Abstract: A surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed for suturing skin with deformable staples. The apparatus includes a pivoting anvil having a crescent-shaped configuration. The lower end of the anvil includes a forming lip which is disposed in the drive track of the apparatus. A driver blade is mounted for reciprocal movement in the drive track and includes a lower edge configured to cooperate with the forming lip to clinch the staple. An anvil release blade is disposed behind and coplanar with the driver blade in the drive track. The anvil release blade permits the release of the staple at any stage in the clinching operation. In use, upon downward actuation of the driver blade, the staple is clinched about the forming lip. To release the staple from the apparatus, the anvil release blade is lowered until an aperture located therein is aligned with an aperture provided in the driver blade thereby enabling the anvil to pivot, clearing the drive track.

Abstract: A staple for use in conjunction with an anviless stapling apparatus of generally U-shaped plan form configuration where the width of each end of the crown portion of the staple in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the staple is less than the effective width of the associated leg portions of the staple. Also, a self-clinching stapling apparatus, which has no anvil, and includes a nosepiece structure whose only moving part is a driver element. The nosepiece structure of the stapling apparatus defines a drive track whose cross section corresponds to the configuration of the crown portion of the specially designed staple. The nosepiece structure of the stapling apparatus further defines elongated grooves, disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the drive track. During a stapling operation, the driver element is actuated causing the staple to move downwardly through the drive track towards the workpiece.

Abstract: A staple for use in conjunction with an anviless stapling apparatus of generally U-shaped plan form configuration where the width of each end of the crown portion of the staple in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the staple is less than the effective width of the associated leg portions of the staple. Also, a self-clinching stapling apparatus, which has no anvil, and includes a nosepiece structure whose only moving part is a driver element. The nosepiece structure of the stapling apparatus defines a drive track whose cross section corresponds to the configuration of the crown portion of the specially designed staple. The nosepiece structure of the stapling apparatus further defines elongated grooves, disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the drive track. During a stapling operation, the driver element is actuated causing the staple to move downwardly through the drive track towards the workpiece.