1. A suturing device for tubular tissue, comprising:
a handle assembly including a trigger assembly;
an elongated shaft extending from the handle assembly; and
an end effector assembly disposed on a distal end of the elongated shaft, the end effector assembly including:
at least one guide rod extending distally from the elongated shaft;
at least one first guide tube extending distally from the elongated shaft, the at least one first guide tube housing at least one elongated member;
a guide rack disposed on the guide rod, the guide rack having at least one first aperture configured for locating the at least one guide rod and at least one second aperture configured for locating the at least one first guide tube; and
an anchor disposed on a distal end of the at least one guide rod, the anchor being circumferentially offset from the guide rack and being configured for disposal within tubular tissue, the anchor having:
at least one aperture housing a second guide tube, the second guide tube attached to a suture having a first end and a second end; wherein a first actuation of the trigger assembly longitudinally extends the anchor into an incision in tubular tissue and longitudinally advances the guide rack such that tubular tissue is captured between the guide rack and the anchor and a second actuation of the trigger assembly deploys the at least one elongated member to puncture tubular tissue and mate with the at least one aperture of the anchor such that extraction of the at least one elongated member simultaneously draws out the first end of the suture through the punctured tubular tissue.
2. The suturing device according to claim 1, wherein the end effector assembly further includes a guide plate having a plurality of apertures configured for guiding the at least one guide rod and the at least one first guide tube.
3. The suturing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide rod extends through the guide rack and operatively couples with the anchor.
4. The suturing device according to claim 1, wherein the anchor includes an atraumatic tip.
5. The suturing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated member is a flexible needle configured for puncturing tissue.
6. The suturing device according to claim 1, wherein mating the at least one elongated member with the at least one aperture of the anchor results in a press fit between the at least one elongated member and the at least one second guide tube of the anchor.
7. The suturing device according to claim 1, further including a probe configured for locating the first end of the suture such that disposing the probe into a graft tubular tissue and passing the first end of the suture through a graft tubular tissue joins a graft tubular tissue with a tubular tissue.
8. A method of suturing tubular tissue, the method comprising:
providing a suturing device for tubular tissue, the suturing device including:
a handle assembly:
an elongated shaft extending from the handle assembly;
an end effector assembly disposed on a distal end of the elongated shaft, the end effector assembly having:
at least one guide rod extending distally from the elongated shaft;
at least one first guide tube extending distally from the elongated shaft, the at least one first guide tube housing at least one elongated member;
a guide rack disposed on the guide rod, the guide rack having at least one first aperture configured for locating the at least one guide rod and at least one second aperture configured for locating the at least one first guide tube; and
an anchor disposed on a distal end of the at least one guide rod, the anchor being circumferentially offset from the guide rack and being configured for disposal within tubular tissue, the anchor having:
at least one aperture including a second guide tube, the second guide tube attached to a suture having a first end and a second end;
creating an incision in tubular tissue;
extending the anchor into an incision in tubular tissue;
advancing the guide rack such that tubular tissue is secured between the guide rack and the anchor;
puncturing tubular tissue with the at least one elongated member;
mating the at least one elongated member with the at least on aperture of the anchor;
extracting the at least one elongated member; and
extracting the suture through the punctured tubular tissue.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein providing a suturing device includes a trigger assembly coupled to a handle assembly and actuating the trigger assembly extends the anchor into an incision in tubular tissue.
10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:
securing tubular tissue between the anchor and the guide rack.
11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:
extending the at least one guide tube; and
seating the at least one guide tube into the at least one second aperture of the guide rack.
12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:
translating the at least one elongated member through and along the at least one guide tube.
13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:
frictionally engaging the at least one elongated member with the second guide tube.
14. An end effector for suturing tissue comprising:
an elongated shaft; and
an assembly attachable to an end of the elongated shaft, the assembly including:
at least one guide rod extending distally from the elongated shaft;
at least one first guide tube extending distally from the elongated shaft, the at least one first guide tube housing at least one elongated member;
an anchor disposed on a distal end of the at least one guide rod, the anchor being configured for disposal within tubular tissue, the anchor having:
at least one aperture housing a second guide tube, the second guide tube attached to a suture having a first end and a second end; wherein the anchor is extendable into an incision in tubular tissue and the at least one elongated member is deployable to puncture tubular tissue and mate with the at least one aperture of the anchor such that extraction of the at least one elongated member simultaneously draws out the first end of the suture through the punctured tubular tissue.
