Abstract: The surgical clip applicator has a pusher bar which positions the foremost clip from a clip carrier into a ready-to-fire position between the jaws prior to squeezing of the handles together. When the applicator is fired, the previously positioned surgical clip can be crimped about a vessel and when the jaws are released, a new clip is placed between the jaws for the next firing. A channel assembly moves over the jaws to close the jaws while the pusher bar is retracted into the clip carrier for delivering the foremost clip from the carrier upon release of the handles. A latch arrangement is provided for locking the channel assembly in place and the handles against movement should the clip carrier be empty.

Abstract: The trocar is provided with a leaf spring in the housing which abuts a collar on a protective tube which surrounds the sharp tip of the stylet. A spring finger extending from the leaf spring is actuated by a slider when the two housings of the trocar components are squeezed together. The spring finger initially lifts the leaf spring from the collar to release the protective tube for sliding proximally while the collar subsequently lifts the spring finger from the shoulder of the slider to prevent a re-release of the leaf spring when the protective tube 16 is moved back into the extended position.

Abstract: A package for storing a quantity of single or double armed sutures is formed from a single sheet of paperboard or other stiff material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for determining the bending strength of curved surgical needles. The apparatus includes a means to releasably grip the butt end portion of the needle connected to a rotatable flywheel. A knife edge is positioned in the path of the rotating needle and engaged thereby, while a load cell to which the knife edge is connected, generates signals in dependence upon the bending movements applied to the needle. Such signals are transmitted to appropriate monitoring and recording instrumentation. The rotation of the needle with respect to a center of rotation and with respect to the knife edge are maintained to within precise limitations.

Abstract: A braided suture is provided which exhibits perceptibly enhanced flexibility and hand as well as reduced chatter and drag compared to these same characteristics in a suture possessing substantially the same overall denier but possessing significantly fewer sheath yarns and denier of individual filaments than the braided suture herein.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for applying surgical fasteners to body tissue wherein the improvement comprises a resilient, deflectable arm which frictionally engages body tissue held between the anvil portion of the apparatus and the cartridge assembly of the apparatus. The deflectable arm exerts a biasing force on the tissue thereby holding the tissue in position to prevent misalignment.

Abstract: A vascular clamp assembly includes a peripheral frame having an open central area, a support bar mounted on the frame, and a pair of clamps that are slidably mounted on the support bar. Each clamp includes an upper jaw member, a lower jaw member and a tension adjustor plate. The upper jaw member is pivotally mounted on the lower jaw member in a longitudinally overlying relationship with the lower jaw member. The tension adjustor plate is pivotally mounted to the lower jaw member and slidably engageable with the upper jaw member so that the plate may be wedged between the upper and lower jaw members in selectable positions. Each clamp also includes a pair of blades which are disposed in overlying relationship and which are relatively positionable, in accordance with the position of the tension adjustor plate, so that they can receive between them and engage a blood vessel and exert on the vessel a selectable holding force.

Abstract: The anastomosis surgical stapling instrument is provided with a slide plate within the yoke which is responsive to the movement of the center rod in order to block the movement of safety lock prior to positioning of the anvil assembly in a position for firing of the staples. The slide plate is biased by a spring to follow the movement of the center rod. Further, the center rod is provided with a recessed portion to provide a clearance for the arms of the handles so that jamming of the center rod is avoided after firing of the staples. An indicator is also provided to positively indicate when the staples have been fired. This indicator is mounted in the side of the yoke and is responsive to the movement of the pusher tube.

Abstract: A surgical clip for repairing tears in fibrocartilage and soft tissue. The clip has a pair of opposed legs formed of rigid biodegradable material. Each leg has at least one barb for easily penetrating the cartilage and soft tissue, and for opposing withdrawal from it. The legs are interconnected by a flexible section that is also biodegradable. The instrument for applying these clips has a pair of opposed jaws, each with at least one notch for holding the barbs of the clip. The jaws are biased apart in a normally open position and are interconnected to an actuating handle.

