Abstract: A surgical instrument having a handle portion, an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, an end effector, and a pin. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle portion. The end effector is disposed adjacent the elongated portion and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The pin is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first jaw member and includes an engaging section. In operation, the pin moves between a first position and a second position. While in the first position, the engaging portion of the pin is spaced from the second jaw member. In the second position, the engaging portion of the pin engages the second jaw member. The second jaw member includes a locking structure configured to maintain the position of the second jaw member with respect to the first jaw member during actuation of the end effector.

Abstract: A cartridge shipping aid is provided to retain staples within staple pockets of a staple cartridge during shipment. The cartridge shipping aid includes a base and a longitudinal rib extending perpendicularly from an underside of the base and indiscernible into a knife slot formed in a staple cartridge. One or more perpendicular keys are formed along a lower edge of the longitudinally extending rib for engagement with an underside surface of the staple cartridge. The cartridge shipping aid may additionally include sidewalls projecting perpendicularly from outer edges of the base. Projections are formed on one end of the base for engagement with associate detents formed on the staple cartridge. Grasping structure is formed adjacent one end of the base and longitudinal rib.

Abstract: A surgical instrument comprising a handle portion, an elongated portion defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from the handle portion, and first and second jaw members dimensioned to clamp tissue therebetween. The first jaw member has at least one row of fasteners arranged in a row substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. A pin is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first jaw member and is movable between a first position where the engagement section is spaced from the second jaw member and a second position where the engagement section engages the second jaw member. The pin has a non-circular cross-section.

Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument is provided. The surgical fastening instrument includes a handle portion and an elongate portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis along a length thereof. The surgical fastening instrument also includes an end effector assembly that includes an anvil and a cartridge supported adjacent a distal end of the elongate portion. Each of the anvil and the cartridge includes a tissue contacting surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. One or more independently movable pushers is configured to support one or more surgical fasteners. A thrust bar is operatively coupled to the elongate portion, wherein the thrust bar is movable over a predetermined stroke to effect sequential ejection of at least two surgical fasteners of the plurality of surgical fasteners from the cartridge.

Abstract: An attachable clamp for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The attachable clamp comprises a body portion, a first jaw member, a second jaw member and an actuation mechanism. The body portion defines a longitudinal axis and has attachment members configured to attach to an elongate portion of a surgical instrument. Each of the first jaw member and second jaw member extends distally from the body portion. The actuation mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member. Actuation of the actuation mechanism moves at least one of the first and second jaw members between an approximated position and an open position with respect to the other jaw member.

Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument is provided. The surgical fastening instrument includes a handle portion and an elongate portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis along a length thereof. The surgical fastening instrument also includes an end effector assembly that includes an anvil and a cartridge supported adjacent a distal end of the elongate portion. Each of the anvil and the cartridge includes a tissue contacting surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. One or more independently movable pushers is configured to support one or more surgical fasteners. A thrust bar is operatively coupled to the elongate portion, wherein the thrust bar is movable over a predetermined stroke to effect sequential ejection of at least two surgical fasteners of the plurality of surgical fasteners from the cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument is provided. The surgical fastening instrument includes a handle portion and an elongate portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis along a length thereof. The surgical fastening instrument also includes an end effector assembly that includes an anvil and a cartridge supported adjacent a distal end of the elongate portion. Each of the anvil and the cartridge includes a tissue contacting surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. One or more independently movable pushers is configured to support one or more surgical fasteners. A thrust bar is operatively coupled to the elongate portion, wherein the thrust bar is movable over a predetermined stroke to effect sequential ejection of at least two surgical fasteners of the plurality of surgical fasteners from the cartridge.

Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument including a handle portion, an elongated portion, an end effector and a clamp is disclosed. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle portion. The end effector includes a pair of jaws having a tissue contacting surface disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated portion, and at least one of the jaw members is movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween. The clamp has a clamping surface extending substantially transversely from an elongated member and has a height exceeding a height of the elongated member to extend adjacent a side surface of the jaw containing the plurality of fasteners. The clamp is movable from a proximal position to a distal position for engaging body tissue.

Abstract: A jaw restraint is provided to temporarily secure an anvil assembly relative to a cartridge assembly during shipping. The jaw restraint generally includes a body portion having an upper arm for releasably securing the anvil assembly and a lower arm for releasably securing the cartridge assembly. An inwardly projection is provided between the upper and lower arms. The anvil assembly is secured between the upper arm and the inwardly directed projection and the cartridge assembly is secured between the lower arm of the inwardly directed projection. One or more finger members extending proximally from the body portion may be provided to facilitate biasing the upper arm away from the lower arm to release the anvil and cartridge assemblies from the jaw restraint. The jaw restraint may be provided with structure for engagement with shipping packaging.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle portion, an endoscopic portion, a pair of jaw members and at least one flexible member attachment structure. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the handle portion and defines a first longitudinal axis. The pair of jaw members is disposed adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion and extends generally distally therefrom. At least one of the jaw members is movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween. The flexible member attachment structure is disposed in mechanical cooperation with at least one jaw member and is configured to facilitate the attachment of a flexible member thereto.

Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument including a handle portion, an elongated portion, an end effector and a clamp is disclosed. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle portion. The end effector includes a pair of jaws having a tissue contacting surface disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated portion, and at least one of the jaw members is movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween. The clamp has a clamping surface extending substantially transversely from an elongated member and has a height exceeding a height of the elongated member to extend adjacent a side surface of the jaw containing the plurality of fasteners. The clamp is movable from a proximal position to a distal position for engaging body tissue.

Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument is provided. The surgical fastening instrument includes a handle portion and an elongate portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis along a length thereof. The surgical fastening instrument also includes an end effector assembly that includes an anvil and a cartridge supported adjacent a distal end of the elongate portion. Each of the anvil and the cartridge includes a tissue contacting surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. One or more independently movable pushers is configured to support one or more surgical fasteners. A thrust bar is operatively coupled to the elongate portion, wherein the thrust bar is movable over a predetermined stroke to effect sequential ejection of at least two surgical fasteners of the plurality of surgical fasteners from the cartridge.

Abstract: Leak location devices and methods of using leak location devices that can be used in conjunction with negative pressure wound therapy systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, a leak location device can include a microphone for detecting sound pressure produced by a leak. Detected sound pressure can be compared to a threshold, which can correspond to background or ambient sound pressure. Background or ambient sound pressure can correspond to sound produced by a negative pressure source. The leak detection device can include a display configured to visually depict the detected sound, and a light source which creates a visual depiction of the coverage angle of the microphone.

Abstract: A twist tie assembly is disclosed that has flexible wire tie with an end cap component configured to retain the flexible wire tie in the base. Various embodiments of the end cap component are discloses to provide means for releasably securing the flexible wire tie to a base or support structure.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for surgically joining tissue is provided. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly that includes an actuator member. An end effector is operatively disposed adjacent a distal portion of an elongated shaft of the surgical instrument. The end effector includes a first jaw member pivotably disposed with respect to a second jaw member. The end effector is movable between a first position where the jaw members are spaced from one another, and a second position where the jaw members are in an approximated position. Each of the first and second jaw members includes a respective longitudinal track. An actuation assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector, wherein actuation of the actuation member causes the actuation assembly to translate from a distal portion of the end effector towards a proximal portion of the end effector through the tracks in the first and second jaw members.

Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument including a handle portion, an elongated portion, an end effector and a clamp is disclosed. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle portion. The end effector includes a pair of jaws having a tissue contacting surface disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated portion, and at least one of the jaw members is movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween. The clamp has a clamping surface extending substantially transversely from an elongated member and has a height exceeding a height of the elongated member to extend adjacent a side surface of the jaw containing the plurality of fasteners. The clamp is movable from a proximal position to a distal position for engaging body tissue.

Abstract: A cartridge shipping aid is provided to retain staples within staple pockets of a staple cartridge during shipment. The cartridge shipping aid includes a base and a longitudinal rib extending perpendicularly from an underside of the base and indiscernible into a knife slot formed in a staple cartridge. One or more perpendicular keys are formed along a lower edge of the longitudinally extending rib for engagement with an underside surface of the staple cartridge. The cartridge shipping aid may additionally include sidewalls projecting perpendicularly from outer edges of the base. Projections are formed on one end of the base for engagement with associate detents formed on the staple cartridge. Grasping structure is formed adjacent one end of the base and longitudinal rib.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a drive assembly, an endoscopic portion, a pair of jaw members, a dynamic clamping member, and a tissue stop. The drive assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a movable handle of the handle assembly. The endoscopic portion defines a first longitudinal axis. The jaw members are each longitudinally curved with respect to the longitudinal axis. The dynamic clamping member is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a distal portion of the drive assembly and includes an upper beam, a lower beam, and a vertical beam having a cutting edge on a distal portion thereof. At least a portion of the dynamic clamping member is longitudinally curved with respect to the longitudinal axis. The tissue stop is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the first jaw member and configured to impede tissue from distally escaping the jaw members.

Abstract: A surgical fastening instrument including a handle portion, an elongated portion, an end effector and a clamp is disclosed. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle portion. The end effector includes a pair of jaws having a tissue contacting surface disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated portion. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated portion, and at least one of the jaw members is movable with respect to the other between an open position and an approximated position for engaging body tissue therebetween. The clamp has a clamping surface extending substantially transversely from an elongated member and has a height exceeding a height of the elongated member to extend adjacent a side surface of the jaw containing the plurality of fasteners. The clamp is movable from a proximal position to a distal position for engaging body tissue.

Abstract: An access assembly is provided including a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end in mechanical cooperation with at least one slit seal member configured to create a fluid-tight seal in a first configuration. The access assembly also includes a first ring secured at the proximal end of the tubular member and a second ring secured at the distal end of the tubular member. The at least one slit seal member is configured to create an opening in a second configuration when forces are applied at opposing ends of the first ring.