Abstract: An anvil assembly includes a circular anvil head that supports a crush ring, an anvil cap that supports an o-ring, and a circular anvil buttress member. The cap connects to the head and is movable relative to the head between approximated and unapproximated positions. The crush ring is spaced from the cap when the cap is in the approximated position and movable into engagement with the cap to move the cap to the unapproximated position. The buttress member includes a body portion and an extension portion. The body portion is supported on the head and the extension portion is secureable between the o-ring and the head when the cap is in the approximated position. The extension portion is releasable from between the o-ring and the head when the cap is disposed in the unapproximated position so that the body portion separates from the head.

Abstract: Barbed medical devices include a crown interconnecting a pair of legs and at least one barb extending from each of the legs. The at least one barb may define an inner surface with a first portion disposed at a first orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the leg, a second portion disposed at a second orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, and optionally, a third portion disposed at a third orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the leg.

Abstract: One exemplary process for manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include providing a flat, generally-planar strip of biocompatible material; cutting the strip to produce a feeder belt with at least one lateral edge, and staples affixed to the feeder belt in proximity to at least one lateral edge, where the staples and feeder belt are substantially aligned along a first plane; and bending at least one staple out of the first plane, while the feeder belt remains in the first plane. Another exemplary process for manufacturing a surgical apparatus may include providing a flat, generally-planar strip of biocompatible material; cutting that strip to produce a feeder belt with edges, and staples affixed to different edges of the feeder belt; and coining at least one staple after the cutting.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a surgical instrument having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end may comprise a handle. The distal end may comprise a cutter and a stapler. The apparatus may further comprise a staple for use with the stapler. The staple may comprise an inner channel extending along at least a portion of the length of the staple. The apparatus may further comprise an agent contained in the inner channel, which may be used to coagulate a surgical site where surgical instrument is used. The agent may facilitate coagulation of the fluids at a surgical site once the staples are anchored to the surgical site.

Abstract: A new shape changing staple and instrument for the fixation of structures to include bone tissue and industrial materials. This new staple stores elastic mechanical energy to exert force on fixated structures to enhance their security and in bone affect its healing response. This staple once placed changes shape in response to geometric changes in the materials structure, including healing bone tissue. The staple is advanced over prior staples due to its: 1) method of operation, 2) high strength, 3) method of insertion, 4) compressive force temperature independence, 5) energy storing staple retention and delivery system, 6) compatibility with reusable or single use product configuration, 7) efficient and cost effective manufacturing methods, and 8) reduction in the steps required to place the device. In addition to the staple's industrial application an embodiment for use in the fixation of the musculoskeletal system is shown with staple, cartridge, and extrusion handle.

Abstract: A surgical staple device which accommodates various tissue thicknesses by employing unique modified surfaces with increased friction is disclosed. The staple device includes a U-shaped staple body with modified surfaces on its legs, whereas the modified surfaces may be designed as ratchet teeth, barbs, hooks, grooves, and channels. The staple device further includes a footplate to receive and engage the legs.

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: Barbed medical devices include a crown interconnecting a pair of legs and at least one barb extending from each of the legs. The at least one barb may define an inner surface with a first portion disposed at a first orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the leg, a second portion disposed at a second orientation relative to the longitudinal axis, and optionally, a third portion disposed at a third orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the leg.

Abstract: The present invention includes various embodiments directed to apparatus and methods surrounding a fastener device. In particular embodiments, the fastener device is a quick charging and discharging device that includes a solenoid, a fastener striker, a flash capacitor, and a control circuit. Other novel features of the fastener device exist. In particular embodiments, the present invention also includes apparatus and methods related to deforming staples for securing conduit and the like, and staple insulation and insulated staples that may be discharged by the fastener device. The insulation may be provided in an ordinary staple strip for use in the fastener device. Each insulation form may include deformation voids to assist the adaptation of the insulation about a target object that is being secured by the insulated staple.

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: The present invention is directed to a device and method for building a consumable refill that includes the steps of fabricating a plurality of arrays of detachably connected consumable parts along a first direction, stacking the arrays of detachably connected consumable parts along a second direction and bonding the stacked arrays of detachably connected consumable parts at an outer surface formed by one or more aligned marginal surfaces of the detachably connected consumable parts. In one embodiment, a staple refill includes a number of staple wire sheets stacked along a direction normal to a plane of each of the staple wire sheets. The staple wire sheets are bonded at an outer surface formed by one or more aligned marginal surfaces of the plurality of staple wires.

