Abstract: A locking device for a surgical stapling or fastening instrument for applying surgical fasteners to tissue. The locking device is positioned on the jaw mechanism of the fastening instrument and engages a cartridge when the cartridge includes fasteners, and pivots through the cartridge after the fasteners have been fired to prevent the cartridge carrying jaw from being approximated into a firing position when the cartridge is empty.

Abstract: A surgical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing portion and an endoscopic portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the endoscopic portion including a pair of coaxial members attached at the proximal end to the housing portion. The endoscopic portion also includes an inner rod member slidable within an outer tube member. The endoscopic portion terminates at the distal end in a pair of jaw members disposed in opposing relation and relatively pivotal about a common point between at least an open position and a closed position. A jaw control mechanism is associated with the housing portion, and includes at least one actuating member movably mounted in the housing portion. The actuation member has at least one gripping portion thereon such that an operator of the instrument can better manipulate the actuating member with a single hand. A linking member is pivotally connected to the actuating member and the inner rod member.

Abstract: A self contained gas powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided for placing lateral lines of surgical fasteners into body tissue. The apparatus includes an anvil member and a surgical fastener cartridge member mounted to the distal end of an elongated endoscopic portion. A tubular collar of the endoscopic portion moves distally to engage the anvil member and bias the anvil member and the cartridge member into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and the cartridge member. A self contained pneumatic system is disposed in the surgical apparatus and is actuable to eject and/or form the surgical fasteners in the clamped body tissue. The apparatus further comprises a locking mechanism for preventing firing of the instrument after it has been fired a predetermined number of times. A counter for displaying the number of times the apparatus has been fired may be provided.

Abstract: An accessory device for dissipating electrical energy from a surgical device is provided. The electrical energy is induced on the surgical device when a charge-inducing instrument, e.g. an unipolar electrocautery device, is energized in proximity thereto. The induced energy is dissipated by conveying the energy along an electrically conductive coating adhered to a housing of the device to an energy dissipation region.

Abstract: A surgical stapler for placing lateral lines of staples and making an incision, all through an endoscopic tube, includes an anvil member which is mounted to the distal end of an elongated housing. A tubular collar disposed around the arm of the anvil member is movable to a distal position to bias the anvil member and a cartridge assembly into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and cartridge assembly.

Abstract: A two-part fastener for use in septoplasty procedures includes a fastener portion having a base with shaft extending perpendicularly therefrom and a retainer having an aperture for engagement with the shaft. The fastener may include indexing means for positioning the retainer in engagement with the fastener portion at discrete spaced apart locations along the shaft. In another embodiment the shaft is slightly larger in diameter than the aperture in the retainer to effect a frictional engagement. Applicator instruments are also provided. In one embodiment the applicator includes two elongated members pivotally connected in the middle. In another embodiment the applicator includes an elongated body which holds a plurality of septoplasty fasteners. A pivotally connected lower jaw holds a supply of retainers. A pusher member drives the fastener through a curved firing chamber, through body tissue, and into engagement with the retainer.

Abstract: An instrument for tightening wound closure elements around body tissue, such as a human sternum following surgery. The instrument includes a first handle and a second handle pivotally attached to the first handle and movable between an open and a closed position. A retaining system is also provided to tighten wound closure material in response to movement of the second handle.

Abstract: A surgical stapler for placing lateral lines of staples and making an incision, all through an endoscopic tube, includes an anvil member which is mounted to the distal end of an elongated housing. A tubular collar disposed around the arm of the anvil member is movable to a distal position to bias the anvil member and a cartridge assembly into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and cartridge assembly.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for placing fasteners and/or a reinforcement material in tissue is provided. Structure is provided for advancing the fasteners distally by an actuating handle means working in concert with a pusher means. The fasteners exit the fastener housing at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the device to facilitate visualization and placement at the surgical site. A unique fastener may be formed in which the legs are in a substantially overlapping longitudinally-spaced relation.

