Abstract: An intraocular lens assembly including an adjustable-power lens assembly and an adjustment mechanism coupled between the lens assembly and the ciliary muscle of the eye in which the lens assembly is implanted for adjusting the power of the lens assembly in response to contraction or relaxation of the ciliary muscle.

Abstract: A surgical suturing system having a probe assembly for positioning tissue to be sutured and a stapling system for suturing tissue. The stapling system includes a stapler having a housing with a staple ejection slot, a magazine of preformed staples received within the housing and a driver for driving the leading staple in the magazine through the ejection slot. The probe assembly includes a holding probe in close proximity to the staple ejection slot, the probe assembly being adapted to connect with a vacuum source. A working end of the holding probe is configured to selectively hold onto and position the edges of the tissue to be sutured in juxtapositional coplanar alignment while the tissue is being sutured by a staple ejected from the stapler.

Abstract: A surgical suturing system having a probe assembly for positioning tissue to be sutured and a stapling system for suturing tissue. The stapling system includes a stapler having a housing with a staple ejection slot, a magazine of preformed staples received within the housing and a driver for driving the leading staple in the magazine through the ejection slot. The probe assembly includes a holding probe in close proximity to the staple ejection slot, the probe assembly being adapted to connect with a vacuum source. A working end of the holding probe is configured to selectively hold onto and position the edges of the tissue to be sutured in juxtapositional coplanar alignment while the tissue is being sutured by a staple ejected from the stapler.

Abstract: A stapler system for surgical suturing comprising a novel stapler and novel precurved staples designed for use with the stapler. Staples stored on a magazine are implanted by a ram mounted for reciprocal movement on the body of the stapler. The ram is moved to firing position by a handle pivotally mounted to the stapler body. As the handle is pivoted, a flat spring coupled to the ram is biased. When the ram reaches its firing position, the handle slips from engagement with the ram, thus permitting the biased spring to drive the ram downward so as to implant a staple into the incised tissue. The legs of the staple enter the tissue along a curved path. During implantation the staple is bent around an anvil causing the legs of the staple to penetrate the tissue along a curved path. Insertion of the staple legs along this curved path draws adjacent portions of incised tissue together.

Abstract: An adjustable surgical staple for use in joining together two pieces of human or animal tissue. The staple has a spine and two legs, with the spine being slotted along its length so as to divide the spine into two separate cross members. Bending the cross members towards or away from one another alters the distance between the leg portions of the staple, thereby allowing precise adjustment of the tension of the joinder between the tissues being joined.

Abstract: The driver is disclosed for a surgical micro-suturing stapling system which does not require the use of a staple bending anvil tha must be retracted after the staple is implanted. The surgical microstapler system utilizes a unique stapler head comprising a staple magazine having a series of staples attached to and supported by a surrounding frame, apparatus for advancing the staple magazine so as to position its leading staple in a predetermined dispensing position, and staple driving apparatus for implanting the leading staple into the tissue through the ejection slot. The stapler head is adapted to be connected to the driver which provides the driving force required to cause the staple driving apparatus to separate the leading staple from the magazine and implant it into the tissue to be sutured. The driver offers the advantage that can cause the staple driving apparatus to implant a staple at a velocity in excess of the ability of tissue to respond dynamically under the force of a staple being implanted.

Abstract: A surgical microstapler is disclosed which does not require the use of a staple bending anvil that must be retracted after the staple is implanted. The surgical microstapler utilizes a stapler head comprising a staple magazine that consists of a series of staples attached to and supported by a plurality of frame members. The stables have a predetermined shape characterized by a spine portion and two opposite legs. The staples and frame members are formed as part of a sheet metal continuum and are joined by a plurality of tabs which coact with the frame members to hold the staples in proper spaced relationship within the magazine. The stapler head also comprises means for advancing the magazine so as to position its leading staple in a predetermined dispensing position in line with an ejection slot through which the staple is ejected and inserted into tissue, and staple driving means for implanting the leading staple.