15. The end effector according to claim 14, wherein the assembly includes a guide rack disposed on the guide rod, the guide rack having at least one first aperture configured for locating the at least one guide rod and at least one second aperture configured for locating the at least one first guide tube.
16. The end effector according to claim 15, wherein the anchor is circumferentially offset from the guide rack.
17. The end effector according to claim 15, wherein the guide rack is advanceable such that tubular tissue is captured between the guide rack and the anchor.
18. The end effector according to claim 14, wherein the assembly further includes a guide plate having a plurality of apertures configured for guiding the at least one guide rod and the at least one first guide tube.
19. The end effector according to claim 15, wherein the at least one guide rod extends through the guide rack and operatively couples with the anchor.
20. The end effector according to claim 14, wherein the anchor includes an atraumatic tip.
21. The end effector according to claim 14, wherein the at least one elongated member is a flexible needle configured for puncturing tissue.
22. The end effector according to claim 14, wherein mating the at least one elongated member with the at least one aperture of the anchor results in a press fit between the at least one elongated member and the at least one second guide tube of the anchor.
23. The end effector according to claim 14, further including a probe configured for locating the first end of the suture such that disposing the probe into a graft tubular tissue and passing the first end of the suture through a graft tubular tissue joins a graft tubular tissue with a tubular tissue.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process for producing hydrocarbons, said process comprising the steps wherein a feedstock comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of triglycerides, carboxylic acids having a carbon number C1-C38, esters of C1-C38 carboxylic acids with C1-C11 alcohols, C1-C38 alcohols, C1-C38 aldehydes, C1-C38 carboxylic acid anhydrides, and metal salts of C1-C38 carboxylic acids, esters of C1-C38 carboxylic acids with C12-C38 alcohols, natural waxes, dicarboxylic acids and polyols, is subjected to a ketonisation step carried out in the presence of metal oxide catalyst under a pressure from 0 to 10 MPa and at a temperature ranging from 100 to 500\xb0 C., and the ketonisation product is hydrodeoxygenated in the presence of a hydrodeoxygenation catalyst under a hydrogen pressure ranging from 0.1 to 20 MPa at a temperature ranging from 100 to 500\xb0 C., wherein said hydrodeoxygenation catalyst contains at least one component selected from the group consisting of metals of the Group VIII or Group VIA of the periodic system of the elements, and a support.
2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the feedstock comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of C4-C24 fatty acids, C4-C24 fatty acid alkyl esters, C4-C24 fatty acid metal salts, C4-C24 fatty alcohols, C4-C24 fatty aldehydes, C4-C24 fatty acid anhydrides and esters of C4-C24 fatty acids with C12-C24 fatty alcohols, derived from starting material of biological origin, and mixtures thereof.
3. The process according to claim 2, wherein said starting material of biological origin is selected from the group consisting of plant fats, plant oils, plant waxes, animal fats, animal oils, animal waxes, fish fats, fish oils, fish waxes, starting materials derived from algae and insects, and
a. free fatty acids or fatty acids obtained by hydrolysis, acid transesterification or pyrolysis reactions from plant fats, plant oils, plant waxes, animal fats, animal oils, animal waxes, fish fats, fish oils, fish waxes, and
b. esters obtained by transesterification from plant fats, plant oils, plant waxes, animal fats, animal oils, animal waxes, fish fats, fish oils, fish waxes, and
c. fatty acid alkyl esters obtained by esterification of alcohols with fatty acids of plant, animal and fish origin, and
d. fatty acid metal salts obtained by saponification of free fatty acids, plant fats, plant oils, plant waxes, animal fats, animal oils, animal waxes, fish fats, fish oils, fish waxes, and
e. alcohols and aldehydes obtained as reduction or hydrogenolysis products of free fatty acids, or fatty acids from plant fats, plant oils, plant waxes, animal fats, animal oils, animal waxes, fish fats, fish oils, fish waxes, and
f. fatty alcohols obtained by hydrolysis, transesterification and pyrolysis from waxes of biological origin, and
g. anhydrides of fatty acids from plant fats, plant oils, plant waxes, animal fats, animal oils, animal waxes, fish fats, fish oils, fish waxes, and
h. waste and recycled food grade fats and oils, and fats, oils and waxes obtained by genetic engineering, and
i. aldehydes and ketones prepared from carbohydrates, and
j. mixtures of said materials.