Abstract: A handle for a laparoscopic instrument is provided for manipulating a distal laparoscopic tool. The handle includes a casing, a pivot handle pivotally attached to the casing, and an actuating shaft mechanism extending outward from the casing. Attached at the distal end of the actuating shaft opposite the casing is the laparoscopic surgical tool. The actuating shaft mechanism is longitudinally movable in a first direction by a pivotal movement of the pivot handle for manipulating the laparoscopic tool. A detent carried by the casing allows movement of the shaft longitudinally in the first direction while restraining longitudinal movement of the shaft in a second opposite direction. A thumb wheel attached to the actuating shaft mechanism allows the actuating shaft mechanism to be rotated for further manipulating the laparoscopic tool.

Abstract: The end-to-end anastomosis apparatus is provided with a mounting means which can receive a trocar for making holes in tissue and, subsequently, an anvil shaft for the mounting of an anvil assembly for stapling purposes. The anvil shaft is provided with splines which cooperate with splines on a shell liner within the housing of the apparatus to align the buckets on the anvil assembly with the staples in a cartridge secured in the apparatus. In addition, the anvil assembly is provided with a spring for locking of the anvil housing on the anvil shaft.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus for attaching two portions of cutaneous body tissue includes a pair of opposed elongated members having jaws which have tissue gripping members thereon at one end and which are movable toward each other to a closed position to engage two body tissue portions positioned within the members to move the body tissue portions into close approximation. Manually gripping systems of several alternative configurations are provided to actuate a mechanical transmission system to close the jaws. In a preferred embodiment, a fork is movable from a first position to a second position by manually operable devices to move the jaws toward each other. A pair of cam faces is located adjacent the opposite ends of the jaws. As the fork moves to its second position, the tines of the fork engage against the cam faces to move the opposed jaws to their closed position.

Abstract: A conductive cannula assembly is disclosed to dissipate possible, accumulated electrical charges through body tissue. The cannula assembly includes cannula housing means and cannula means formed of a material having an electrical conductivity value which is at least fifty percent the conductivity value of silver. The invention also includes cannula assembly accessories formed of a material having an electrical conductivity value which is at least fifty percent the conductivity value of silver. The invention further provides a method for guiding endoscopic instruments into body tissue utilizing the cannula assembly and the cannula assembly accessories of the present invention.

Abstract: A safety device is provided for use with endoscopic instrumentation, particularly and endoscopic clip applier. The device includes a collar which is adapted to be disposed on the elongated shaft of the endoscopic instrument. A release means is provided as part of the trocar guide sleeve which is adapted to contact the collar and release it from engagement with the elongated shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue along an arcuate path. Each surgical fastener may be in the form of a two-part fastener having a pronged fastener portion for piercing body tissue, and an apertured retainer dimensioned and configured for engaged reception of the pronged fastener portion in interference fit therewith for gripping the body tissue therebetween. Alternatively, the fasteners may be in the form of deformable staples. The apparatus preferably includes arcuately shaped means for holding a plurality of the fastener portions in generally aligned relation, correspondingly arcuately shaped means spaced from the fastener portion holding means for gripping body tissue therebetween and for releasably holding a plurality of the retainers in generally aligned relation and positioned opposite the fasteners when the body tissue is positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A novel surgical instrument suitable for insertion and assembly of multi-ring compression devices for circular anastomosis of tubular tissue sections including a body having means to support and align the rings, means for clamping the rings around the free ends of the tissue sections, means for coring away excess clamped tissue and the centers of the rings, separate means for releasing the clamped rings from the instrument and dwell means to delay releasing the rings until after the coring operation is complete. The dwell means consists of an external cap containing separate and coaxial elements for the coring means and the releasing means which are provided with a series of recesses and a plurality of shifter keys to separate the operation of coring from the separate operation of releasing the assembled multi-ring compression device from the instrument.

Abstract: A suture holding clip including legs each having a suture contacting surface. The legs can be closed to define an interface for holding a suture in a serpentine configuration. In another embodiment the suture holding clip is initially in a spider leg configuration with a spine and legs projecting from the spine and alternately angled to one or the other of two directions so as to define therebetween a lengthwise extending passage for the reception therethrough of a suture.