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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Evaluation of a Novel Laser-assisted Coronary Anastomotic Connector - the Trinity Clip - in a Porcine Off-pump Bypass Model
Published on: November 24, 2014
First clinical results with a 30 degrees end-to-side coronary anastomosis coupler
Andreas Boening1, Felix Schoeneich, Arthur Lichtenberg
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Arnold-Heller-Str. 7, 24105 Kiel, Germany. aboening@kielheart.uni-kiel.de <aboening@kielheart.uni-kiel.de>
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel 30 degrees end-to-side coronary anastomotic coupler (Converge Medical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) that facilitates a non-penetrating, sutureless vein graft to coronary artery anastomosis.
Material And Methods:
The Coupler utilizes a set of concentric mating frames approximating adjacent vessel tissue allowing for biological healing of the anastomosis. The frames are manufactured from Nitinol, a nickel titanium super-elastic metal alloy. The Nitinol frames attach the bypass graft to the coronary artery in a 30 degrees end-to-side configuration. Between November 2002 and March 2003 a total of 46 patients (44 male) with a mean age of 63.6+/-7.5 years were admitted for coronary artery revascularization and included in the study. The mean LVEF was 60.6+/-12.4%.
Results:
Thirty-three patients were successfully treated with the Coupler. Nine patients did not meet the intraoperative inclusion criteria, and were excluded from the study due to small (
Conclusion:
Initial results indicate that the Converge Coupler can be used to create a safe and effective 30 degrees vein graft to coronary artery anastomosis under suitable conditions.