Abstract: An arthroscopic clip and insertion tool for same for repairing tears in fibrocartilage and soft tissue. The instrument for applying these clips has a pair of opposed jaws, each with at least one notch for holding the barbs of the clip. The jaws are biased apart in a normally open position and are interconnected to an actuating handle. The instrument further includes a device which closes the jaws when the handles are moved a first way relative to one another and opens them when the handles are moved the other way.

Abstract: A surgical fastener for fastening layers of body tissue as in skin grafting procedures. The fastener comprises a backspan and at least two barbed prongs. The barbs are flat, triangular and are coplanar with respect to each other, as well as being in parallel alignment with the axis of the backspan. The surgical fastener is made of bioabsorbable material to eliminate the need for removal.

Abstract: A composite yarn possessing a nonabsorbable, elastic core yarn component and an absorbable, relatively inelastic sheath yarn component is employed in the manufacture of a porous tubular prosthesis useful, e.g., in vascular reconstruction.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for accurately forming suture cut-off feature in a surgical needle of the socketed type.

Abstract: An improved surgical stapling apparatus containing a locking mechanism to prevent reactuation of the apparatus, the locking mechanism comprising a resilient clip having a hook which is engagable with a locking notch on the cam bar retainer. The resilient clip is initially held in a non-engagable position by means of a movable chock. When the stapler is actuated for the first time, the cam bar retainer pushes the chock into a subsequent position where the chock no longer blocks the resilient clip. The resilient clip then moves to a position where the hook is engagable with the locking notch. Once the cam bar retainer is retracted it can no longer be reactuated.

Abstract: A cannula assembly for use in conjunction with insufflatory surgical techniques includes a cannula, a housing mounted on one end of the cannula, and a flapper valve mounted in the housing. The flapper valve includes a valve seat which is situated at an opening formed in the housing, a valve plug which is adapted to engage the valve seat to form a substantially gas tight seal with the valve seat, and a support plate on which the valve plug is mounted and which is biased to pivot the plug into and out of engagement with the valve seat. The valve plug is movable on the support plate so as to be self-aligning with the valve seat when the plug and valve are in engagement.

Abstract: Surgical clip applying apparatus having a pair of laterally spaced fixed jaws with opposing clip forming surfaces which are inclined toward one another in the direction in which a clip is pushed into the jaws. Tissue to be clipped is positioned between the jaws. A clip is pushed into the jaws so that the free end of each arm of the clip contacts a respective one of the clip forming surfaces, and so that the clip forming surfaces cooperate to force the arms of the clip together on opposite sides of the tissue to produce hemostasis of the tissue. Various means can be included in the apparatus for feeding a plurality of clips to the jaws one at a time in succession. The clips can be made of metal or of plastic. Plastic clips can be either biologically absorbable or nonabsorbable.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable surgical fastener comprising a fastener member and an interlocking retainer member. The retainer member has longitudinally extending slots on the lateral sides of the retainer for allowing transverse expansion of the columnar members into which the prongs of the fastener member are locked. Fins on both the lateral and transverse sides of the prongs provide extra strength, and stability during implantation. Stopping surfaces prevent the fastener's barbed tip from exiting the opposite side of the retainer.

Abstract: A combined surgical needle-suture device is disclosed in which the suture is received into a socket, or recess, formed within the blunt end of the needle, the entrance to the socket being defined by a circumferential sloping surface which terminates at its outer end in a circumferential cutting edge which provides quick and convenient suture cut-off capability when severing of the suture from the needle is desired.

Abstract: An improved surgical stapler for simultaneously applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue incorporating a flexible resilient U-shaped shield mounted to and around the end of the anvil assembly for separating extraneous body tissue from tissue to be fastened, and for preventing extraneous body tissue from entering the gap between the anvil assembly and fastener holder.