Abstract: An apparatus for loading ligating clips into ligating clip cartridges. The apparatus has a frame and a rotatable indexing table mounted to the frame. A plurality of nest members for holding cartridges and cartridge components is mounted to the outer periphery of the indexing table. The nest are rotated and indexed to a plurality of work stations located proximately on or about the frame. Components are loaded into the nest members at the work stations to form assembled cartridges loaded with ligating clips. One work station removes the assembled cartridges from the nest members.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for loading ligating clips into ligating clip cartridges. Ligating clips are fed to an inversion wheel having cavities for receiving the clips. The clips are inverted by rotating the wheel. The clips are pushed into ligating clip cartridge covers by an insertion blade. The cartridge cover is indexed by an automatic control system to receive the clips. A cartridge base is inserted into the cover after it has been loaded with clips to form the assembled cartridge.

Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is hemispheric in profile and contains slides within cutting tip. The rounded distal end enables the shield to spring forward to shield the cutting tip as soon as the tip perforates the tissue. In other embodiments, positive mechanical means effect shielding.

Abstract: A safety trocar is provided which includes a spring-loaded shield that shields the cutting tip of the obturator after the obturator penetrates tissue. The distal end of the shield is hemispheric in profile and contains slides within cutting tip. The rounded distal end enables the shield to spring forward to shield the cutting tip as soon as the tip perforates the tissue. In other embodiments, positive mechanical means effect shielding.

Abstract: A driving mechanism is provided as a means to clamp and implant surgical staples pneumatically. First, one pneumatic line propels a clamping piston to clamp the tissue and to propel a driving piston into position to be fired. Then a second pneumatic line causes the driving piston to propel a driver which implants staples into the tissue.

Abstract: A pneumatic connector for a surgical stapler is provided to enable interconnected parts of the stapler to be rotatable with respect to each other while maintaining the fluidic integrity of a plurality of pneumatic lines passing through the connector. One pneumatic line is connected to pass through the center of the pneumatic connector. The second pneumatic line is annularly rotatable around the first. The second line is rotatably completed and sealed by means of an annular mating passageway.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument is provided which employs a highly pressurized gas as its source of energy. The highly pressurized gas is conducted to means for indicating the presence of the pressurized gas and to a pressure regulator. The pressure regulator controllably develops gas pressurized to a desired operating pressure. The pressure regulator supplies gas at a fixed or variable pressure to a tissue clamping mechanism and to the trigger mechanism of the instrument. In response to actuation of the trigger mechanism gas at the desired stapling pressure is supplied to a stapling mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, pressurized gas is maintained at the stapling mechanism until the trigger mechanism is reset for a subsequent stapling procedure.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument is provided having safety and sequencing features to mandate proper operation of the instrument during surgical clamping and stapling of tissue. The instrument is powered by pressurized gas, and includes a manual control for supplying gas to a clamping mechanism in the stapler head and a trigger for actuating a stapling mechanism therein. The instrument prevents actuation of the trigger until the tissue has been clamped. The trigger may not be actuated to implant staples until a trigger safety has been actuated. Following actuation of the stapling mechanism, the instrument is either automatically reset to its initial condition, or may require manual control by the user to restore the clamping and stapling mechanisms to their initial conditions. The instrument affords correct sequencing of operation and prevents inadvertent stapling.