Abstract: An endoscopic kitner features a delivery tube with a continuous supply of absorbent material. The absorbent material is retractable into a housing as new absorbent material is placed in position for use. The spent absorbing material is movable into a housing for removal of the kitner. A hand-held drive mechanism is employed to advance the absorbent material.

Abstract: The present invention is a lightweight endoscopic instrument which has a flushing port with a check valve assembly therein. The check valve retains carbon dioxide which is used during endoscopic procedures. Upon removal of the instrument, a pressurized fluid can be connected to the flush port, with internal seals directing the pressurized fluid through an annular space between the stem of the instrument and a central actuating rod or element so that any tissue or blood which may have entered into such annular space is flushed out the distal end of the instrument. The instrument features a knob allowing it to rotate on its longitudinal axis while having a handle that can be held in a fixed position by the surgeon. An index mechanism is provided to audibly and/or visually give an indication at preset increments of rotation. The instrument is lightweight to decrease fatigue and is simply and economically constructed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cannula with a fixation mechanism actuable to secure the cannula above and below the body wall with minimal amount of manipulation and damage to the body wall. The preferred embodiment involves arms attached to springs secured to the body of the cannula over which a sleeve is slidingly mounted to restrain and release the springs. When the spring is released, it causes the arms to press against the inner body wall to fixate the cannula. A stop mounted on the sleeve can be positioned to apply a compressive force on the outer body wall, further securing the cannula.

Abstract: A cartridge for storing and retaining a plurality of medical ligating devices such as hemostatic clips and surgical staples, the cartridge having a movable device retaining member situated in each device chamber. The retaining member is adapted to frictionally engage the legs of an open C-shaped device and is further adapted to be displaced away from engagement with the device when it is engaged in the jaws of a forceps-type applier. In one embodiment, the retaining member is adapted to fit between the legs of an open hemostatic clip and is further adapted to be displaced downwardly away from the clip when the clip is engaged by a clip applier. The disclosure further includes a method of storing hemostatic clips in a cartridge, the method incorporating retaining the clip within the cartridge by a separable member which is displaceable from engagement with a clip when the clip is engaged by a clip applier.

Abstract: A kit for protectively sheathing the proximally unenclosed portion of a grasping members pair of a surgical instrument assembly resulting from the sheathing is disclosed, the kit including an applicator for spreading the lumen of an elastic tubular sheath member which is mounted on the surgical instrument over unenclosed portions of the grasping jaws adjacent to the distal body mounting the grasping jaws, the sheath member and body member preferably being formed of dielectric material for electrocauterization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cannula with a fixation mechanism actuable to secure the cannula above and below the body wall in a single operation. The preferred embodiment involves spiral slit tubing in the form of a sleeve secured to the distal end of the cannula while mounted loosely over the cannula at the proximal end. A motion, such as twist and/or translation, is applied to the sleeve to make the spiral slit tubing expand to fixate the cannula.

Abstract: A hand-held surgical stapler is provided having a reduced distal profile due to a unique feeding means. A combination of features allows the reduced distal profile. The staple storage cover can be of reduced distal thickness due to the slope effect. The staple pusher has the capability at its distal end to push and by pushing lift all of the staples, including the last, into the staple track. Provisions are made on the staple pusher to allow the form tool to displace it out of the staple track to allow forming of the last staple. Nose assemblies are disclosed which can be interchangeably mounted to various trigger assemblies. The pre-load on the stored staples can be varied. A ratchet feature requires full depression of the trigger before it can be returned to a neutral or extended position and full extension of the trigger to its neutral position prior to initiation of the next staple feed cycle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for applying a substantially constant force to move clips in queue within an applicator, as well as means for more effectively dispensing the endmost clip from a column of abrasive clips within an applicator. The constant force means generally comprises a constant force spring which is movably secured at both ends within a chamber in the applicator such that the pressure exerted between the ends of the constant force spring forces the clips in queue toward the jaws of the applicator. The dispensing means generally comprises a spring that applies sufficient pressure against the endmost clip in a column of abrasive clips to dispense the endmost clip from the column while preventing the next endmost clip from being dispensed until after the endmost clip has been forced into the jaws of the applicator and applied.

Abstract: A holder for storing and retaining a plurality of hemostatic clips. The holder is produced as an integrally molded unitary piece having a plurality of longitudinally spaced chambers, each having a central post to support a clip and integrally formed guiding means for guiding the jaws of an associated forceps-type clip applier by which a clip within a selected chamber may be removed from the cartridge. A pair of opposing projections are formed in the walls of each clip chamber at a point spaced above the central post, the projections serving to loosely retain a clip in the chamber between the projections and the central post.

Abstract: A hand-held surgical stapler is provided having a reduced distal profile due to a unique feeding means. A combination of features allows the reduced distal profile. The staple storage cover can be of reduced distal thickness due to the slope effect. The staple pusher has the capability at its distal end to push and by pushing lift all of the staples, including the last, into the staple track. Provisions are made on the staple pusher to allow the form tool to displace it out of the staple track to allow forming of the last staple. Nose assemblies are disclosed which can be interchangeably mounted to various trigger assemblies. The pre-load on the stored staples can be varied. A ratchet feature requires full depression of the trigger before it can be returned to a neutral or extended position and full extension of the trigger to its neutral position prior to initiation of the next staple feed cycle.

