Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for inserting surgical staple drivers into a cartridge, including a base, a cartridge-receiving plate having a channel, upper and lower degating plates having a passage through them, a knife with a sharp edge adjacent the passage and a plunger apparatus that drives the drivers downwardly through the guide passage and into pockets in the cartridge. A cartridge locator plate seats the cartridge against stops in the channel. The cartridge-receiving plate is adjustable relative to the base. The upper and lower degating plates and the knife are not adjustable relative to the base, which avoids the need for re-alignment of the knife and degating plates upon re-mounting on the base. The cartridge-receiving plate is aligned relative to the base. A top riser is adjustably mounted to the base, and a cylinder arm, which holds the plunging apparatus, is non-adjustably mounted to the top riser.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 19, 2004
Date of Patent:
April 24, 2007
Assignee:
The Schnipke Family Limited Liability Company
Inventors:
Brian T. Doepker, David B. Erhart, Ronald J. Schnipke
Abstract: A means and method for inserting drivers into a surgical stapling cartridge, including a pallet that holds the cartridge firmly. The pallet has a central slot and laterally positioned lip members that are biased toward the slot. The cartridge is positioned in the slot and the lip members are released to extend their lips over the lateral flanges on the cartridge, thereby holding the cartridge in position. A finger extends into a recess formed at one end of the cartridge, thereby positively positioning the cartridge in the slot. The cartridge is released for removal by a tongue inserted between the lip members, thereby separating them by displacement.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 30, 2003
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2006
Assignee:
The Schnipke Family Limited Liability Company
Abstract: A means and method for inserting drivers into a surgical stapling cartridge, including a pallet that holds the cartridge firmly. The pallet has a central slot and laterally positioned lip members that are biased toward the slot. The cartridge is positioned in the slot and the lip members are released to extend their lips over the lateral flanges on the cartridge, thereby holding the cartridge in position. A finger extends into a recess formed at one end of the cartridge, thereby positively positioning the cartridge in the slot. The cartridge is released for removal by a tongue inserted between the lip members, thereby separating them by displacement.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 30, 2003
Date of Patent:
December 13, 2005
Assignee:
The Schnipke Family Limited Liability Company
Abstract: A means and method for inserting drivers into a surgical stapling cartridge, including a pallet that holds the cartridge firmly. The pallet has a central slot and laterally positioned lip members that are biased toward the slot. The cartridge is positioned in the slot and the lip members are released to extend their lips over the lateral flanges on the cartridge, thereby holding the cartridge in position. A finger extends into a recess formed at one end of the cartridge, thereby positively positioning the cartridge in the slot. The cartridge is released for removal by a tongue inserted between the lip members, thereby separating them by displacement.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 28, 2001
Date of Patent:
May 4, 2004
Assignee:
The Schnipke Family Limited Liability Company
Abstract: An improved guide fixture is disclosed. The guide fixture includes two portions forming a guide passage. The first portion funnels a discrete element into a second portion. A knife edge located adjacent a slot in the guide passage separates the discrete element from a holder while the discrete element is inserted into a cartridge.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 14, 1999
Date of Patent:
December 12, 2000
Assignee:
Schnipke Family Limited Liability Company
Inventors:
Leonard H. Schnipke, Ronald J. Schnipke, Donald K. Schnipke