Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus which facilitates endoscopic deployment and positioning of surgical elements adjacent to body tissue for subsequent securement thereto. The surgical element is wound within a tubular sleeve and then extruded from the distal end of the tubular sleeve. A method is also disclosed for deploying and positioning surgical elements using the apparatus of the present invention.

Abstract: An instrument for cutting body tissue and applying a plurality of two part surgical fasteners to the body tissue on each side of the cut. The instrument includes a U-shaped distal portion, and a body having a longitudinal portion for enclosing an axial drive means for pushing fasteners into position in the body tissue. The axial drive means is off-centered from the fastener pushing means in the fastener cartridge at the U-shaped distal portion. A trigger operated diverter is provided with a unique system of force conversion and transmission for converting a single off-centered axial drive force to a uniformly distributed drive force for pushing the fastener pushers, and the knife assembly.

Abstract: A surgical fastener cartridge possesses an improved body tissue cutting knife assembly. The knife element of the assembly is held in permanent and irreversible locking engagement with a knife holder which is advantageously formed from a single piece of thermoplastic resin possessing two opposed sides joined through at least one flexible hinge element.