Abstract: A hemostatic clip applier is disclosed showing improvements which enable the user to selectively trigger the feeding of a clip to the jaws of the applier when desired. A cantilevered trigger button is integrally formed with the housing of the applier so as to be depressible by the user. The trigger button is provided with an internal cam surface which cooperates with a pawl and ratchet mechanism to release the pawl at a selected point in the cycle of operation of the applier and thereby feed a clip to the applier jaws.

Abstract: An automatic hemostatic clip applicator is disclosed wherein the jaws, cartridge assembly and jaw housing move together in a single direction to crimp a clip resulting in a perception of little or no motion by the jaws when the applicator is activated. Camming surfaces in the jaws are brought into contact with camming surfaces on the distal end of the stationary body of the applicator as the jaws are moved proximally.

Abstract: A polymeric, surgical clip having first and second curved leg members joined at their proximal end by a reduced thickness hinge portion and movable from an open position to a closed position for clamping a vessel between curved opposing inner surfaces which are substantially parallel when the clip is closed. The first leg member has a concave inner surface and a hook portion at its distal end curved toward the second leg member. The clip includes a sharp distal tip on the end of the hook portion and a sharp pointed penetrating member on the outer surface of the distal end of the hook portion. The distal end of the second leg has a longitudinal groove through which the sharp pointed penetrating member and then the sharp distal tip passes when the legs are closed. The second leg member further comprises a pair of sharp penetrating member attached to each side of the distal end on either side of the groove.

Abstract: A polymeric, surgical clip having first and second curved leg members joined at their proximal end by a reduced thickness hinge portion and movable from an open position to a closed position for clamping a vessel between curved opposing inner surfaces which are substantially parallel when the clip is closed. The first leg member has a concave inner surface and a hook portion at its distal end curved toward the second leg member. The clip includes a sharp distal tip on the end of the hook portion and a sharp pointed penetrating member on the outer surface of the distal end of the hook portion. The distal end of the second leg has a longitudinal groove through which the sharp pointed penetrating member and then the sharp distal tip passes when the legs are closed. The second leg member further comprises a pair of sharp penetrating member attached to each side of the distal end on either side of the groove.

Abstract: A holder for retaining a plurality of hemostatic or ligating clips. The holder retains a single clip in each chamber and is intended to be used with a forceps-type clip applier, the jaws of which may be inserted into a desired chamber to retrieve a clip therefrom. Each individual chamber is formed of a pair of facing transverse walls and a central post which loosely supports a hemostatic clip. Each transverse wall has at least one resilient flap extending downwardly and inwardly in such a way that the bottommost portion of the resilient flap contact the side of the body of the clip in the chamber. The holder is ideally suited to retain plastic or polymer clips and may be made as an assembly of discrete components or in a single, molded integral form.

Abstract: A tool for storing dispensing, and applying hemostatic clips includes a shell-like housing, and a pair of ring-handle actuating levers extending therefrom. An elongated dispensing and applying portion extends longitudinally from the housing, and includes a jaw strut extending fixedly from the housing with a pair of laterally opposed jaw members pivotally supported on a distal portion thereof. A channel-like jaw housing extends from the housing in longitudinally translatable fashion, and is received about the jaw strut and jaw members. A magazine member secured to the jaw strut stores a plurality of hemostatic clips in serial, end to end fashion, and is disposed to deliver the distal-most clip between the open jaw members. A feeder slide adjacent to the jaw strut is resiliently biased to urge the clip toward the distal end of the jaw members. Within the housing a shuttle block is disposed for longitudinal translation by squeezing of the levers.

Abstract: A surgical stapler, preferably in a single use disposable form, comprises a combination of a staple feeding mechanism and a staple forming mechanism secured in a frame and an actuating trigger functionally connected to both the stable feeding mechanism and the staple forming mechanism, wherein the staple feeding mechanism includes a rail to guide contained staples serially to a staple forming position and a shuttle in association with the rail as a movable staple retaining cover, the shuttle being functionally connected to the trigger for movement in the same direction and the same time as the staples. The rail includes a pair of spaced apart flexible members which support the next staple to be deformed but which flex to move out of the staple path at the onset of deformation. The staple after formation is positioned between the members so that there is no interference between the rail and the deformed staple.

Abstract: A one-piece molded plastic clamp provided with a guiding lug for engaging a channel to prevent twisting of the arms of the clamp as they are compressed, while simultaneously enabling the clamp to be molded in a simple, clam-shell mold. The clamp includes a pair of parallel toothed members extending inwardly from one arm of the clamp and intended to engage a locking hook extending inwardly from the other of the arms. The teeth on the parallel toothed members are alternatingly spaced so that while the teeth are uniformly spaced within the plane of the clamp, they are staggered within a transverse plane so they unobstructedly face away from the plane of the clamp.

Abstract: A dual, stereoviewing operating microscope including a single objective lens adapted to provide a collimated beam of light which is intercepted and transversely redirected by a pair of reflecting prisms into two oppositely directed stereoscopic optical paths. Each stereoscopic optical path is provided with a pair of viewing eyepieces each of which has a zoom lens assembly. Each pair of eyepieces is independently operable of the other. The microscope also includes an aperture between the redirecting prisms intercepting the light from the objective lens in order to provide, through this aperture, a direct optical path between the objective lens and a camera or other recording device. A separate zoom lens assembly is inserted in this latter optical path and a mechanism is provided by which all zoom assemblies are simultaneously operable.