Abstract: The fascia stapler has a pistol-shaped housing from which two-piece clips can be ejected for closing an incision. The retainers for the clips and the straps for the clips are held in respective cartridges within the nose of the housing and can be ejected individually upon actuation of the stapler. A pusher assembly within the housing causes an individual strap to be expelled for passage through one end of a strap, piercing through the tissue and securement in the other end of the strap. Approximators with tissue engaging teeth are also used to bunch up the tissue about the incision during a stapling operation.

Abstract: A surgical stapler for placing lateral lines of staples and making an incision, all through an endoscopic tube, includes an anvil member which is mounted to the distal end of an elongated housing. A tubular collar disposed around the arm of the anvil member is movable to a distal position to bias the anvil member and a cartridge assembly into cooperative alignment, thereby clamping body tissue to be fastened between the anvil member and cartridge assembly.

Abstract: The fascia clip is of two-piece construction having an elongated base and a flexible strap. The base is sized to bridge over an incision in fascia tissue and has openings at opposite ends. The strap has a pointed distal end for passage through the opening at the proximal end of the base so as to pierce through the fascia tissue. After being directed under the incision, the strap can again pierce the tissue to pass through the opening at the distal end of the base in order to be gripped therein. The strap has an enlarged head at the proximal end to prevent complete passage through the opening at the proximal end of the base. In one embodiment, resilient teeth are used at the distal end of the strap to engage with a web about the opening at the distal end of the base. In another embodiment, a resilient tab on the enlarged head of the base engages in an opening in the distal end of the strap.