Abstract: Circular stapling instruments for cutting and applying one or more surgical staples to tissue are disclosed. The instruments include various forms of feedback systems designed to provide at least one mode of feedback to the surgeon when the anvil has been attached to the device and/or when the anvil has been attached to the device and oriented in a firing position. Various types of feedback indicators are disclosed such as illumination devices, sound generating devices and vibration generation devices. In various embodiments, the feedback indicator comprises at least one illumination device mounted on the anvil which indicates that the anvil has been properly attached to the instrument and which can also serve to illuminate the surgical site.

Abstract: A surgical instrument including an elongate member having opposite ends, and a clevis attached to one end of the opposite ends. The clevis has a pair of spaced arms. The instrument includes a pin extending between the spaced arms of the clevis, and a pair of end effectors. Each of the end effectors has a pivot hole adapted for receiving the pin extending between the spaced arms of the clevis for pivotal movement relative to the clevis and a control arm for pivoting the respective end effector about the pin. The control arm includes an actuation hole and a tang adjacent the actuation hole. The instrument includes an actuator wire extending longitudinally to a laterally extending end received within the actuation hole. A portion of the longitudinally extending wire adjacent the laterally extending end and actuation hole is engaged by the tang to maintain the wire in the actuation hole.

Abstract: Circular stapling instruments for cutting and applying one or more surgical staples to tissue are disclosed. The instruments include various forms of anvil locking systems designed to selectively prevent the anvil from moving axially relative to the stapling head of the stapling instrument. One embodiment employs an elongated gear rack that is selectively engagable with locking gears to prevent axial motion of the elongated gear rack and an adjustment shaft used to axially position the anvil. Other embodiments employ a gear assembly that cooperates with the elongated gear rack. A locking member is movably supported by a handle assembly that houses the gear assembly and elongated gear rack. The locking member is configured for selective meshing engagement with the gear assembly to ultimately prevent axial movement of the gear rack and adjustment shaft.

Abstract: Circular stapling instruments for cutting and applying one or more surgical staples to tissue are disclosed. The instruments include various forms of feedback systems designed to provide at least one mode of feedback to the surgeon when the anvil has been attached to the device and/or when the anvil has been attached to the device and oriented in a firing position. Various types of feedback indicators are disclosed such as illumination devices, sound generating devices and vibration generating devices. In various embodiments, the feedback indicator comprises at least one illumination device mounted on the anvil which indicates that the anvil has been properly attached to the instrument and which can also serve to illuminate the surgical site.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying a fastener to tissue. The fastener includes a male component including a base having a hole, a needle receivable in the hole, and a female component including a base and a recess for receiving the needle. The instrument includes a shaft, a first jaw pivotally mounted on the shaft including a receiver for holding the base one component, and a second jaw statically mounted on the shaft including a receiver for releasably holding the base the other component. The first jaw is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The first and/or second jaw includes a channel for slideably receiving a needle. The instrument includes a mechanism for moving the first jaw between the open and closed positions and an ejector for driving the needle through the hole in the male component, through tissue and into the recess of the female component.

Abstract: A needle for use in tissue manipulation, and an associated method, are described. The needle can have first and second piercing arms joined by a resilient biasing member, such as a spring. The needle can be formed of a super elastic material, and can be deformed from a stored, unstressed configuration to a stressed, deployed configuration.

Abstract: A needle for use in tissue manipulation is described. The needle can have first and second piercing arms joined by a resilient biasing member, such as a spring. The needle can be formed of a super elastic material, and can be deformed from a stored, unstressed configuration to a stressed, deployed configuration.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying a fastener to tissue. The instrument includes an shaft having a working end and a grip end, a first jaw pivotally mounted on the working end including a receiver for releasably holding a male component and a second jaw statically mounted on the working end including a receiver for releasably holding a female component. The fist jaw is pivotally moveable between an open position in which the first jaw is sufficiently spaced from the second jaw so tissue can be received between a male component and a female component, and a closed position in which a protrusion of the male component is aligned with and received in a recess of the female component. The instrument includes a mechanism operatively connected to the first jaw for moving the first jaw between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying a fastener to tissue. The fastener includes a male component including a base having a hole, a needle receivable in the hole, and a female component including a base and a recess for receiving the needle. The instrument includes a shaft, a first jaw pivotally mounted on the shaft including a receiver for holding the base one component, and a second jaw statically mounted on the shaft including a receiver for releasably holding the base the other component. The first jaw is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The first and/or second jaw includes a channel for slideably receiving a needle. The instrument includes a mechanism for moving the first jaw between the open and closed positions and an ejector for driving the needle through the hole in the male component, through tissue and into the recess of the female component.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for applying a fastener to tissue of a patient. The instrument includes an elongate shaft having a working end and a grip end opposite the working end. The instrument includes opposing stationary jaws mounted on the working end of the elongate shaft defining a gap between the jaws. The gap is sized and shaped for receiving tissue. At least one of the jaws includes a fastener ejector directed toward the gap for introducing a fastener into tissue received in the gap to selectively fasten the tissue with the fastener. The instrument includes a mechanism operatively connected to the fastener ejector for introducing the fastener into the tissue thereby applying the fastener to the tissue of the patient.

