Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for imparting linear motion to tooling. The tooling is attached to a manipulator device having two different length arms. The tooling may be moved linearly from a first point to a second point by adjusting the angles of the first and second arms for a number of intermediate points extending along a straight line between the first and second points and along which the tooling passes.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates a staple height adjusting mechanism which enables the gap between its jaw members to be adjusted to select different staple heights to be produced when the staples are formed. Preferably, the stapling instrument includes a pair of elongate jaw members, one of which supports a staple cartridge adapted to receive at least two laterally spaced longitudinal rows of staples, and the other provided with an anvil adapted to form the staples. A pusher bar and knife assembly slidable longitudinally relative to the jaw members sequentially drives the staples from the cartridge and forms the staples against the anvil to produce a pair of laterally spaced rows in the tissue. The pusher bar and knife assembly includes a knife blade for cutting the tissue along a line between the longitudinal staple rows.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument suitable for performing a gastrointestinal anastomosis is provided. The stapling instrument incorporates an improved staple actuator mechanism operable by separate control buttons to accomplish its stapling and cutting actions in two stages. The two stage operation of the stapling instrument reduces the maximum force required to operate the instrument. The improved actuator mechanism permits selection of different staple heights to be produced by the same instrument. In addition, the actuator mechanism is designed to stabilize the upper and lower jaw members by providing longitudinal and lateral support along substantially the entire length of the operative portions of the jaw members. Preferably, the actuator mechanism comprises an elongated, I-beam structure slidably mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the jaw members.

Abstract: A disposable ligator for applying clamping clips to veins, arteries and blood vessels. The ligator comprises a first handle terminating at its forward end in a first jaw and a second jaw and a second handle, both pivotally mounted on the first handle near the forward end thereof. The handles are shiftable between open and closed positions and shift the jaws between open and closed clip-clamping positions. A clip tube containing a plurality of clips and a spring biased feeder shoe to constantly urge the clips forwardly therein is mounted in the first handle. A pusher is mounted in the first handle parallel to the clip tube in a pusher track which extends to the forward ends of the jaws. The pusher is shiftable by the first and second handles between a retracted position when the handles are closed and an extended position to locate a clip in the pusher track at the forward ends of the jaws when the handles are open.

Abstract: A manually actuated surgical staple extractor comprising upper and lower handles pivotally joined together and swingable between open and closed positions. The upper handle terminates at its forward end in a pair of thin, flat, laterally extending stops separated by a blade-receiving slot. The forwardmost portions of the stops lie in an obtuse angle to the upper handle and are joined together by a thin, coplanar, forwardly projecting, U-shaped anvil. The lower handle terminates in a thin blade. When the handles are in their open positions, the blade is located in the above noted slot with its lower edge above the anvil. When the handles are shifted toward each other to their closed positions, the blade pivots downwardly so that it passes through the U-shaped anvil to a position therebelow.