Abstract: Embedding a perfusion passage pipe in the surface at the inside of one of the arms of a tweezers partially or entirely and concurrently, fastening a housing portion in the rear of the grip portion in a range of 90.degree. to 170.degree. angled from the tip portion to the central axis of the grip portion of an arm.

Abstract: An improved surgical stapling instrument is provided for applying surgical staples to human tissue. The instrument has an articulated stapling head assembly mounted by a rotatable and flexible support shaft on an actuator handle assembly with an improved actuator mechanism for closing and firing the stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly comprises a fixed jaw with a staple cartridge and a movable jaw with an anvil for clamping the tissue therebetween. The actuator mechanism comprises a jaw closure lever for closing the jaws and a staple firing lever for actuating a staple driver to drive the staples from the staple cartridge into the tissue and against the anvil. The actuator mechanism also includes a cam pulley mounted for rotation by the staple firing lever and secured to a firing cable for actuating the staple driver.

Abstract: An outer package for a thermoformed blister package, wherein the blister package has an outwardly extending flange. The outer package has foldably connected inner flange support members to support the outwardly extending flange of the blister package and stiffen the package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for determining characteristics of peripheral arterial volume and compliance. A blood pressure cuff is inflated and deflated around a limb of the body and pressure measurements are taken. The volume of air removed from the cuff is determined in a quantifiable manner, such as by expelling air through an orifice of known characteristics or using a volume of known characteristics. The detected pressures and volume of air removed are used to compute oscillation volume, which in turn is used to display arterial capacity and compliance as a function of transmural pressure and time. Arterial capacity may be displayed in terms of arterial radius, arterial cross-sectional area, or arterial volume. A display of these characteristics as a function of pre and post anesthetic administration is particularly useful to the anesthesiologist and surgeon.

Abstract: A manipulable hand for use in laparoscopic surgery is disclosed, having a master or control hand with clamps for attaching the master hand to that of an operator, the master hand having at least one finger, the finger having at least one hinge corresponding to an interphalangeal joint in a human hand. The manipulable hand further includes a slave or controlled hand, distally disposed from the operator, the slave hand having at least one finger, the finger having at least one hinge corresponding to an interphalangeal joint of a human finger. Both the master and slave hinges are capable of movement corresponding to flexion and extension of a human finger. The master hand and the slave hand are connected by motion transmission rods or cables, and the movements of the slave hand corresponds one-for-one to the movements of the master hand.

Abstract: The rod system consists of an outer guide tube in which there is arranged an inner sliding sleeve, displaceable coaxially to the outer guide tube, in which are located an elongated support rod fixed relative to the outer guide tube an elongated slide displaceable on the support rod. The holding and shaping mechanism comprised by sliding sleeve, support rod and slide, project from the distal end of the outer guide tube in a manner guaranteeing the holding and shaping function of the clip or staple applying apparatus. After the distal end of the slide, designed as a tip, has struck the anvil, it displaces the sliding sleeve in the same direction beyond the distal end of the support rod and of the slide. The sliding sleeve and the slide return to the starting position in the proximal direction upon release of the actuating lever.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument for performing a circular anastomosis stapling operation is provided. The surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly mounted by a flexible support shaft to an actuator handle assembly. The support shaft is capable of bending in any radial direction relative to its centerline into a curved configuration suitable for insertion into a patient. The flexible support shaft includes a dual coil structure which is adapted to support itself in any curved configuration and to resist deflection upon insertion into the patient and actuation of the stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a driver assembly which is operable in multiple stages to separate te staple forming and tissue cutting actions to reduce the peak force required to operate the instrument.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for an endoscopic surgical instrument which has a rotatable drive shaft and a mechanism for translating the rotational force of the shaft for applying fasteners to tissue during endoscopic surgery.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided which is insertable through an endoscopic tube to enable a surgeon to perform a surgical technique inside a body cavity. The surgical instrument includes a shaft with a pivotally mounted tip attached thereto, the shaft extending from a handle for gripping the instrument for insertion to the body cavity. The tip of the shaft is adjustable to different angular orientations relative to the support shaft and is rotatable at any angular orientation of the tip. The support shaft may be rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the handle, or it may be fixed with respect to the handle, in which case the handle may be rotated to rotate the shaft inside the body cavity. In one embodiment, the surgical instrument comprises an endoscopic stapling device and the tip of the instrument comprises a staple cartridge which is rotatable 360.degree. about its axes after the cartridge has been articulated with respect to the support shaft.

