Abstract: A method of manufacturing staples including the steps of placing a deformable member into a mold block and overmolding a crown onto the deformable member. In various embodiments, several deformable members may be produced from an elongate wire where the deformable members can be connected by portions of the wire. In at least one such embodiment, the elongate member can then be cut to separate the deformable members to form a plurality of surgical staples or strips of surgical staples.

Abstract: A pocket-sizing apparatus for a device that inserts staple drivers into pockets aligned to form a slot in a surgical staple cartridge. A fin extends from a driver guide fixture for insertion into the slot. The fin increases the size of the slot, thereby aiding in inserting drivers into the pockets. Preferably a second fin extends from the driver guide fixture adjacent the fixture passage and aligned with the first fin. A gap is formed between the first and second fins, extending from a first edge to an opposite edge of the fixture passage. The driver is driven through the gap. The fins are substantially equal to the thickness of the driver. The fins have tapered leading edges to aid cartridge insertion and removal, and a lip extends from the driver guide fixture for preventing the fins from widening the slot too much and for narrowing an overly wide slot.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing staples including the steps of placing a deformable member into a mold block and overmolding a crown onto the deformable member. In various embodiments, several deformable members may be produced from an elongate wire where the deformable members can be connected by portions of the wire. In at least one such embodiment, the elongate member can then be cut to separate the deformable members to form a plurality of surgical staples or strips of surgical staples.

Abstract: A method for making decorative staple strips includes: cutting a thin metal sheet into a plurality of metal strips; assembling the metal strips; applying an adhesive to the assembled metal strips; subjecting the bonded metal strips to a punching process so as to form a non-folded strip unit in a unit length of the bonded metal strips such that the non-folded strip unit has two opposite pin-forming holes formed in the unit length of each of the bonded metal strips, each of the pin-forming holes having two opposite sides confined respectively by two pin-forming portions in the unit length of each of the bonded metal strips; separating the non-folded strip unit from the bonded metal strips; and folding the pin-forming portions of the non-folded strip unit.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for inserting surgical staple drivers into a cartridge, including a base, a cartridge-receiving plate having a channel, upper and lower degating plates having a passage through them, a knife with a sharp edge adjacent the passage and a plunger apparatus that drives the drivers downwardly through the guide passage and into pockets in the cartridge. A cartridge locator plate seats the cartridge against stops in the channel. The cartridge-receiving plate is adjustable relative to the base. The upper and lower degating plates and the knife are not adjustable relative to the base, which avoids the need for re-alignment of the knife and degating plates upon re-mounting on the base. The cartridge-receiving plate is aligned relative to the base. A top riser is adjustably mounted to the base, and a cylinder arm, which holds the plunging apparatus, is non-adjustably mounted to the top riser.

Abstract: A thermally activated adhesive for coating and holding a multi-end band wire together through a high volume, high speed banding line which comprises a polyolefin in an amount of 2 to 98% by weight based upon the total weight of the adhesive, an acid in an amount of 1 to 20% by weight based upon the total weight of the adhesive and a rubber polymer in an amount of 1 to 20% by weight based upon the total weight of the adhesive. The adhesive activates in a temperature range of between 200° F. to 500° F. and is characterized in that it has a tensile strength of between 1,500 to 10,000 psi as determined by ASTM D638-96 and a peel strength of between 5 to 10 PLI as determined by ASTM D903-93.

Abstract: A means and method for inserting drivers into a surgical stapling cartridge, including a pallet that holds the cartridge firmly. The pallet has a central slot and laterally positioned lip members that are biased toward the slot. The cartridge is positioned in the slot and the lip members are released to extend their lips over the lateral flanges on the cartridge, thereby holding the cartridge in position. A finger extends into a recess formed at one end of the cartridge, thereby positively positioning the cartridge in the slot. The cartridge is released for removal by a tongue inserted between the lip members, thereby separating them by displacement.

Abstract: A means and method for inserting drivers into a surgical stapling cartridge, including a pallet that holds the cartridge firmly. The pallet has a central slot and laterally positioned lip members that are biased toward the slot. The cartridge is positioned in the slot and the lip members are released to extend their lips over the lateral flanges on the cartridge, thereby holding the cartridge in position. A finger extends into a recess formed at one end of the cartridge, thereby positively positioning the cartridge in the slot. The cartridge is released for removal by a tongue inserted between the lip members, thereby separating them by displacement.

