Abstract: A method for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel may involve advancing a guidewire of a surgical stapler into the target vessel through an opening at a first location on the target vessel, coupling a stapler cartridge carrying the graft vessel with an anvil of the surgical stapler, activating the anvil to staple the graft vessel to the target vessel at a second location on the target vessel, removing the guidewire from the target vessel, and closing the opening in the target vessel.

Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus configured to perform stapling and/or cutting operations on a target tissue of a patient. The surgical stapling apparatus comprises of a mode selection switch to place the apparatus in either a clamping operational phase or a deployment operational phase. In the clamping operational phase, various clamp components are operated to facilitate loading of surgical staples into the stapling apparatus, if not preloaded, placement of the stapling apparatus to a target surgical site, and clamping of target tissue to be stapled and/or cut. In the deployment operational phase, various deployment components are operated to staple and/or cut the target tissue to one or more desired distance intervals to achieve the desired outcome for the surgical procedure.

Abstract: One example of a surgical apparatus may include an end effector; a shaft extending proximally from the end effector, the shaft including an articulation region; a handle including at least one button; an articulation gear held by the handle, where at least one cam path is defined in the articulation gear; and at least one holder post extending into each cam path; where actuation of one button causes the end effector to articulate through a discrete angular increment relative to the shaft.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus for treating tissue may include an anvil; a jaw pivotally connected to the anvil; and a first cartridge detachably connected to the anvil, holding staples of a first size; where a first clamp gap between the anvil and first cartridge is set by the connection between the first cartridge and jaw. An exemplary cartridge for a surgical stapler may include a cartridge housing; a plurality of staples held within the cartridge housing; and a sled slidable within, and retained by, the cartridge housing, including a central platform, at least one wedge connected to the central platform, and a knife rotatable relative to the central platform.

Abstract: A method for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel may involve advancing a guidewire of a surgical stapler into the target vessel through an opening at a first location on the target vessel, coupling a stapler cartridge carrying the graft vessel with an anvil of the surgical stapler, activating the anvil to staple the graft vessel to the target vessel at a second location on the target vessel, removing the guidewire from the target vessel, and closing the opening in the target vessel.

Abstract: A tool for treating a target vessel may include a longitudinally elongated anvil, a channel defined substantially longitudinally in the anvil, and a knife rotatable from a stowed position substantially completely within the channel to an active position in which at least part of the knife extends upward out of the channel, whereby rotation of the knife from the stowed position to the active position incises the target vessel from the inside out.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus includes an end effector; and a handle operationally connected to the end effector, the handle including a trigger and a mode button; where the mode button is first in a neutral position in which actuation of the trigger causes the end effector to move to a clamped configuration; and where the mode button is movable laterally to a second position in which actuation of the trigger causes the end effector to deploy staples.

Abstract: A method for connecting a graft vessel to a target vessel may involve advancing a guidewire of a surgical stapler into the target vessel through an opening at a first location on the target vessel, coupling a stapler cartridge carrying the graft vessel with an anvil of the surgical stapler, activating the anvil to staple the graft vessel to the target vessel at a second location on the target vessel, removing the guidewire from the target vessel, and closing the opening in the target vessel.