4. The process according to claim 1, wherein a hydrocarbon or a mixture of hydrocarbons is added to the feedstock andor as a diluent to process steps.
5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the ketonisation step is performed under a pressure from 0.1 to 5 MPa and at a temperature ranging from 100 to 400\xb0 C.
6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide catalysts is Na, Mg, K, Ca, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Rh, Cd, Sn, La, Pb, Bi, or a rare earth metal oxide on the laterite, bauxite, titanium dioxide, silica andor aluminum oxide support.
7. The process according to claim 1, wherein said hydrodeoxygenation is performed under a hydrogen pressure ranging from 1 to 15 MPa and at a temperature ranging from 150 to 400\xb0 C.
8. The process according to claim 1, wherein prior to the ketonisation step prehydrogenation is performed under a hydrogen pressure between 0.1 and 20 MPa and at a temperature between 50 and 400\xb0 C., in the presence of a prehydrogenation catalyst.
9. The process according to claim 8, wherein the prehydrogenation catalyst contains at least one component selected from the group consisting of metals of the Group VIII and VIA of the periodic system of the elements, and a support.
10. The process according to claim 1, wherein a diesel component or gasoline is produced.
11. The process according to claim 1, wherein the metal oxide catalysts is molybdenum, manganese, magnesium, iron andor cadmium oxides on silica andor alumina support.
12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the metal in the metal oxide is molybdenum, manganese andor magnesium without support.
13. The process according to claim 1, wherein said hydrodeoxygenation catalyst contains Pd, Pt, Ni, NiMo or CoMo metals, and active carbon, alumina andor silica supports.
14. The process according to claim 8, wherein the prehydrogenation is performed under a hydrogen pressure between 1 and 15 MPa and at a temperature between 100 and 300\xb0 C.
15. The process according to claim 8, wherein the prehydrogenation catalyst is a supported Pd, Pt, Ni, Ru, Rh, NiMo or CoMo catalyst, and the support being active carbon, alumina andor silica.
16. The process according to claim 1, wherein following the ketonisation and HDO steps, hydroisomerization is performed.
17. The process according to claim 16, wherein the hydroisomerization catalyst contains a metal of the Group VIII of the periodic system of the elements andor a support.
18. The process according to claim 16, wherein the hydroisomerization catalyst contains a molecular sieve and a Pd, Pt or Ni metal andor a support, said support being alumina andor silica.
19. A process for producing hydrocarbons, said process comprising the steps wherein a feedstock comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of triglycerides, carboxylic acids having a carbon number C1-C38, esters of C1-C38 carboxylic acids with C1-C11 alcohols, C1-C38 alcohols, C1-C38 aldehydes, C1-C38 carboxylic acid anhydrides, and metal salts of C1-C38 carboxylic acids, esters of C1-C38 carboxylic acids with C12-C38 alcohols, natural waxes, dicarboxylic acids and polyols, is subjected to a ketonisation step carried out in the presence of metal oxide catalyst under a pressure from 0 to 10 MPa and at a temperature ranging from 100 to 500\xb0 C., and the ketonisation product is hydrodeoxygenated in the presence of a hydrodeoxygenation catalyst under a hydrogen pressure ranging from 0.1 to 20 MPa at a temperature ranging from 100 to 500\xb0 C., wherein (a) the metal oxide catalyst is molybdenum, manganese, magnesium, iron andor cadmium oxides on silica andor alumina support, or (b) the metal in the metal oxide is molybdenum, manganese andor magnesium without support.