Abstract: A method for making a wire package for use as staples or brads is recited as forming a plurality of round wires, forming a plurality of flattened bonding sides on each wire to prepare even bonding surfaces on each wire and bonding each wire to an adjacent wire by adhering the surfaces of each wire. Each staple includes two or more flat surfaces to improve the bonding strength of each staple.

Abstract: A means and method for inserting drivers into a surgical stapling cartridge, including a pallet that holds the cartridge firmly. The pallet has a central slot and laterally positioned lip members that are biased toward the slot. The cartridge is positioned in the slot and the lip members are released to extend their lips over the lateral flanges on the cartridge, thereby holding the cartridge in position. A finger extends into a recess formed at one end of the cartridge, thereby positively positioning the cartridge in the slot. The cartridge is released for removal by a tongue inserted between the lip members, thereby separating them by displacement.

Abstract: An improved guide fixture is disclosed. The guide fixture includes two portions forming a guide passage. The first portion funnels a discrete element into a second portion. A knife edge located adjacent a slot in the guide passage separates the discrete element from a holder while the discrete element is inserted into a cartridge.

Abstract: A staple wire supply roll is positioned on a threading-in device that can be moved out of a stapling apparatus, and the leading end of the wire is transported by means of a thread-in transport device, through a flexible guide tube, to a stapling device. A sensor positioned on the stapling device signals the end of the threading-in operation when the leading end of the staple wire passes by. By pushing the threading-in device into the apparatus, the staple wire transport device of the stapling device is set in motion, as a result of which the leading end of the staple wire is transported to a location which positions the leading end of the wire in device. The staple wire is transported, in accordance with the thickness of the sheet stack measured by a sensor, by a stepping motor, which at the same time drives a radial cam unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a coating on the exterior surfaces of a plurality of elongate members, such as wires, including positioning a plurality of elongate members substantially parallel to each other, coating the exterior surfaces of each member with a coating, removing any excess coating from desired portions of each member and curing the coating to adhere the coating to each member.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling staple drivers in a cartridge to be used during surgery includes a fixture having tapered converging passageways to guide staple drivers into alignment with pockets in the cartridge. After the staple drivers are properly in place to be pushed into the pockets of the cartridge, a plunger with blade-shaped projections descends such that the blades project through the fixture and the passageways therein to push the drivers into the pockets. To prevent the drivers from falling out of the pockets through the entrance opening where they were inserted, a pocket locking or blocking element is applied to the cartridge after the drivers are in the pockets.

Abstract: The invention provides a paper staple having at least one pair of spaced-apart depending paper-engaging prongs and a bridging web connected therebetween, the outer surface of the bridging web having indicia imprinted thereon.

Abstract: A fastening element is constructed from a first bar-shaped member (12), wherein a second bar-shaped member (14a ) and a third bar-shaped member (14b ) extend in parallel along a direction normal to the axial direction of the first bar-shaped member (12). The first bar-shaped member (12) has respective ends in which flat or bent slanted portions (18a, 18b ) are formed. The first bar-shaped member is formed additionally with first and second ribs (20a, 20b ) which extend outwardly beyond respective connecting positions between the first bar-shaped member and the second and third bar-shaped members (14a, 14b.

Abstract: A medical staple forming die and pusher punch for use in a staple forming machine. The bend radius of the staple is formed either by the form punch pushing the wire past a set of rollers, or by movable forming dies in conjunction with a tapered or contoured pusher punch. Since the wire is not scrapping on a stationary rail, pulling thin or cracking in its corners is substantially eliminated and the possibility of metal slivers produced by the prior art scrapping methods is substantially reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A coherent surgical-staple stack comprising a plurality of staples, bonded together in a parallel contiguous relationship by a biodegradable, absorbable plastic.

Abstract: Novel glue-less staples are formed economically of sheet metal having essentially abutting but parted margins, the staples being joined to one another by localized integral connections along the margins. The connections can be of controlled size and their weakness can be controlled by mechanical working of the metal. As a specific feature, the connections can be formed to provide the standard bond strength found in glued rows of staples, so that the novel strips of staples can be made for use in conventional tackers and staplers.