Abstract: One exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one carrier, staples fixed to a corresponding carrier, and a feeder belt to which at least one carrier is frangibly connected. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt, a first plurality of staples fixed directly to and frangibly separable from the feeder belt; a plurality of extension arms extending at least partially in the lateral direction away from the feeder belt; and a second plurality of staples each fixed to an extension arm at a location spaced laterally apart from the feeder belt.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient, may include providing an endocutter having a knife, a staple holder along which the knife is slidable, feeder belts located on each side of the knife, staples having a first size, those staples integral with and breakable from at least one feeder belt, and staples having a second size different from the first size, those staples integral with and breakable from at least one feeder belt; engaging tissue of the patient with the staple holder; deploying at least two staples having a first size; disengaging tissue of the patient from the staple holder; once again engaging tissue of the patient with the same staple holder; and deploying at least two staples having a second size.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical staple may include a base including a first end and a second end; a single tine extending from the second end of the base; and a barb extending from the base at a location between the first end of the base and the second end of the base. An end of such a staple may be frangibly affixed to a feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one staple including a base including a first end and a second end, a first tine extending from the second end of the base, and a second tine extending from the base at a location between the first end of the base and the second end of the base.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include an end effector including a staple holder, an anvil movable relative to the staple holder, and staples held within the staple holder; a shaft extending from the end effector; a handle attached to the shaft, the handle including a single trigger; wherein actuation of the single trigger in a clamping mode clamps the end effector; and wherein actuation of the single trigger in a stapling mode deploys the staples.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a flexible articulation insert and at least one feeder belt extending through the articulation insert, where at least some of the staples are frangibly connected to the feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one movable feeder belt; staples fixed to the feeder belt; and a flexible articulation insert having at least one feeder belt passage defined therein, the flexible articulation insert configured to bend through a range of motion; where each feeder belt extends through a corresponding feeder belt passage, and where each feeder belt passage is shaped such that the corresponding feeder belt and staples fixed thereto are slidable along the passage throughout the entire range of motion of the flexible articulation insert.

Abstract: An exemplary medical apparatus may include a surgical tool; a feeder belt located at least partially within the surgical tool; a plurality of staples affixed to and frangibly separable from the feeder belt; and a forming station positioned within the surgical tool that receives the feeder belt; where motion of the feeder belt through the forming station bends at least one staple relative to the feeder belt substantially at the junction between that staple and the feeder belt in order to work harden that junction within the surgical tool.

Abstract: One example of a surgical apparatus may include a staple holder; at least one feeder belt fixed to the staple holder; and staples integral with and frangibly separable from the feeder belt; where at least one of the staples is sized differently from at least one other staple.

Abstract: An exemplary circular stapler may include an anvil; a staple holder connected to the anvil; and a feeder belt ring held within the staple holder, the feeder belt ring including staples frangibly affixed thereto. An exemplary surgical method for treating tissue may include possessing an anvil, a staple holder connected to the anvil, and a feeder belt ring held within the staple holder, the feeder belt ring including a plurality of staples frangibly affixed thereto; clamping tissue between the anvil and staple holder; and sequentially deforming and then breaking from the feeder belt ring at least two staples.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient may include having an endocutter having an end effector; inserting the end effector into the body of a patient through an opening; engaging tissue with the end effector; stapling tissue along two staple lines with the end effector; cutting tissue between the staple lines with the end effector; releasing the tissue from the end effector; and repeating the engaging, stapling, cutting and releasing within the body of the patient on tissue at a different location within the body of the patient while maintaining the end effector within the body of the patient.

Abstract: A surgical tool may include a self-expanding combination anchor, comprising a first segment connected to a second segment, wherein said first segment is distal to said second segment.

Abstract: An exemplary surgical stapler may include a staple holder; an anvil movably connected to the staple holder; staple forming pockets defined in a surface of the anvil; and a staple trap movable within the anvil relative to the staple forming pockets. Another exemplary surgical stapler for may include a feeder belt; staples frangibly affixed to said feeder belt; an anvil against which the staples are bent in a controlled manner by engagement with staple forming pockets defined in that anvil; and at least one finger that presses a corresponding staple within a corresponding staple forming pocket laterally with a force sufficient to hold the staple in the staple forming pocket where said staple does not engage tissue after that staple is bent.

Abstract: One example of a surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt, a plurality of staples frangibly connected to the feeder belt, and at least one pull tab extending laterally from the feeder belt. An example of a surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient may include providing at least one feeder belt and staples frangibly connected thereto, and at least one wedge movable relative to the feeder belt; moving at least one wedge in a first direction to contact and thereby form and shear at least one staple from at least one feeder belt; and moving at least one wedge in a second direction to engage and advance the feeder belt.