaging member is free to move with respect to at least one other vessel engaging member after the bioabsorbable scaffold has resorbed;
• wherein each of the vessel engaging members is at least partially embedded within the scaffoldand has at least one arm extending out of the scaffold for effecting an anastomotic connection between a graft vessel and a target vessel.

A composite staple effective for use in an anastomosis, comprising:

• a plurality of vessel engaging members;
• and
• a binding structure holding each of the plurality of vessel engaging members in a predefined spatial relationship with respect to each of the other vessel engaging members, the binding structure comprising a plurality of bridges and at least one bioabsorbable element, and being configured such that at least one vessel engaging member is free to move with respect to at least one other vessel engaging member after the bioabsorbable element has resorbed;
• wherein a pair of adjacent vessel engaging members is connected by at least one bridge, and at least one pair of adjacent vessel engaging members is connected by the at least one bioabsorbable element.

A composite staple effective for use in an anastomosis, comprising:

• a plurality of vessel engaging members;
• and
• a bioabsorbable scaffold holding each of the plurality of vessel engaging members in a predefined spatial relationship with respect to each of the other vessel engaging members, the scaffold being configured such that at least one vessel engaging member is free to move with respect to at least one other vessel engaging member after the bioabsorbable scaffold has resorbed;
• wherein each of the vessel engaging members is at least partially embedded within the bioabsorbable scaffold, each vessel engaging member having at least one protrusion extending beyond an outer surface of the scaffold for effecting an anastomotic connection between a graft vessel and a target vessel.

Method for anastomosing two vessels together, comprising:

• providing a composite staple having a plurality of vessel engaging members and a binding structure holding each of the plurality of vessel engaging members in a predefined spatial relationship with respect to each of the other vessel engaging members, the binding structure including at least one bioabsorbable element configured such that at least one vessel engaging member is free to move with respect to at least one other vessel engaging member after the bioabsorbable element has resorbed;
• attaching a graft vessel to the composite staple;
• positioning the graft vessel and composite staple proximate an opening in a target vessel;
• and
• deploying the composite staple so that a secure anastomosis is enabled.