Abstract: A surgical staple and method for its use in closing an opening in mammalian tissue are disclosed. The staple comprises a central portion of strong, ductile, non-absorbable material and lower leg portions of absorbable material positioned at opposite ends of the central portion. The staple when closed is bent in the central portion to form a crown portion, so that the lower leg portions are in positions which approximate one another. After engagement, the lower leg portions extend through the tissue on either side of a closed opening so as to hold the tissue firmly in the closed position. After sufficient tissue healing has occurred, the biodegradable lower leg portions will loosen from the central portion, thus allowing for facile removal of the central portion.

Abstract: A cartridge and method used for joining living tissue such as fascia. A staple in the cartridge having pointed arcuate end portions flanking a central portion is bent to provide a generally oval shape for the central portion and adjacent parts of the closed staple, and to bring the terminal parts of the staple into side-by-side crossed relationship with the points on each of the end portions positioned adjacent the central portion of the staple so that each of the end portions of the staple can extend through the tissue on one side of the closed opening and project into the tissue on the other side of the closed opening.

Abstract: A medical stapling device in which, upon activation, spaced lugs on a driver advance open staples along a track between two grooved rails frictionally holding the staples so that the leading staple will be closed around an anvil at the end of the track and can suture adjacent living tissue. Subsequently cam members which maintained the lugs in engagement with the staples as the lead staple was closed are biased by a spring to a position at which the lugs separate from and move around the staples as the driver is returned to its original position at which the lugs again engage subsequent staples along the track.

Abstract: A medical stapling device in which open staples are moved along a track between two grooved rails by a drive member having spaced lugs. Upon activation of the device, the lugs are moved into engagement with the staples and advance them along the track so that the leading staple will be formed around an anvil at the end of the track and can suture living tissue adjacent the anvil. The portions of the staple that enter the tissue are smoothly curved so that they will enter like a surgeon's needle and provide a predetermined amount of gathering of the tissues, and the closed staple is shaped so that its maximum inner dimension is parallel to its central portion to restrict rotation of the staple due to tension across the suture.

Abstract: A medical stapling device in which open staples are moved along a track between two grooved rails by a drive member having spaced lugs. Upon activation of the device, the lugs are moved into engagement with the staples and advance them along the track so that the leading staple will be formed around an anvil at the end of the track and can suture living tissue adjacent the anvil. The portions of the staple that enter the tissue are smoothly curved so that they will enter like a surgeon's needle and provide a predetermined amount of gathering of the tissues, and the closed staple is shaped so that its maximum inner dimension is parallel to its central portion to restrict rotation of the staple due to tension across the suture.

Abstract: A medical stapling device in which open staples are moved along a track between two grooved rails by a drive member having spaced lugs. Upon activation of the device, the lugs are moved into engagement with the staples and advance them along the track so that the leading staple will be formed around an anvil at the end of the track and can suture living tissue adjacent the anvil. The portions of the staple that enter the tissue are smoothly curved so that they will enter like a surgeon's needle and provide a predetermined amount of gathering of the tissues, and the closed staple is shaped so that its maximum inner dimension is parallel to its central portion to restrict rotation of the staple due to tension across the suture.

Abstract: A recirculating vortex burner wherein liquid fuel is vaporized in suspension by recirculating hot products of combustion and is thoroughly mixed with air in order that substantially carbon-free combustion occurs. The burner employs a combustion chamber into which air is supplied at one end by a plurality of fixed orifices that provide air jets for producing a spiraled swirling flow pattern in the chamber. Such flow pattern establishes a stable vortex with a relatively low pressure region in the chamber central portion and results in substantial recirculation of the products of combustion. The air jets intersect fuel sprayed into the chamber and entrain such fuel together with the recirculating products of combustion so that air, fuel and products of combustion are thoroughly mixed and the fuel is substantially gasified prior to combustion.