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 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: The present invention is directed to a system and method for building a consumable part refill, which may be a staple refill, the method comprising the steps of fabricating an array of consumable parts detachably connected along a first direction, stacking a plurality of such fabricated arrays of parts, or staple wire plates, along a second direction, and providing an adhesive bond between adjacent ones of this stacked plurality of arrays.

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 moving metal sheets of a working area by an antropomorphous robot comprises a) taking of preselected fixed input data that identify the geometry in the space of components of a working island; b) taking, comprising from a machine tool, preselected variable input data comprising dimensions and shape of a preselected metal sheet to be handled and a sequence of working preselected metal sheets; c) processing the fixed and variable input data on a processing unit in order to generate automatically output data that identify a preselected trajectory of the metal sheet to be handled and d) transfer the output data to a control unit of the robot in order to drive said robot to move the metal sheet along the preselected trajectory so as to handle said metal sheets selected by type.

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: 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 clinch type staple has a U-shaped configuration with a pair of legs extending generally perpendicularly from a base portion of the staple with the outside surfaces of the distal ends of the legs being bevelled. The legs of the staple lie in spaced apart planes that are parallel to one another, but are angularly offset from one another in order to insure that the legs will not contact or interfere with each other as they are clinched into a workpiece. A plurality of such clinch staples can be manufactured into an assembly of clinch staples. The method of making such an assembly of clinch staples includes advancing a plurality of wires in parallel side-by-side relation in a flat planar array and adhering the wires to one another. A blank, severed from an end of the formed array, includes a plurality of side-by-side wire segments of equal length extending parallel to one another in a first direction.

Abstract: A flat clip or staple is manufactured from a continuous strip of flat sheet material in coil form by first stamping out intermediate portions of material between each of the blanks to be formed into a discrete staple while retaining the blanks in the continuous strip. The strip is then subjected to a second stamping process where each discrete staple is severed from the strip, formed into the required shape and the excess waste material removed from the continuous strip. The second stamping process is located immediately adjacent the final stapling assembly operation, such that the staples never need to be transported to the final stapling operation site in separated form.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite article including a hollow body having a decorative metal plate attached thereto. The method includes the forming of a decorative metal plate and the attachment of the plate to a hollow body. The method can be best described by its application to the manufacture of a push button which involves the following: Forming a rectangular sheet of aluminum which sheet has at least one decorative brushed surface. Machining the brushed aluminum surface of the aluminum sheet in an annular pattern around the perimeter of the sheet to remove a uniform thickness of the aluminum thereby leaving a central rectangular island of brushed aluminum. The central rectangular island thus formed is surrounded on all sides by the machined surface which functions as an apron around the island. All of the machined surface apron on both long sides of the rectangular island is removed leaving tabs of apron extending from the opposite short ends of the rectangular island.

Abstract: Metal fastener sticks wherein the individual fastening elements, such as staples, on the stick are secured together by a radiation cross-linked polymer, and which metal fastener stick is prepared by: coating the metal fastener stick with a solventless, radiation -curable, polymeric composition, such as an ultraviolet-curable formulation of an unsaturated resin, a monomer and a photo initiator; and curing the composition by exposing the composition to radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation, to provide a metal fastener stick wherein the individual fastener elements are secured together in the stick through the radiation cross-linked polymer.

Abstract: A method for producing piles of U-shaped clips as used for example to close the ends of sausages or the like. A plurality of wire lengths are formed into a band of parallel adjacent wire lengths, to one side of which is applied a layer of material with a thermo-plastic on the side thereof engaging the band. The wire/layer of material combination is then heated to adhere the wire lengths to the layer of material via the thermo-plastic. The wire/layer of material combination is subsequently cut perpendicular to the lengths of wires and bent to form the clips.

Abstract: An insulated staple is formed by a U-shaped body member, and a piece of flexible, plastic tubing bent in a U-shaped configuration and installed on the body member. The plastic tubing is cut along a longitudinal wall portion to form a longitudinally extending opening at the central region of the tubing. The insulated staple is then assembled by inserting the opposed and parallel legs of the body member through the longitudinal opening and out through the axial ends of the tubing so that the body member is lined along its inner periphery between the end portions of the tubing mounted on the opposed and parallel legs. The method for making the insulated staple comprises cutting the longitudinal opening in the tube, bending the tube in a U-shaped configuration and inserting the legs of the body member through the axial ends of the tubing so that the pointed tips are exposed and the inner periphery of the staple is lined between the end portions of the tubing on the parallel legs.