Abstract: There is described herein a ligating clip applier which contains: a handle assembly; a jaw assembly connected to the handle assembly and containing a shaft and a pair of jaws. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis which lies in a central horizontal plane. A magazine of clips is stored on one side of the plane. The jaws are positioned so that they are on the opposite side of the plane. This configuration allows the clip to be loaded into the jaws across the plane, resulting in greater visibility of the clips as they are loaded into the jaws. Further, there is provided a jaw closure mechanism operable in connection with the jaws of this device so that the jaws contact the legs of a ligating clip first distally and then proximally. Thereafter the jaws are parallel at least once during closure, and the closure of the clip legs is, indeed, distal and then proximal. This improved procedure insures that in virtually all instances, the angle included between the clip legs at the crown is 0.degree..

Abstract: A surgical suturing instrument has a first arm and a second arm which start with their proximal ends from a connection part and contain intermediate area attached to distal ends. A part of the intermediate area is occupied by a guide member which is designed and mounted in such a way that a suture thread introduced transversely in proximal direction into the intermediate area is guided by means of the guide member along the first arm limb until it has passed a guide point, and the thread, upon the return movement in distal direction, is guided by means of the guide member essentially along the second arm. The end of the surgical thread is secured to the guide member. The other end of the surgical thread is attached in the front zone of a surgical needle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for determining characteristics of peripheral arterial volume and compliance. A blood pressure cuff is inflated and deflated around a limb of the body and pressure measurements are taken. The volume of air removed from the cuff is determined in a quantifiable manner, such as by expelling air through an orifice of known characteristics or by means of a volume of know characteristics. The detected pressures and volume of air removed are used to compute oscillation volume, which in turn is used to display arterial capacity and compliance as a function of transmural pressure and time. Arterial capacity may be displayed in terms of arterial radius, arterial cross-sectional area, or arterial volume. Also, systolic and pulse pressures are determined using only these determined values.

Abstract: A cutting device for a surgical instrument, especially for a laparoscopic instrument, for the cutting of binding element, such as ligature binders, surgical suture material, etc. or of other objects is described, the end-piece which is to be out off of the object being drawn in by the instrument until a thicker section of the object, such as the headpiece of a ligature binder or a knot in surgical suture materials, etc., reaches the vicinity of the instrument head. The cutting device has a cutting part arranged at the instrument head, the cutting edge of the cutting part being moved essentially transversely through the end-piece by an actuation part engaging at the thicker section upon the continued drawing-in of the end-piece which is severed when a pre-set force is exceeded.

Abstract: Contained on a stapler cartridge there is at least one distal slot capable of accommodating at least one firing wedge or the knife blade which is thereby capable of moving through the distal slot. There is further contained at least one proximal slot capable of accommodating at least the one firing wedge or the knife blade. The firing wedge or knife blade is able to move into the proximal slot exclusively in a proximal direction. Once the firing wedge or the knife blade is moved into the slot, the firing wedge is no longer able to move distally, thereby locking end of proximal section of the stapler cartridge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a staple for surgical purposes, made from bendable wire-like material. According to the invention, a staple is so designed that the base is shaped bent backwards from its tissue fastening surface, starting from its center section, on both sides, opposite to the direction of the legs, so far that the ends of the base touch or come close to each other, the base and legs thereby forming an essentially .OMEGA.-shaped contour. The bent-back configuration effects a substantial reduction in the width of the staple when it is pushed forward through the trocar cannula, so that endoscopically larger staples than usual can be set with a suitable fastening mechanism.

Abstract: There is contained a first package for holding the surgical instruments. The package contains a blister, with a flange surrounding the blister cavity, and an adhesive sealed lid attached to the blister flange. There is also contained a second package which has a lower surface, a pair of side walls extending perpendicularly from the lower surface, a pair of back walls perpendicular to both the side walls and the lower surface, and four inner walls each of which is parallel to one of the side walls or the back walls. A top surface connects the inner walls to one of the side walls or the back wall. The inner walls abut one another to form a "well" through which the blister can be displayed. Finally, the flange of the first package fits between each of the inner walls and the lower surface of the second package.

Abstract: A needle holder for endoscopic surgery consists of a front forceps with clamping jaws, an instrument tube in which a longitudinally displaceable pull rod is guided, and a rearward grip arrangement which drives an adjustment element connected to the pull rod, and a spring element for the reduction of force from the grip arrangement. A force-limiting coupling is formed according to the invention within the adjustment element.

Abstract: A new and improved endoscopic surgical instrument. The business head of the instrument is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and is also articulatable in and out of longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal axis of the instrument.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible support shaft assembly which is capable of bending transversely relative to its longitudinal axis or centerline with a predetermined limit on the bending range. The flexible support shaft assembly comprises a first helical member with a series of coils of round cross section and a second helical member with a series of coils of wedge-shaped cross section. The first and second helical members are coiled together along a common longitudinal axis with the round coils alternating with the wedge-shaped coils which separate the adjacent round coils from each other when the support shaft assembly is straight. The wedge-shaped coils are slidable relative to the round coils to allow the support shaft assembly to bend into a curved shape until the round coils on the inside of the bend engage each other and limit the bending range.