Young Investigator Award Abstract

Abstract

flaws like graft kinking and stenotic intimal hyperplasia. The most likely causes were respectively: a large blood exposed non-intimal surface (BENIS), unfavorable graft angle geometry inherent to connector designs, and tissue trauma. The insights gained by this analysis combined with our S2 connector exper-tise were included in the design criteria for our new connector. Once realized, the device was tested for the major usability criteria in laboratory using porcine and human ex vivo tissue. Results: Based on our previously developed and animal vali-dated S2 micro-stapling technology, we devised a novel coronary bypass connector having a very small BENIS and inflicting only minimal tissue trauma. Versatility was optimized by adopt-ing a side-to-side anastomosis configuration, allowing jump grafts, Y-grafts as well as end-to-side geometry conversion, also under limited access conditions. Finetuned staple param-eters allowed the use of both internal mammary as well as saphenous vein conduits. Ease-of-use was maximized by a stepwise, fully visually checkable deployment procedure. Laboratory tests showed excellent device efficacy in terms of consistently creating precise and widely patent anastomoses and freedom of leakage against high burst pressures in both porcine and human tissue. Conclusions: By fulfilling key usability criteria concerning anastomosis geometry, device versatility and ease-of-use in ex vivo experiments, our novel anas-tomotic connector holds promise for enabling reliable minimally invasive endoscopic CABG.