Abstract: A sterile internal organ fastening device comprising a staple and a receiver. The legs of the staple have a tapered portion terminating in a sharp point with the taper having a specific configuration to minimize penetration forces and reduce trauma and with the receiver protecting the surrounding tissue from the sharp point.

Abstract: An improved surgical fastener system comprising parallel rows of staples and receivers with the receivers connected to adjacent receivers by a plurality of linkages.

Abstract: A device is provided for applying flexible fasteners to tissue to close a wound or incision. The device has a front housing mounted for rotation relative to a rear housing. A needle projects laterally from the front housing. The needle is curved, hollow, and slotted for receiving a portion of a fastener. The device has a flexible pusher member and means for moving the flexible pusher member into the hollow needle to eject a fastener from the needle and into the tissue.

Abstract: A pair of parallel, hollow needles are provided for receiving a tissue fastener of the type having at least a fastening member with a pair of legs joined by a link. Each needle has an internal passage extending from a fastening member receiving end to a discharge end. Each needle also has a slot extending along its length in communication with the passage and facing the slot of the other needle. A leg of the fastening member is placed in each needle with the fastening member link extending through the needle slots between the needles. The instrument has an anvil for being located on one side of the tissues opposite the needles. The needles are inserted through the tissues towards the anvil. Then the fastening member is pushed through the needles by a drive member so that at least a portion of the fastening member link lies against one side of the tissues and so that at least a portion of each of the fastening member legs is located and secured on the other side of the tissues.

Abstract: A hand-operated surgical instrument of closing wounds with a fastener. The instrument has a movable operating member extending from a movable handle which actuates the operating member. A hydraulic actuator comprising first and second cylinders is connected between the handle and the operating member for effecting the movement of the operating member when the handle is moved relative to the instrument. A biasing member is provided for returning the operating member and the handle means to the unactuated position. The surgical instrument includes a housing and a needle extending outwardly from one end of the housing. A plurality of fasteners are located within the housing such that when the operating member is actuated, the fasteners are forced out through the needle by the force of the operating member.

Abstract: An adapter assembly is provided for a medical instrument designed to apply a first ligating clip which has a first exterior configuration. The adapter assembly is provided with an adapter member associated with each jaw of the instrument to accommodate a second ligating clip having a second exterior configuration different than that of the first clip. Each adapter member has structure for engaging a portion of one of the jaws and structure is provided for attaching the adapter assembly to at least one of the jaws in a fixed orientation with each adapter member extending beyond the tip of the jaws. Each adapter member includes a clip applying portion having a configuration adapted to cooperate with the other adapter member to receive, hold, and apply the second clip.

Abstract: A hand-operated surgical instrument for implanting a fastener in tissue to close a movable operating member remote from or extending from a movable handle for actuating the operating member. A hydraulic actuating means comprising first and second connected chambers oriented at angles relative to one another effect the movement of the operating member when the handle is moved relative to the instruments.

Abstract: A fastener is provided to hold together separated portions of mammalian tissue and includes an open loop fastening member and a receiver adapted to receive the legs of the fastening member. The legs of the fastening member are then deformed to effect engagement of the fastening member and receiver. An instrument is provided for holding the receiver on one side of the tissue portions and for inserting the fastening member through the tissue portions and into the receiver. The instrument also (1) deforms the legs of the fastening member to effect the engagement of the fastening member with the receiver and (2) severs the protruding portions of the legs.

Abstract: An adapter assembly is provided for a medical instrument designed to apply a first legating clip which has a first exterior configuration. The adapter assembly is provided with an adapter member associated with each jaw of the instrument to accommodate a second ligating clip having a second exterior configuration different than that of the first clip. Each adapter member has a provision for engaging a portion of one of the jaws and the provision is provided for attaching the adapter assembly to at least one of the jaws in a fixed orientation with each adapter member extending beyond the tip of a jaws. Each adapter member includes a clip applying portion having a configuration adapted to cooperate with the other adapter member to receive, hold, and apply the second clip.

Abstract: A fastener is provided to hold together portions of mammalian tissue and includes an open loop fastening member and a receiver adapted to receive the legs of the fastening member. Each fastening member leg has two oppositely facing rows of resilient, hemispherical, convex members to cooperate with a bore in the receiver to effect engagement of the fastening member and receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus for housing, feeding and applying multiple ligating clips, including a handle which houses a delivery and feeding mechanism, and a cartridge which holds the clips. The handle employs a scissors-type action to set a clip which has been delivered to the jaws by the feeding and ratcheting mechanism. The feeding mechanism provides a relatively long stroke motion to deliver a clip from the end of a cartridge to the end of the nose. The mechanism also provides a relatively short stroke motion for operating the ratchet mechanism of the cartridge for feeding clips through the cartridge. The feeding, ratcheting and setting of the clip is all done by a single, scissors-type action employing only a small motion envelope so that the overall shape of the handle may be small and compact and readily adaptable for use deep in an incision site. The cartridge includes a fixed and moving ratchet rack which are operated by the short stroke ratcheting mechanism of the handle.

Abstract: Hemostatic clips made from non-resilient polymeric materials. The clips comprise a pair of leg members rotatable about a hinge portion to be closed over a vessel.

Abstract: A structure is provided for accommodating the rotation of a front housing of an instrument to a selected position relative to the rear housing of the instrument to permit an operating member in the front housing to be located in a desired orientation. The front housing has an annular portion in which a cylindrical portion of the rear housing is received to permit the two housings to be rotated relative to each other about a common longitudinal axis. The front housing annular portion defines a plurality of bores arranged at selected azimuthal locations about the axis of rotation and the rear housing carries a reciprocative engaging member adapted to be moved partially into one of the bores to lock the two housings in a selected relative orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for housing, feeding and applying multiple ligating clips, including a handle which houses a delivery and feeding mechanism, and a cartridge which holds the clips. The handle employs a scissors-type action to set a clip which has been delivered to the jaws by the feeding and ratcheting mechanism. The feeding mechanism provides a relatively long stroke motion to deliver a clip from the end of a cartridge to the end of the nose. The mechanism also provides a relatively short stroke motion for operating the ratchet mechanism of the cartridge for feeding clips through the cartridge. The feeding, ratcheting and setting of the clip is all done by a single, scissors-type action employing only a small motion envelope so that the overall shape of the handle may be small and compact and readily adaptable for use deep in an incision site. The cartridge includes a fixed and moving ratchet rack which is operated by the short stroke ratcheting mechanism of the handle.