Abstract: A fastening device for clamping and fastening tissue together with fasteners formed from an adhesive is disclosed. An embodiment of the adhesive fastening device can clamp a first and a second portion of tissue together between a first and a second jaw, and can place a fluid polymer adhesive into tissue and form it into a polymerized surgical fastener within the tissue. The adhesive fastener can be formed as a polymerized shank or shaft extending through the tissue, and can have one or more heads formed on the shank. The shank can be formed solely from the polymerizable adhesive, or can be formed from another material such as nitinol, titanium, stainless steel, suture, or a plastic. Shanks of other material can be combined with the adhesive. Alternately, an adhesive fastener can be formed extending distally from a distal end of the surgical device. And, an adhesive fastener can be formed around a luminal tissue or within luminal tissue.

Abstract: A fastening device for clamping and fastening tissue together with fasteners formed from an adhesive is disclosed. An embodiment of the adhesive fastening device can clamp a first and a second portion of tissue together between a first and a second jaw, and can place a fluid polymer adhesive into tissue and form it into a polymerized surgical fastener within the tissue. The adhesive fastener can be formed as a polymerized shank or shaft extending through the tissue, and can have one or more heads formed on the shank. The shank can be formed solely from the polymerizable adhesive, or can be formed from another material such as nitinol, titanium, stainless steel, suture, or a plastic. Shanks of other material can be combined with the adhesive. Alternately, an adhesive fastener can be formed extending distally from a distal end of the surgical device. And, an adhesive fastener can be formed around a luminal tissue or within luminal tissue.

Abstract: An electromechanical flywheel containing fastener driving tool. The tool comprises a frame supporting a housing, a guide body and a fastener containing magazine. A free floating driver within said frame. Forward and rearward flywheels are arranged in tandem within the tool frame with their peripheral surfaces opposed. A pair of beam-like arcuate load springs are located to either side of the frame. The load spring rearward ends carry bearings in which the shaft of the rearward flywheel is journaled. The load spring forward ends carry rotatable eccentric bearing housings in which the shaft of the forward flywheel is journaled. The bearing housings are rotatable to shift the forward flywheel between operative and inoperative positions wherein the opposed surfaces of the flywheels are spaced by a distance less than and a distance greater than the thickness of the driver, respectively.

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 anvil attachment for the nose portion of a surgical stapling instrument of the type utilizing a replaceable cartridge of surgical staples. The anvil attachment is generally "L-shaped". A first leg of the anvil attachment is adapted to lie along and to be affixed to the nose portion of the surgical instrument with the second leg of the anvil attachment extending laterally of the surgical instrument nose portion. Near the juncture of the first and second anvil attachment legs, the second anvil attachment leg is provided on its upper surface with an upstanding wedge-shaped lug which, in cooperation with an adjacent relief on the first anvil attachment leg, engages and maintains the lower end of the staple cartridge in proper position against the nose portion of the surgical stapling instrument. The second anvil attachment leg has a first anvil portion adjacent the wedge-shaped lug and providing a first anvil surface adapted to abut and support the crown of a staple during a staple forming operation.

Abstract: A disposable surgical stapling instrument for forming and implanting surgical staples in the skin or fascia of a patient to close a wound or incision. The instrument comprises an elongated body having a forward portion and a rearward portion serving as a handle portion. The forward portion of instrument body houses a staple driver attached to a staple driver actuator and a return spring for the staple driver actuator. A surgical staple magazine assembly is affixed to the lower edges of the instrument body forward portion. An anvil plate, supporting a tow of surgical staples, is located within the magazine assembly. The anvil plate terminates at its forward end in a coextensive anvil surface. The magazine assembly contains a feeder assembly to constantly urge the row of staples toward the anvil surface to locate the forwardmost staple of the row thereon to be implanted and formed thereabout by the driver and to disengage a formed staple therefrom.

Abstract: A staple cartridge and feed means for use with a surgical stapling instrument of the type having an anvil about which a staple is formed during emplacement thereof in the skin or fascia of a patient. The cartridge comprises a body having a vertical staple feeding track adapted to hold a stack of staples and a separate vertical staple forming track with a staple former reciprocable therein by the surgical stapling instrument. The staple forming track and the staple feeding track are in parallel relationship separated by a divider wall. A window, defined by the cartridge body and the divider wall, provides a horizontal path between the staple feeding track and the staple forming track and is so sized as to permit the passage therethrough of a single staple from the bottom of the staple stack. Horizontal feeder means normally prevent passage of the bottommost staple from the stack through the window into the staple driving track.