Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument for performing a circular anastomosis stapling operation is provided. The surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly mounted by a curved shaft to an actuator handle assembly and incorporates an improved actuator mechanism for transmitting the required operating forces and movements from the actuator handle assembly through the curved shaft to an anvil and staple driver of the stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a longitudinally movable trocar detachably secured by one or more retainer clips on a hollow shaft of the anvil. When the trocar is retracted, the anvil shaft slides into a central support tube which aligns the anvil axially and circumferentially with a staple holder on the stapling head assembly. The retainer clips are locked against the trocar by the support tube and transmit tension from the trocar to the anvil with no tension load on the anvil shaft.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument for performing a circular anastomosis stapling operation is provided. The surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly mounted by a curved shaft to an actuator handle assembly and incorporates an improved actuator mechanism for transmitting the required operating forces and movements from the actuator handle assembly through the curved shaft to an anvil and staple driver of the stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a longitudinally movable trocar detachably secured by one or more retainer clips on a hollow shaft of the anvil. When the trocar is retracted, the anvil shaft slides into a central support tube which aligns the anvil axially and circumferentially with a staple holder on the stapling head assembly. The retainer clips are locked against the trocar by the support tube and transmit tension from the trocar to the anvil with no tension load on the anvil shaft.

Abstract: A pneumatic stapler which contains a mechanism for manual or automatic retaining pin placement. The automatic retaining pin is connected to a set of linkage plates actuable by a series of inflation of bladders in order to create instrument closure on tissue compression and simultaneously create pin placement. An optional manual, curved retaining pin is used in place of the automatic pin system. Further, because this instrument has a ramped anvil mechanism, adjustable staple height is derived. Controlled closure of the mechanism is provided with a detent spring and constant force springs. Upon stapling, the staple encounters an anvil with reduced size, which is kept closed by a latched retaining pin system to allow for reduced width of the anvil so that the stapling head becomes more versatile. Finally, after firing the staples, the mechanism is capable of rapid depressurization and simultaneous instrument opening by a spring return mechanism.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument for performing a circular anastomosis stapling operation is provided. The surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly mounted by a curved shaft to an actuator handle assembly and incorporates an improved actuator mechanism for transmitting the required operating forces and movements from the actuator handle assembly through the curved shaft to an anvil and staple driver of the stapling head assembly. The stapling head assembly includes a longitudinally movable trocar detachably secured by one or more retainer clips on a hollow shaft of the anvil. When the trocar is retracted, the anvil shaft slides into a central support tube which aligns the anvil axially and circumferentially with a staple holder on the stapling head assembly. The retainer clips are locked against the trocar by the support tube and transmit tension from the trocar to the anvil with no tension load on the anvil shaft.

Abstract: A surgical stapling mechanism with an integral trocar is disclosed. This trocar contains an alignment mechanism which causes the anvils on the stapler to align with the staples held within the head portion. A unique latching mechanism is disclosed, and a sleeve which covers the sharp trocar tip is provided.

Abstract: A disposable linear surgical stapler includes a handle, anvil, staple cartridge and flexible shaft attaching the handle to the cartridge and transmitting a firing force exerted at the handle to the distant cartridge for sequentially implanting, forming and clinching staples in two staggered staple lines. A flexible cable in the flexible shaft pulls a firing wedge across a plurality of staple drivers in the cartridge. The anvil is adjustable to vary the gap between the anvil and staple cartridge.

Abstract: An improved cartridge and driver assembly is provided for a surgical stapling instrument of the type which drives staples through tissue to be joined and against an anvil to form the staples. The cartridge has a forming pocket or slot for each staple to be driven by a single actuation of the surgical stapling instrument. Each forming pocket is of elongated, transverse, biconvex cross-section, terminating in ends adapted to frictionally receive the legs of a surgical staple. The driver comprises a tine for each forming pocket, shiftable within the forming pocket to engage the crown of the staple to drive the staple from its forming pocket. Each driver tine is of substantially biconvex transverse cross-sectional configuration. Each forming pocket of the cartridge is of matching biconvex configuration to slidably receive its respective driver tine so that the tine engages the staple crown including those portions thereof directly over the staple legs.

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.