Abstract: An axis indicator contains a long rectangular tube placed within the saddle of a dental bracket. The indicator contains a projection which is parallel to the archwire slot in the dental bracket and can be aligned parallel to the occlusal plane of the patient. Thus, use of the axis indicator insures proper placement of the dental bracket on the teeth.

Abstract: A heating element is inserted into the archwire slot of the tooth in order to allow the adhesive surface of a dental bracket to become loose. Force is exerted by a pull wire, controlled by a force limiting spring, until the bracket is removed. No harm comes to the patient or the tooth.

Abstract: A lockout mechanism actuable upon the firing of staples in a surgical staple cartridge such that the lockout mechanism prevents the refiring of the spent staple cartridge when that cartridge remains loaded within the surgical stapler. In addition, the lockout mechanism will prevent reloading of a spent staple cartridge within a surgical stapler after the spent staple cartridge has been removed from the surgical stapler.

Abstract: A protective surgical hand covering having a hardened molded material placed over the hand. The material will cover the meat of the palm, the knuckles, the lower knuckles, and breadth of the palm. Thimble shaped tips are also available for use. Surgical latex gloves may be worn either over or under the invention.

Abstract: An initiating device which imparts stored potential energy to the driver and cutter in an internal organ stapler. Also disclosed is an overriding device which prevent the use of such a device until the proper clamping of the jaws of the stapler with each other.

Abstract: A device for closing jaws of an aneurysm clip. The device includes a central spring portion. Body members are mounted on the central spring portion to be urged toward a closed position by the central spring portion. Heads carried by the body members are pivotally mounted on jaw members which engage the jaws of the aneurysm clip to urge the jaws to closed position. The body members are spaced to receive the aneurysm therebetween. The jaw members can move along the jaws to selected position, and a main portion of the device can be swung about pivots on the jaw members to selected angular position.

Abstract: A flexible positioning tab is provided for placement in the staple forming track of skin staplers. This flexible tab causes only one staple from a staple stack to be moved into a staple stack for forming the staple at an anvil forming surface. This prevents the skin stapler from jamming multiple staples in the staple forming track.

Abstract: A guiding pocket for driving staples is described, in which a first set of parallel sides helps form the opening for the guiding pockets. These parallel sides are connected to tapered sides, which are in turn connected to a second pair of parallel sides, creating a hexagonal shaped pocket. The resultant pocket configuration possesses self-centering features, which in turn reduces jamming and misformed staples and allows for simpler manufacturing and inspection.

Abstract: An improved surgical fastener system comprising parallel rows of staples and receivers with the receivers connected to adjacent receivers by a plurality of linkages.

Abstract: A one-piece aneurysm clip having an elongated flat ribbon body. The body includes a central helical portion joining first connecting portions, second connecting portions extending from the first connecting portions transversely of the first connecting portions and blade portions extending from the second connecting portions. Spring action of the helical portion urges the blade portions to substantially flatwise engaged position. A guide bar and stop member is mounted on one of the second connecting portions and has a guide bar position which overlies an opposed other of the second connecting portions to hold the blade portions in alignment. A stop portion of the guide bar and stop member is engageable by the other of the second connecting portions to limit opening of the clip.

Abstract: A surgical stapler includes a moving driver and an anvil moving in the same direction as the driver to pick off a staple from a supply, and to transport it to a forming station. The anvil is there stopped, but the driver continues to move forwardly forming the staple about the anvil. The anvil is locked against retraction until the driver is partially retracted in order to facilitate staple ejection. A drive linkage includes a four-bar linkage and a trigger mounted cam drive for dispersing required input forces over the trigger movement and minimizing force variations and maximum input. Modular features and construction provide use and manufacturing advantages. Methods are included.

Abstract: A one-piece vascular clip which includes a central helical spring section, first connecting sections joined by the spring section, second connecting sections extending from the first connecting sections to cross. First jaw sections extend from the second connecting sections. A return bend jaw section extends from each of the first jaw sections parallel and adjacent to the associated first jaw section. A horn extends outwardly from each of the return bend jaw sections.

Abstract: An anvil and driver assembly for a surgical skin stapling instrument producing formed and implanted skin staples of more consistant and perfect configuration. The anvil provides an anvil surface which supports the crown of the staple during the forming operation. The driver has an inverted U-shaped notch formed therein which defines parallel side edges to bend the staple legs about the anvil and a transverse edge joining the side edges and adapted to contact the crown of the staple near the end of the forming operation. In the anvil and driver assembly of the present invention, the clearance between the parallel bending edges of the driver and the adjacent anvil edges is greater than the transverse dimension of the staple wire. The anvil surface of the anvil is concave and the crown contacting edge of the driver is so configured as to impart a temporary bow in the staple crown near the bottom of the driver stroke, which bow is of such dimension as to preclude plastic deformation of the crown.