Abstract: This invention provides a linear stapling instrument for use in surgical procedures including, inter alia, a staple housing. The housing includes a plurality of staple openings and a plurality of staples disposed in the staple openings. The housing further includes a plurality of staple drivers. The staple drivers have an upper surface bearing on a staple and a lower camming surface. The staple drivers are slidably mounted in the housing for movement from an initial lower position to an upper position. They also are arranged such that their lower camming surfaces are disposed in one or more spaced rows. The housing also includes a sled slidably mounted in the housing for movement from an unfired position to a fired position. The sled has at least one camming surface. The camming surface is disposed on the sled such that movement of the sled from its unfired to its fired position causes the camming surface to contact in sequence the lower camming surface of the staple drivers in at least one the row.

Abstract: A trocar for use in surgical procedures including a cannula for maintaining a sealed working channel in a body wall and an obturator which creates the working channel through the body wall while protecting patients and medical personnel from harm is disclosed. A cannula converter which can be employed with the trocar to enable a surgeon to use surgical instruments having a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the cannula without deflating a body cavity is further disclosed. A site stabilizer which can be used with the trocar to prevent the cannula from being inadvertently withdrawn from the body cavity during a surgical procedure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A trocar for use in surgical procedures including a cannula for maintaining a sealed working channel in a body wall and an obturator which creates the working channel through the body wall while protecting patients and medical personnel from harm is disclosed. A cannula converter which can be employed with the trocar to enable a surgeon to use surgical instruments having a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the cannula without deflating a body cavity is further disclosed. A site stabilizer which can be used with the trocar to prevent the cannula from being inadvertently withdrawn from the body cavity during a surgical procedure is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides articulated surgical instruments for use in laparoscopic surgical procedures including, in general, a handle, an elongated shaft, and an articulated tip. A gap extends longitudinally between the shaft and the tip. The instruments further include a flexible compression drive member, preferably a flexible cable, which is slidably disposed in the shaft and extends through the gap. The flexible drive member bends through the gap in a plane of articulation when the tip is articulated. A flexible support is attached at one end to the shaft and at another end to the tip. At least one of those connections is a slidable connection. The support extends through the articulation joint adjacent to the flexible drive member in the plane of articulation such that the support bends through the gap in the plane of articulation and the flexible drive member bends against the support when the tip is articulated in one direction from its aligned position.

Abstract: A trocar for use in surgical procedures including a cannula for maintaining a sealed working channel in a body wall and an obturator which creates the working channel through the body wall while protecting patients and medical personnel from harm is disclosed. A cannula converter which can be employed with the trocar to enable a surgeon to use surgical instruments having a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of the cannula without deflating a body cavity is further disclosed. A site stabilizer which can be used with the trocar to prevent the cannula from being inadvertently withdrawn from the body cavity during a surgical procedure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A damper device insertable into a slotted duct or flue without cutting completely through the duct, including a sleeve conforming to the duct cross-section and adapted for insertion through the slot to nest within the un-cut duct portion. A damper plate with stiffener ribs is rotatably mounted within the sleeve. An apertured cover plate slightly larger than the duct slot size is located to overlap the slot for mounting the damper device to the duct, and a spacer plate may be placed intermediate and rigidly attached to the cover plate and the sleeve for reinforcing the support at one end of a damper shaft. The damper shaft may be rotated manually or by means of a motor mounted by a bracket to the cover plate.