Stapling apparatus and method for heart valve replacement

Abstract

There are disclosed various systems and methods for installing a synthetic, artificial heart valve within a patient. One system generally includes a plurality of sutures, each suture having a staple attached to a distal end thereof; a surgical stapler for radially discharging the staples into a heart at a location adjacent a site for installing the heart valve; a support assembly for releasably supporting the plurality of sutures; and a heart valve setter assembly, the heart valve setter assembly being operable to move the heart valve into position within the site in the heart. A method of installing a heart valve within a patient utilizing the system is provided and generally includes the steps of accessing a site within a heart from which a natural heart valve has been removed; positioning a surgical stapler within the site; discharging a plurality of staples, having sutures attached thereto, from the surgical stapler into the heart; lowering the heart valve along the sutures into position within the site in the heart; and securing the heart valve to the heart with the sutures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.