Abstract: An implant for placement within a hollow body organ having a member with an undeployed shape, for delivery within a hollow body, and one or more deployed shapes, for implantation therein. The member has sufficient rigidity in its deployed shape to exert an outward force against an interior of the hollow body so as to bring together two substantially opposing surfaces of the hollow body. The implant also includes a means for changing the deployed shape of the member while implanted within the hollow body.

Abstract: An improved surgical stapler includes a stapler body having a driver and a magazine connected to the stapler body. The magazine includes a staple track for carrying a plurality of staples and an anvil associated with the staple track. The anvil has a staple forming surface for forming each of the staples thereon. A trigger is operatively connected to the driver for advancing the driver against the anvil so as to form the staple against the staple forming surface of the anvil. A feeder for feeding each of the staples from the staple track to the anvil is movably mounted in the magazine. A pinion is operatively connected to the trigger and is movably engaged with the feeder. An indexing member is movably engaged with the pinion such that the indexing member and the pinion advance the feeder and the staples toward the anvil upon an actuation of the trigger.

Abstract: An improved surgical stapler which allows for the multi-directional release of staples includes a stapler body and a driver contained therein. A magazine is connected to the stapler body and includes a plurality of staples. The magazine also includes an anvil having a staple forming surface at a distal end thereof for forming a staple thereon. The anvil is movable from a staple forming position to a staple release position. A feeder element which is spring biased against the staples is used for feeding each staple to the staple forming surface. A trigger is operatively connected to the driver and is movable from a pre-fire position to a firing position for advancing the driver against the anvil for forming the staple against the staple forming surface of the anvil. The trigger is operatively connected to the anvil for moving the anvil from the staple forming position to the staple release position for releasing the staple from the stapler.