Abstract: A suture anchor is described which in one form may be easily fabricated from extruded material by angular cuts and bore holes which provide an offset pulling force to the suture. In an alternate and preferred embodiment the suture anchor is injection molded having an annular displaced corner and abutment wall which act to seat the suture anchor firmly within a bore hole. Novel application means are also disclosed which hold the suture anchor on a frangible shaft for insertion and upon completion of the insertion permit fracture of the frangible portion and removal of the instrument.

Abstract: A driving mechanism is provided as a means to clamp and implant surgical staples pneumatically. First, one pneumatic line propels a clamping piston to clamp the tissue and to propel a driving piston into position to be fired. Then a second pneumatic line causes the driving piston to propel a driver which implants staples into the tissue.

Abstract: A pneumatic connector for a surgical stapler is provided to enable interconnected parts of the stapler to be rotatable with respect to each other while maintaining the fluidic integrity of a plurality of pneumatic lines passing through the connector. One pneumatic line is connected to pass through the center of the pneumatic connector. The second pneumatic line is annularly rotatable around the first. The second line is rotatably completed and sealed by means of an annular mating passageway.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument is provided which employs a highly pressurized gas as its source of energy. The highly pressurized gas is conducted to means for indicating the presence of the pressurized gas and to a pressure regulator. The pressure regulator controllably develops gas pressurized to a desired operating pressure. The pressure regulator supplies gas at a fixed or variable pressure to a tissue clamping mechanism and to the trigger mechanism of the instrument. In response to actuation of the trigger mechanism gas at the desired stapling pressure is supplied to a stapling mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, pressurized gas is maintained at the stapling mechanism until the trigger mechanism is reset for a subsequent stapling procedure.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument is provided having safety and sequencing features to mandate proper operation of the instrument during surgical clamping and stapling of tissue. The instrument is powered by pressurized gas, and includes a manual control for supplying gas to a clamping mechanism in the stapler head and a trigger for actuating a stapling mechanism therein. The instrument prevents actuation of the trigger until the tissue has been clamped. The trigger may not be actuated to implant staples until a trigger safety has been actuated. Following actuation of the stapling mechanism, the instrument is either automatically reset to its initial condition, or may require manual control by the user to restore the clamping and stapling mechanisms to their initial conditions. The instrument affords correct sequencing of operation and prevents inadvertent stapling.