Abstract: A surgical fastener for fastening tissue. The fastener includes a first piece of sheet material formed to have a generally planar base and an elongate needle portion extending upward from the base. The fastener includes a second piece of sheet material formed to have a generally planar base and an elongate needle portion extending upward from the base. The second piece of sheet material is pivotally connected to the first piece of sheet material.

Abstract: An endoscopic instrument for performing surgical procedures. The instrument includes an elongate member having a distal end for insertion into a patient's body and a proximal end opposite the distal end. The member has a distal portion adjacent the distal end and a central portion adjacent the distal portion. The distal portion has a first mechanical stiffness of a stiffness type selected from a tensile stiffness, a compressive stiffness and/or a bending stiffness. The central portion has a second mechanical stiffness of the stiffness type of the first mechanical stiffness. The first mechanical stiffness is different from the second mechanical stiffness.

Abstract: Methods and devices for approximating tissue are disclosed. The methods and devices utilize a device for applying an implantable tissue fastener and a variety of implantable tissue fasteners. The tissue-fastening device can be delivered endoscopically and can be adapted to function along side or in conjunction with a flexible endoscope. In general, the device can include a flexible shaft having an implantable tissue fastener applier disposed at a distal end thereof and a handle for operating the implantable tissue fastener applier disposed at a proximal end thereof. A variety of self-deploying implantable tissue fasteners can be used with the tissue fastener applier device.

Abstract: Methods and devices for approximating tissue are disclosed. The methods and devices utilize a device for applying an implantable tissue fastener and a variety of implantable tissue fasteners. The tissue-fastening device can be delivered endoscopically and can be adapted to function along side or in conjunction with a flexible endoscope. In general, the device can include a flexible shaft having an implantable tissue fastener applier disposed at a distal end thereof and a handle for operating the implantable tissue fastener applier disposed at a proximal end thereof. A variety of self-deploying implantable tissue fasteners can be used with the tissue fastener applier device.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods and devices for approximating tissue. The methods and devices utilize a device for applying an implantable tissue fastener and a variety of implantable tissue fasteners. The tissue-fastening device can be delivered endoscopically and can be adapted to function along side or in conjunction with a flexible endoscope. In general, the device can include a flexible shaft having an implantable tissue fastener applier disposed at a distal end thereof and a handle for operating the implantable tissue fastener applier disposed at a proximal end thereof. A variety of implantable tissue fasteners can be used with the tissue fastener applier device including single and multi-anchor embodiments.

Abstract: Methods and devices for fastening tissue are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a tissue fastener is provided and includes a male fastening member having a base plate with at least one post extending therefrom and having a tissue-piercing tip. A protective member is coupled to the male fastening member and is movable between an open position in which the tissue-piercing tip is enclosed within the protective member such that the tissue-piercing tip is prevented from penetrating tissue, and a compressed position in which the tissue-piercing tip is exposed to penetrate tissue. A female fastening member is configured to mate to the male fastening member and to engage tissue therebetween.

Abstract: A surgical fastener for fastening tissue. The fastener includes a first piece having a needle, a second piece having an opening sized for receiving the needle, and a lock for holding the needle of the first piece in the opening of the second piece. At least a portion of the first piece, the second piece and/or the lock comprises a bio-absorbable material so the fastener becomes unfastened from the tissue over time.

Abstract: A surgical fastener for fastening tissue. The fastener includes a first piece having a curved needle, a second piece having an opening sized for receiving the needle, and a lock for holding the needle of the first piece in the opening of the second piece.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical scissors for cutting tissue is disclosed. The laparoscopic surgical scissors has a handle body assembly having an actuation member moveable toward and away from the handle body assembly. An elongated shaft having a proximal and a distal end that define a longitudinal axis is connected to the handle body assembly at the proximal end of said shaft. A pair of cutting blades have a first blade member and a second blade member that are co-operably connected about a common pivot member adjacent to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The common pivot member defines a common pivot axis perpendicular to the elongated shaft. The first blade member has a first cutting edge and the second blade member has a second cutting edge facing the first cutting edge. The blade members have a single point of blade contact translating proximally and distally as the blade members open and close in response to movement of the actuation member away from and toward the handle body assembly.

Abstract: A hand held surgical instrument for grasping and clamping tissue is disclosed. The surgical instrument has a handle body assembly and an elongated shaft. The shaft is connected to the handle body assembly at a proximal end and has an end effector at a distal end. The end effector is operably coupled to an actuation member extending from the handle body. The actuation member is moveable toward and away from the handle body to open and close the end effector. A locking tab is located on the handle body assembly and is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A locking rod is movably engaged with a hole in the locking tab. When the locking tab is in the unlocked position, the actuation member is free to move towards and away from the handle body assembly to open and close the end effector. When the locking tab is in the locked position, movement to open the actuation member is prevented.